Frontier Boys in the South Seas — Background and Themes

Juarez was sleepy, very sleepy. He had been traveling on a railroad train for several days, and while ordinarily he could adapt himself to circumstances, traveling by car instead of having a soothing influence as it does with some, seemed to keep him awake. He was thoroughly tired out, and was standing, just now, when our story opens, on dark and lonesome dock in San Francisco.

He was awaiting the return of Jo and Tom Darlington, his comrades in many trying and nerve-racking ventures, and he did not observe, or at least he did not give heed to a single, tall, sturdy figure quietly approaching him from the back, but keeping the while in the shelter of the warehouse roof which cast a heavy shadow upon the floor of the dock.

Juarez, as we have said, was sleepy, so sleepy that it seemed to him that the most desirable thing in the world would be to lie down upon the rough and knotty planks upon which he was standing and give himself up to the drowsiness which was overpowering him.

For the time he had entirely forgotten Jo's last admonition:

"Remember, Captain Bill Broome is in town, and he'll sure get you if you don't watch out."

He had smiled grimly at the warning, visions of some of his experiences with the redoubtable captain passing through his mind, but he had in no other way shown any evidence that the words of Jo had made any impression upon him. Nevertheless he had mentally promised himself to be on his guard, but the sleepy spell that he could not shake off put old Bill Broome and everything else out of his mind.

Beside, how could the captain know that he was in town? It would seem that if he, the captain, knew anything at all about the whereabouts of the boys, he would place them, Jo and Tom in New York, and Juarez in Kansas, for they had arrived in San Francisco only a few hours before and their visit too a most unexpected one.

Juarez, the reader should know, was a youth of eighteen, and although the son of American parents, he had been stolen by Indians when a child and had been brought up by them. He and his sister had been rescued by Jo, Tom and their elder brother Jim.

He had many of the traits and habits peculiar to the wild life he had led so long, and ordinarily could be depended upon to be watchful and alert. But to-night, after the long railroad journey, he found himself in a large city where safety was seemingly assured. With the insistent desire for sleep he relaxed his vigilance, and was only recalled to wakefulness and a recognition of his surroundings when he felt himself suddenly seized and his arms pinned fast to the rough wall of the building against which he had been carelessly leaning.

We have made some mention of the early life of his comrades, the Frontier Boys, and the reader will likely wish to know more about them. Jo and Tom were twins; however, the former was the most active and go-ahead, but the real leader in their adventures was James, the elder brother. It would be difficult to find anywhere a finer specimen of young manhood than James, better known among his friends as Jim Darlington.

Tall, rather slender in build, but well proportioned, with muscles as hard and strong as though they were wrought of steel, he had the strength and quickness of a catamount, and was afraid of nothing, but even more than this, he was manly, honest, resourceful, and to be depended upon to the last. He was not exactly handsome, but the self-reliant way in which he carried himself made him conspicuous even in a crowd. With it all he was in no way assertive or aggressive, but calmly ready to meet whatever might happen to come whether it were good or ill.

From his home town in New York State, Jim had been suddenly called to the Far West to look after his yacht, the Sea Eagle, an ocean going boat equipped for propelling power with sail and engine. He had bought the boat fairly enough, but on enforced conditions, which Captain Bill Broome, the former owner, had recently found a way to override, illegally, of course, but he was in possession, which is generally said to be nine points of the law.

Juarez had known nothing of the Sea Eagle complication, but one day a stranger had come to the Kansas Town where he lived, enquired for him and had promptly laid before the youth a proposition to join in a venture to search for lost treasures in the South Seas. The professor, for so he introduced himself, had all the needed funds for the venture, but lacked experienced assistants. He wanted them not only with experience, but honest as well, for naturally, if success attended his efforts, and the sought for treasure was found it would prove an ever present temptation to an unruly crew, or one disposed to evil.

Juarez had accepted the offer as soon as made. The quiet life of the farm, and even the occasional visits to the small, nearby country town were dull indeed. To one of his active nature this life was very monotonous. He had promptly wired, at the professor's request, to James Darlington, and Jo, receiving the message in his brother's absence, had, after consulting Tom, wired acceptance of the very liberal offer made.

