H. Bedford-Jones

“ Job Warlock tucked a big quid of tobacco away and grinned.
“Never mind your hankerings, matey—stick to business! Our job is to get to Panama and pick up news of the company. If that Dias is what we think him, you may be sure he has posted men here to watch for us, and our only chance is to slip along unknown. Yes, we'd better find that Indian and get moving.”
“There's the fellow,” said Hampton suddenly, and pointed. “Bargaining with those three Frenchmen. I'll go and attend to him—you grab his boat, that big canoe with the second man in it. ”

“ On the near bank was set up a shrine, tattered and despoiled by weather, and Job Warlock proposed that they halt for a rest and a bite to eat. Hampton assented gladly—both men were dripping with perspiration and exhausted by the intense humidity of the jungle trail, which was far more tiring than any acutal exertion. When Hampton would have flung himself down carelessly, however, the crafty Warlock intervened.
“Hold on! The less we show ourselves the better, matey; lay up to one side, off the trail. We're liable to meet carriers comin' from the west 'most any time now.” ”

“ Hampton explained in Spanish that a French company had arrived, and Smith was properly disgusted at finding no English speech among the three. He understood and spoke a little Spanish, however, and informed them that Panama was crowded with gold-seekers, and the only chance of getting to California lay in shipping south to Callao and catching a north-bound ship there. Every such ship was crowded by the time it touched at Panama.
“The last company acrost had a tough time,” went on Smith, in a mixture of Spanish and English. “Beverly men, and most of 'em are stuck in Panama now. ”

“ Anyhow, we're sure to meet him—one good thing about this trail, a body can't get lost on it. Like goin' to the main royal yard; there's only one way to do it. How are you and me goin' to show up in Panama City, though? Some o' them Beverly men are sure to spot us, beard or no beard.”
“I was thinking the same thing, Job. We'd better lie low when we get there—go out only at night. Luckily, we had our money with us when Dias set us adrift; so we can buy ourselves Spanish outfits. Might be a good notion to call ourselves Basques, too, since we talk Spanish.” ”

“ All these greenhorns are bound and determined to ride, on account of snakes; but it's a heap better and quicker to go afoot. Them mules are razor-backed, savvy? Mostly half-dead, too. All the carrying is done by peons. We can pack our blankets and make Panama tomorrow night with luck. Ain't that news about our Beverly company, though?”
“Bad news,” said Hampton. “Just as we thought. Dias robbed and left most of them, and took the others along. ”

“ He gave them advice on securing mules here, and on behalf of the Frenchmen who were following, Warlock undertook to arrange for these. Their French companion was only too glad to stay in Gorgona and keep the muleteers under constraint until his friends arrived. So Job went out with Smith, and in half an hour was back with a number of peons. Matters were arranged promptly, and after shaking their blankets for stray scorpions, the three rolled up for the night.
“You and me,” said Job softly, in Hampton's ear, “can light out in the mornin' afoot, since we ain't got no luggage. ”

“ One of them, whose cool gray eyes gleamed like ice above his half-grown fair beard, turned to his swart companion.
“Let 'em work out their own salvation, Job. They'd never be able to get all their stuff to the isthmus, anyway; the less they have to carry, the better. ”