Jack looked in every direction for an opening. There were none.
Well, girls, its a case of taking the bull by the horns. Ill grab one of these old nags by the head and lead him out; then you can follow through the gap and land on the other side of this mob which is after our money thats what it is!
No sooner said than done; hence Ray, not caring to be considered a laggard in such a good work, followed suit and caught hold of the head of a horse next the one taken by Jack. But the men who owned these animals felt that they had a right in the matter. At the very moment that Jack caught hold of the bit of the horse, the black driver lashed the flank of his beast unmercifully, causing the horse to start and tear across the open square in front of the quay. Naturally this unexpected move dragged Jack from his feet, and in constant danger of being trampled or kicked, he found it unwise to let go his hold.
The girls stood and screamed, but Ray let go his hold on the other horse and dashed madly after his friend. He thought the horse was running away, with Jack hanging to his head. By the time Polly collected her wits enough to act, Jack was out of sight around the corner, and Ray was sprinting after the equipage which had been lost in a cloud of yellow dust.
Here! Jump in and lets go after them! ordered Eleanor, as she spied a hack with a good looking horse in its shafts.
Polly sprang in and Eleanor followed, but before Ruth or Nancy could get in, the driver slammed the door and off he went, in a whirl of dust. Ruth and Nancy stood dumb and watched them go.
By this time Mr. Dalken and his friends came up. He looked around in surprise. Why! Where is Jack and the others?
Oh, Dalky! cried Ruth, Jacks been run away with and the two girls have been kidnapped!
Impossible! In broad daylight? exclaimed many voices.
Nancy tried to explain all that had happened in so short a time, then Mr. Dalken laughed. Exactly what I advised you against. If we had landed last night every one would have been whipped into a separate vehicle and carried off to a different hotel. These drivers are paid to drag visitors to the various houses willy-nilly, and once the tourists arrive, they are so frightened at their experience, they usually remain where they have been left. But where did the man take Polly and Eleanor?
While he spoke, such a clamor and wrangling of drivers at the elbows of each one in the group, drove Mr. Dalken distracted. Finally he turned and held up a hand for silence. Little cared these black men for New York authority or prestige. They all wanted a fare, and that was all.
Theres but one thing to do each one of us get in a separate hack and tell the man to drive you to the Spring Hotel. When you arrive there tell him to wait for me that I carry the purse. That will cool their blood and have them ready for me when I arrive.
Mr. Fabian laughed, but it was the only solution to rid themselves of being pulled to tatters by the myriad of besieging men. Quickly then Mr. and Mrs. Fabian got in one cab, Mr. and Mrs. Ashby in another, Nancy and Ruth with Mr. Dalken got in a third, and all started off.
As far as weather went, the day was beautiful and calm. But the old rackety hacks went seesawing over the yellow road whence one could see the blue edge of the sea far out beyond the coral reefs. White bits of sail on distant little vessels made bright spots on the blue glassy horizon. Finally, after a drive of not more than ten blocks, but a trip which the wily drivers had stretched out into twenty blocks by going round about the town, the first load of shaken-up passengers reached the hotel verandah. The driver brought his horse to a sudden stop with a wild hurrah and a flourish of the limp whip. Then he sprang to the ground and demanded his money.
Youll have to wait for the last man to arrive. He has the money, explained Mr. Fabian, as instructed.
Such a volley of expletives then poured from the mans mouth that Mrs. Fabian covered her ears and ran for the hotel porch. But a diversion occurred in having the second hack arrive and crash into the first one. The Ashbys stepped out with shaking nerves and white faces.
Oh, such a drive! gasped Mrs. Ashby, but the driver interrupted her by demanding his money.
He received the same reply as that given to the first driver. The second man could curse even more fluently than the one who had sent Mrs. Fabian scurrying away. But Mr. Ashby quietly took one step forward and caught the whip from the darkys hand. Instantly he cowered and bobbed as if in apology.
Then came Mr. Dalkens equipage, with Ruth and Nancy in mortal dread of being killed before the man would stop his horse.
Where is Jack and the other girls? asked Mr. Dalken, looking around in wonderment. He had fully expected to find them all there.
Before any
one could reply, the wrangling over the fares began again. Each driver claimed four times the usual fee, but Mr. Dalken understood them, and when at last he had settled for the regular price of a dollar a trip, they smiled politely and drove away.