The Search for the Silver City | Page 5

food was no longer disagreeable, but very

pleasing to him.
Therefore it was that when the Sea Dream left Cottage City for the
Bahamas, the delightful portion of the cruise, so far as Teddy was
concerned, had but just begun.
Inasmuch as there was no especial reason why they should arrive at any
certain time, and the owner wished to remain at sea as long as possible
while making the voyage, the yacht was run at half speed, thus not only
saving considerable coal; but unnecessary wear and tear of the
machinery.
That it could be very warm on the water had never entered the minds of
the boys; but as they journeyed southward the heat became intense.
During two days it was almost a perfect calm, the only air stirring being
that caused by the motion of the steamer, and the cabin seemed like an
oven. There the thermometer stood at 84 degrees, while in the galley it
was twenty degrees higher, and in the engine-room it frequently rose to
130 degrees.
Neal and Teddy could do little more than lie under the awning aft,
working hard but unsuccessfully to keep cool by the aid of fans and
such iced drinks as the steward prepared.
The novelty of yachting had passed away in a measure, and they were
already counting the days which must elapse before the Sea Dream
would be in a less torrid climate.
Jake had assured them that when the yacht came to an anchor and the
fires were drawn it would be much cooler on board, therefore both the
boys were delighted when Bridge Point at the entrance to the N. E.
Providence Channel was sighted.
There was a light breeze blowing off the banks, and the yacht was
running slowly as she passed within a quarter of a mile of the low lying
land, when suddenly a most disagreeable odor from the shore caused
Neal to say impatiently:

"If such perfumes as that are common to the Bahamas I had rather
endure the heat than stay a very long while, no matter how cool it may
be when we cease steaming."
"What is it?" and Teddy covered his nose with his handkerchief.
"I don't know; but I wish Jake would put her ahead faster, for it is
absolutely sickening."
His desire for more speed was not gratified. To the surprise of both the
boys the engine-room gong sounded for the machinery to be stopped,
and as the headway was checked Mr. Walters, the sailing master, came
from the wheel-house to where Mr. Emery was sitting.
The boys could not hear the short conversation which followed; but
their surprise increased as the order was given to lower away one of the
port boats.
"What are we stopping here for?" Neal inquired of his father.
"Doesn't the odor give you any idea?" Mr. Emery asked with a smile.
"None except that the sooner we get away the more comfortable I shall
feel."
"When I tell you that we are likely to find as the cause of your
discomfort something nearly as precious as gold, it may be a trifle more
bearable."
Both Neal and Teddy looked perplexed, and the latter said laughingly:
"It is strong enough to be worth a good deal; but do you really mean
what you say, sir?"
"Every word. Mr. Walters thinks he can find ambergris which has been
washed up on the rocks, and that is quoted at ten dollars per ounce.
Now you boys have been at school long enough to know exactly why it
is so valuable."

"I have heard of it as being the base of the finest perfumes," Neal said
slowly; "but that must surely be a mistake if it smells anything like
this," and he did violence to his stomach by inhaling a long breath of
the disagreeably laden air.
"It is true, nevertheless. Ambergris is believed to be the product of a
sort of ulcer or cancer which has formed in the bowels of a whale. After
a certain length of time, or because a cure has been wrought by change
of feeding place, the mass is dislodged. It floats, and is often found far
out to sea; but more particularly among the cays in the Turks islands. It
is the foundation of nearly every perfume, and in ancient times was
used for spicing wine."
During this conversation the boat had been lowered, and, with Mr.
Walters as steersman, was being pulled toward the land. Now Neal and
Teddy were sorry they had not accompanied the sailing master; but it
was too late for regrets, and the odor did not seem to be nearly as
disagreeable since they knew from what it proceeded.
"Never mind how much the stuff is worth," Teddy said, as he and Neal
leaned