The Missing Coal

Early next morning Dick stood in front of the Hotel Magellan, where he
had slept for a few hours after his return, and was somewhat surprised to
see that Jake had got up before him and was talking to a pretty,
dark-skinned girl. She carried a large bunch of flowers and a basket of
fruit stood close by, while Jake seemed to be persuading her to part with
some.

Dick stopped and watched them, for the glow of color held his eye. Jake's
white duck caught the strong sunlight, while the girl's dark hair and
eyes were relieved by the brilliant lemon-tinted wall and the mass of
crimson bloom. Her attitude was coquettish, and Jake regarded her with an
ingratiating smile. After a few moments, however, Dick went down the
street and presently heard his comrade following him. When the lad came
up, he saw that he had a basket of dark green fruit and a bunch of the
red flowers.

"I thought you were asleep. Early rising is not a weakness of yours," he
said.

"As it happens, I didn't sleep at all," Jake replied. "Steering that
unhandy coal-scow rather got upon my nerves and when she took the awkward
sheer as we came through the reef the tiller knocked Maccario down and
nearly broke my ribs. I had to stop the helm going the wrong way
somehow."

Dick nodded. It was obvious that the lad had been quick and cool at a
critical time, but his twinkling smile showed that he was now in a
different mood.