a drink of
which the natives of Yucatan are very fond."

Teddy was pleased rather than otherwise with the flavor, which was as of
tea mixed with cloves, and drank so much that Poyor was forced to brew
another canteen full in order to satisfy his own desires.

The fish were pronounced delicious, and although Cummings thought he had
caught considerably more than could be consumed in one meal, there was
very little left when the hunger of all had been appeased.

It was now nearly noon, when every native of the country believes a
siesta is necessary, however important business he may have on hand, and
Poyor stretched himself once more out on the sand, Cummings advising the
boys and Jake to do the same thing.

"I slept so long that I couldn't close my eyes now if I tried, so you
had better take advantage of the opportunity."

CHAPTER XXII.

JAKE'S VENTURE.

The boys followed Cummings' advice; but owing to the fact that they had
taken no exercise the slumber was neither prolonged nor refreshing.

When they awakened Poyor and Jake were yet asleep, and they went softly
to where Cummings was keeping most vigilant watch.

"Had enough of it?" he asked with a smile.

"Yes: we are not feeling so comfortable in mind that we can sleep at
will, and just now a little goes a great way," Neal replied.

"Don't make the mistake of dwelling upon your troubles. By putting them
from your mind you are in better condition to meet what may come, and
besides, fretting never did mend matters."

"I'll admit that the advice is good; but it is not every one who can
follow it."

"Why not? Have you tried by looking for something else with which to
occupy your attention?"

"Shut up here as we are it would be pretty hard work to think of
anything except our own situation."

"I'm not so certain of that. Suppose we try by speaking of the country
on whose shores you were cast by the waves?"

"It was formerly an independent republic; but now forms one of the
Mexican states," Teddy replied promptly.

"I'll admit that to be true; but it is a small fund of information for a
schoolboy to have regarding a country which was probably the most
powerful on the hemisphere hundreds of years before Columbus crossed the
ocean. Here have been found the ruins of forty-four large cities; the
remains of enormous artificial lakes, paved roads, and, in fact, all the
evidences of a high state of civilization which existed before Europe
could boast o