"It isn't fair for Jake to make me decide. He should know better than I
whether we ought to go with you. If it was possible for us to leave the
country at once there could be no question, for we must return to the
United States at the earliest opportunity."

"And since that cannot be done you have no objections to joining us in
the visit to the Silver City?"

"I don't know. You would not go until to-morrow, so we have a chance to
discuss the matter among ourselves."

"Very true. I've some work to attend to, and while I am away you will be
able to talk privately."

Then Cummings arose, went toward the house and when he disappeared from
view Neal said to Jake:

"Now tell me just what you think of going with him; I mean, what you
think father would say if we could consult him, not what we would like
to do."

"Well, if you put it in that way," and now Jake spoke as if weighing
every word, "I can't see why we shouldn't have a little fun, seein's how
we're bound to stay here longer than he allows is enough to go to this
Silver City an' back. It would be a mean kind of a man who'd object to
our havin' enjoyment after all that's happened."

"Then you believe father would approve of our going with Mr. Cummings?"

Jake was not exactly prepared to say "yes," and at the same time he did
not wish to reply in the negative after his acquiescence in all the host
had advanced as reasons why they should accompany him, and after a long
pause Neal added:

"Of course I want to go, for it can't be possible that there is very
much danger, and I make this proposition: We must sail on the next
steamer, and if Mr. Cummings is willing we should desert him, no matter
what may be the condition of affairs when it is time for us to start for
the coast, then we are warranted in accepting the proposition."

"That is what I call putting the matter in the proper light," Jake
replied with considerable emphasis. "On this basis no one can possibly
find any fault, and we may as well tell him that we have decided to go."

"First explain that we must leave Yucatan on the next steamer which
starts from Progresso."

"I'll do it, and if he is so certain that we shall be out of the Silver
City in that time there can be no reason for any fault-finding."

"I think Neal has arranged the business as it should be," Teddy said
approvingly, and from that moment the castaways believed they were
committed to the scheme.

Half an hour later, when Cummin