So it had come about that Jim being in San Francisco on one mission, his brothers and their friend had arrived to take part in another enterprise.

Reaching San Francisco, effort had been made by the three boys to locate Jim, but so far unsuccessfully. The reader of the "Frontier Boys in Frisco" is fully conversant of the episode which had taxed Jim's time and attention.

The boys had arranged to sleep aboard the professor's boat, and Juarez was awaiting the return of Jo and Tom, who had gone upon some errand.

Juarez, thus suddenly awakened, struggled vainly but furiously for a few moments to break the iron grasp that held him as in a vice. Then, with Indian cunning he apparently gave up the attempt and ceased to struggle, but resolved to renew his efforts at the first opportunity that offered.

He had been taken so unaware that he had no chance to see who it was that had stolen upon him from the back, seized him, and held him with his face to the wall of the building against which he had been leaning.

"Ho!" cried a gruff voice, "I have got you at last."

"It looks that way," admitted Juarez. "Who are you and what do you want?"

"You," replied the other.

"What do you want with me?" went on Juarez.

"That you will soon find out," was the reply, with just a suspicion of exultant laughter in the tone of the speaker, at the same time relaxing his hold a little.

With the quickness of a panther, Juarez, as he felt the other's hold relax, slipped from his grasp, and whirling about seized his opponent in turn and a moment later the two were rolling and tumbling about on the floor of the dock. They were so equally matched in strength that it seemed only by chance or through some lucky turn in his favor that either would be able to overcome the other.

Jim Darlington and John Berwick, the latter the once time engineer of the Sea Eagle, were on the morning on which our story opened, after an early breakfast, seated in a secluded part of the rotunda of the Commercial Hotel, where, safe from possible eavesdroppers, they were discussing the events of the previous day.

"Well, Jim," asked Berwick, "what comes next?"

"I don't know," answered Jim. "I am just trying to think it out."

"Well, I hope your mind is in better condition than mine," returned Berwick, "I don't seem to see any way out."

"Then, we must make one."

"I confess it's too much for me," went on Berwick, sitting back resignedly. "That old rascal of a Bill Broome seems to have made a clean sweep of it this time. He's got the young senorita safe in his clutches on the Sea Eagle, and with that sister for a jailer, as far as I can see he will sail away with her and we can sit here and chew our thumbs for all we can do."

Berwick was referring to his own and Jim's experiences as related in a previous book, the "Frontier Boys in Frisco."

"I am not so sure of that," exclaimed Jim, shutting his teeth down with a snap. "I am not through with that old pirate yet."

"I'm with you there, Jim," agreed Berwick. "I owe him something on my own account, but I don't see any prospect of an immediate payment."

"If we only knew which way he was going."

"That's a pretty big if," said Berwick.

"Maybe not as big as it looks," returned Jim. "At any rate, I mean to find out."

"How are you going to do that?"

"I don't know yet, but I mean to find a way."

"I think you will, Jim. Have you no plan in view?"

"None, except to get a boat and follow him. I'd give half a fortune if I only had Jo and Tom here."

"And Juarez," put in Berwick.

"And Juarez, of course."

"Why not telegraph for them? It would only take a week for them to come?"

"I'm afraid Broome would not wait for them to get here," answered Jim with a smile. "Whatever we do has got to be done quick."

"I wonder what he is going to do with the senorita, anyway," went on Berwick.

"Hold her for a ransom, I suppose," answered Jim. "I've got it!" he cried, springing to his feet. "Come on."

"What now?" demanded Berwick.

"It's all right," replied Jim, "I'll explain as we go along."

"Glad of it," responded Berwick, "but I'm blessed if I see it."

"Why, you see," began Jim, but as he spoke a bellboy with a yellow envelope in his hand came up to him.

"Telegraph for yo, sah," he said, handing the envelope to Jim.

"For me!" exclaimed Jim in surprise.

"Yes, sah," replied the boy. "Just done come."

Tearing open the envelope, Jim read the message with an exclamation of surprised wonder.

