There was nothing to do but to let the storm
blow itself out, which it did in two days. Then
came a period of delightful weather. The cargo
had shifted somewhat, which gave the steamer
a rather undignified list.
This, as well as the loss of a deckhand
overboard, was the effect of the hurricane, and
though the end of the trip came amid sunshine
and sweet-scented tropical breezes, many could
not forget the dangers through which they had
passed.
In due time Tom and his party found
themselves safely housed in the small hotel at Puerto
Cortes, their belongings stored in a convenient
warehouse and themselves, rather weary by reason
of the stress of weather, ready for the start
into the interior wilds of Honduras.
"How are we going to make the trip?" asked
Ned, as they sat at supper, the first night after
their arrival, eating of several dishes, the red-
pepper condiments of which caused frequent trips
to the water pitcher.
"We can go in two ways, and perhaps we shall
find it to our advantage to use both means," said
Professor Bumper. "To get to this city of Kurzon,"
he proceeded in a low voice, so that none
of the others in the dining-room would hear
them, "we will have to go either by mule back
or boat to a point near Copan. As near as I
can tell by the ancient maps, Kurzon is in the
Copan valley.
"Now the Chamelecon river seems to run to
within a short distance of there, but there is
no telling how far up it may be navigable.
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