CHAPTER VI.
A JOURNEY
A FEW days after the earthquake, early in the forenoon, there came arap at the door of Vasco's home. Inez, always alert, ran to the door,and, throwing it open, saw Harlan Andrews standing there.
"Good morning, Inez," said the young American.
Inez had become quite well acquainted with Harlan because of his manyvisits to Vasco, and was always glad to see him. So she gave a cheerfulsmile and hearty response to his greeting, and invited him to enter.
"Is Vasco at home?" asked Harlan, as he came into the living-room.
"Yes, he is out in the courtyard. If you will sit down I will callhim."
Harlan thought he was quite fortunate to find Vasco. Generally at thistime of day he was out upon the streets with other boys of his age.
In a moment Vasco came into the house, and, boylike, Harlan stated hiserrand without any preliminary conversation.
"Father is going to make a trip to Colon in connection with his canalwork, and will spend some time on the way, particularly at the Culebracut. Perhaps, too, he will go up the Chagres River to the place whereit is proposed to build the big dam. He is going to take me with him,and says I may invite you to go along."
"Oh, that will be fine!" exclaimed Vasco, and he fairly jumped upand down with glee. In fact, he was so overwhelmed by the thought ofthe proposed journey that he nearly forgot to thank Harlan for theinvitation. When he did come to his senses, his gratitude was profuse,and his tongue could not begin to express his thoughts.
Then again, after a few moments, he remembered that this trip wasfor more than a day, perhaps for more than a week, and it might benecessary to consult his parents before accepting the invitation. Atonce he turned to his mother, who had overheard all the conversation.
"Are you willing I should go with Harlan?" Vasco inquired.
For a moment his mother did not reply, and the boy was very anxious forfear that when she did give her answer it might not be favourable.
Finally the senora said, "If your father has no objection, I think I amwilling to let you go."
"Then I'll go now to ask him. Come on, Harlan," said Vasco.
The lieutenant was stationed in the city at this time, so the boys hadnot far to go. Vasco did not anticipate any great difficulty in gaininghis father's consent to the journey. As the result proved, his hopeswere well founded, for Lieutenant Barretas was quite willing his sonshould go anywhere, provided he was in Mr. Andrews's care.
"It's all right, then," said Harlan when the matter was decided. "Meetme at the railway station next Monday morning at eight o'clock." Thiswas Friday.
For Vasco, the two days between Friday and Monday passed--oh, soslowly! It seemed as if they would never go by!
Meanwhile, his mother gave him a bit of information which later turnedout to be of value. "You say you may go up the Chagres River?" sheasked her son.
"Yes, so Harlan told me," was Vasco's reply.
"I have never told you that I have a brother living in that part ofthe country--your Uncle Francisco Herreras. The last I knew of himhe had a plantation not far from Palo Grande. I hope, if you go nearthere, you may be able to call upon him. I am sure he will be veryhospitable to you all."
At last Monday morning came. Very early Vasco awoke, ate the breakfasthis mother made ready for him, and long before the hour appointed wasready to start for the railway station. He was so impatient to be onhis way that he left home a full hour earlier than was necessary.Consequently, he had to wait a long time at the depot.
But time flies, even for the most impatient lads, and in due timeHarlan and his father made their appearance.
"What do you think, Vasco?" said Harlan. "We are going to have aspecial train!"
"Where is it?" asked Vasco, who saw no sign of anything of that sort inthe depot.
"Oh, it's not in here. It's outside in the train-yard. We are going outthere to get aboard."
Vasco thought this a little strange, but felt that he could ask noquestions. In a moment Mr. Andrews called to the boys to follow him,and led the way outside the station.
Directly they came in sight of an engine, to which was attached a boxcar and a flat car such as are ordinarily used for freight. On theflat car were fixed several seats, and an awning had been erectedas protection from the fierce rays of the sun. In the box car werewell-equipped bunks, where the members of the party might sleep atnight when better accommodations were wanting.
"This is our special private car," said Harlan. "What do you think ofit?"
"I think it will suit me all right," said Vasco.
Mr. Andrews explained to the boys that he was on a tour of inspectionin connection with the canal work, and this train had been placed athis disposal. He was glad, in connection with his work, to give apleasure trip to the boys. He hoped it might also prove an instructiveand beneficial one to them.
While Mr. Andrews had been talking to the boys they all had climbedupon the flat car and taken seats. Then, with a wave of the hand tothe engineer, the signal was given, the throttle opened, and the trainbegan its journey.
Slowly it moved until away from the city, but when it had passed outupon the beautiful broad savannahs, or grassy plains, which lie nearPanama it moved with greater speed. To Vasco it seemed very fastindeed, though it was far otherwise to Harlan, who had ridden on therapid express trains in his own country.
As the train drew farther from Panama they came to a more hilly region.In turn they passed through Corozal, Rio Grande, Miraflores, PedroMiguel, and Paraiso. Most of these places were small settlements. Nearthe little railway stations would be seen a few wretched houses. Whatfew inhabitants were in sight appeared to be of native Indian descentand wandered about in scanty clothing, with no apparent occupation.
At Paraiso the train was run on to a side-track.
"We shall have to wait here awhile for the regular passenger-train forPanama City to pass us," said Mr. Andrews.
"How long shall we have to wait?" asked Harlan.
"Oh, I'm sure I don't know. The trains on this road come when theyplease and go when they get ready. You may as well take it easy till wecan go on again."
"How long does it take to run across the Isthmus?" asked Vasco.
"Generally about three hours for the forty-mile trip, but as I justtold Harlan, you can't be sure of anything on this road. They ought togive better service, for they carry nearly one hundred thousand peoplea year."
Fortunately our friends did not have to wait very long, and when theyagain had a clear track they proceeded on their way.
"It must have been a big job to build this road," said Vasco, as theyrode on.
"Yes," replied Mr. Andrews, "it was a great triumph of American genius.During its construction multitudes of men were killed by the deadlyfever, but finally Chinese labourers were imported and successfullycompleted the work, though even many of these Oriental coolies died."
The train whirled on through rocky hills and valleys luxuriant withtropical foliage. As it approached Culebra Mountain Vasco's eyes openedwide at the sights he saw. From the main track various spurs werelaid, on which stood giant steam-shovels.
"'THAT SCOOP WILL DIG OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN A TON OF EARTHAT A TIME'"]
Pointing to one of them, Mr. Andrews said: "That scoop will dig outof the mountain a ton of earth at a time. Then it is swung around andits load emptied into a gravel-car. In this manner train-load aftertrain-load is taken from the sides of the mountain each day and hauledaway and dumped either into a valley or into the sea at Colon."
Vasco also saw large gangs of men at work on the side of the mountain.Most of them were negroes from Jamaica. As the boys watched them attheir labour Harlan said to his friend: "Well, those fellows can't beaccused of trying to work themselves out of a job. I reckon they wouldmove livelier than that if they were at work on some of our Americanrailroads."
Vasco, Our Little Panama Cousin Page 9