"No bad news, I hope," interposed Berwick.

"On the contrary, it's more than good. Just what I was a moment ago wishing for," replied Jim, handing him the slip. "What do you think of that? Jo and Tom are actually on their way here. Why, and for what purpose I don't know, but so it is."

"Of all things!" ejaculated Berwick. "What can it mean?"

"That luck is with us," said Jim. "We will get the Sea Eagle back yet."

"I hope so," replied the engineer, dubiously, "but--"

"Now, John, don't be bringing in any buts," retorted Jim. "Don't you believe we can do it?"

"Haven't any doubt of it," returned Berwick, laughing heartily at Jim's impetuous speech. "I was only going to say that Broome is a pretty tough customer."

"We won't quarrel about that," admitted Jim, with a grin. "He is about the toughest proposition we have been up against."

"Have you any plan in mind," went on Berwick.

"I think the first thing to do," answered Jim, "is to go and see Senor de Cordova and learn what he has heard of the senorita."

"Why do you think he has heard anything?"

"If Broome is holding her for a ransom, as we believe, he will send word to her father as to when and where to send the money."

"That seems reasonable," agreed Berwick.

"I propose to be there, and have a hand in the proceedings."

"Oh, you do! And how do you propose to get there?"

"Can't say yet until I know the when and where of it. It will probably be in some secluded place where they will expect to be safe from attack, which will suit us all the better, as we will give them a surprise. If we can't do any better we will follow them."

"Going to swim after them?"

"It isn't as bad as that," laughed Jim. "I think we will be able to pick up a boat somewhere that will serve us. The first thing to do is to find out where they are going."

"That does seem to be advisable," returned Berwick, "if we expect to be there."

"Now, don't be sarcastic, old chap," replied Jim, good-naturedly. "You know what I mean. Of course, all our plans must be based on that."

"All right, Jim," agreed Berwick, "but how do you propose to get that information?"

"Ask Senor de Cordova."

"Don't believe he will tell you," said Berwick laconically.

"Well, if he has had word from Broome, he has probably been warned not to say anything about it."

"I hadn't thought of that," admitted Jim, "but still I think he will tell us. It fairly makes me wild when I think of that girl in the hands of those ruffians."

Jim clenched his hands as he vowed to himself that it would go hard with them if any harm came to her.

"Same here," responded Berwick heartily.

Jim was pondering deeply, and sat gazing through the windows.

"Do you know where to find the Senor?" Berwick went on a few minutes later.

"I suppose he is stopping at the Palace. That is where we saw them the other day."

A few minutes walk brought them to the hotel, where, on inquiry, they learned that the Senor had been stopping there, but that he had gone away that morning.

"No, he did not say where he was going," the clerk informed them. "He went away on horseback and his man on another mount."

"Then he will probably return to-day?" suggested Jim.

"Who knows?" the clerk answered with a shrug of his shoulders. "No, he did not say where he was going or when he would be back. No, he hasn't given up his room. If it is anything of importance about which you wish to see the Senor, you might interview his lawyer, Mr. Reynolds at No. 10 Court street, who, perhaps might know where he has gone."

"Were they his own horses?" went on Jim.

"Couldn't say," replied the clerk. "Perhaps the porter can tell you. He went for the horses, I believe. Here, Pedro," calling the porter, who was standing nearby, "you got the horses for the Senor this morning, didn't you?"

"Si, Senor," answered the porter, a swarthy Mexican.

"Where did they come from?" asked Jim.

"From Ross and McLanes," replied the porter. "The Senor told me to tell them to send around the best horses they had in the stable, no matter what they cost. They were mucho hermosa, very handsome. He paid for them right down. Never questioned the price."

"Sorry I can't give you more information," added the clerk, "but I think if you want to find the Senor, you had better see Mr. Reynolds."

"Thank you," replied Jim. "We will go there."

"Hem!" commented Berwick when they were on the street again. "We didn't find out very much."

"I don't know," answered Jim. "At least we have found that he has heard from Broome."

"How do you make that out?"

"He went away unexpectedly or he would have made more preparation, and he left no word where he was going or when he would be back, which shows that he was going on some secret mission."

"You are probably right," admitted Berwick, after a moment's thought. "We won't be able to get any information from him."

"But we may get something from his lawyer," replied Jim cheerfully. "He probably knows where he has gone."

"What shall we do to get there, walk or ride?"

"Better ride, I think," said Jim, hailing a cab. "We haven't any time to lose."

It was only a short distance, and in less than fifteen minutes they were in the office of Mr. William Howard Reynolds, who was better known to the shady side of San Francisco than he was to the reputable inhabitants of the town. The office was in an old, rather dilapidated building, not far from the city hall.

"Mr. Reynolds is in," so the clerk in charge of the outer office informed them, "but is particularly engaged at this time. If the gentlemen will be seated, I will learn if Mr. Reynolds will see them."

Going into an inner office, he returned a moment later to say that Mr. Reynolds was very busy, and that he would not be able to give them any time unless their business with him was of importance.

"Tell him," directed Jim, "that I wish to see him on a matter of much importance to Senor de Cordova."

The clerk, a man of about forty, with an expressionless face, except for a cunning twinkle about the eyes, took the card Jim handed him, and again disappeared into the inner room.

At this moment Jim, who was standing by the windows looking upon the street, happened to glance down and caught a glimpse of the familiar figure of Captain Broome, who had apparently just emerged from the building.

"I wonder what he was doing here," muttered Jim to himself.

"Who? What?" asked Berwick.

"Sh!" whispered Jim, "I will tell you later."

"Mr. Reynolds will see you for a few minutes," announced the clerk, holding open the door to the inner office for them to pass through.

The room which Jim and the chief engineer entered was furnished in marked contrast to the outer room, which was plainly, even meagerly equipped with a few chairs and a table or two and a desk. The inner room was luxuriously and lavishly fitted up with a handsome mahogany desk, easy chairs, fine paintings upon the walls and costly rugs upon the floor.

Motioning to them to be seated with a sweep of his hand, upon which glittered a serpent ring of peculiar design with ruby eyes which seemed to glow as if alive, the lawyer eyed them coldly for a moment through half closed eyes.

"You wished to see me upon business connected with the Senor de Cordova," he said, without any preliminary greeting.

"Yes," replied Jim quietly, "I have been referred to you as being in charge of his affairs."

"The clerk at the Palace Hotel."

"Ah, indeed. What is the nature of your business with him?"

"That I will communicate with him personally," answered Jim, who had conceived an instant distrust of the man. "What I wish to know is his present address."

The lawyer leaned back in his chair and softly whistled for a moment with a sort of hissing sound.

"He's concocting some sort of a scheme now," thought Jim, who was regarding him critically.

"I cannot inform you of his exact whereabouts," remarked the lawyer, "but he is somewhere in the northern part of the State. He was called away on some important business."

"Was it in connection with the abduction of his daughter?" asked Jim, rising to his feet and standing beside the desk looking directly into the eyes of the lawyer.

"Eh, what is that?" asked the lawyer, hastily shuffling the papers on his desk, but not before Jim had caught sight of the words "San Mat--" in a familiar handwriting.

"I said, has his journey any connection with the abduction of his daughter?" repeated Jim.

"What do you know about the abduction of the Senorita de Cordova?" asked the lawyer, sharply. "Perhaps you had something to do with it."

"I haven't anything to do with it," answered Jim, "but I know who did, and I know where the Senorita is."

"Indeed, you seem to think, young man, that you know a good deal. Suppose I were to put the matter in the hands of the police?"

"Just as you like," responded Jim, "there is my address if you want me. You can find me there any time. I think," turning to Berwick, "there is nothing more to be gained here."

"There doesn't seem to be," replied Berwick.

"Then don't waste any more of my time," said the lawyer sharply. "Wickham," to the clerk, "you can show these gentlemen," with a sneering emphasis on "the gentlemen," "out."

Thus curtly dismissed, Jim and his companion made their way to the street.

As soon as they had gone, the lawyer hastily wrote upon a sheet of paper: