cabins.

On up the full length of Central America ploughed the _California_;
past Costa Rica and Nicaragua and Salvador and Guatemala--all of which
looked about the same, at this distance, no matter how they were
colored on the maps. Next came the coast of Mexico; and swinging in,
the _California_ made for Acapulco.

Beautiful was the coast of Mexico, hereabouts: a long strip of white
beach where the blue surf broke; behind, vivid green hills, their bases
dotted with white towns; and further behind, tremendous
mountain-ranges, piercing the clouds.

Acapulco seemed as hard to find as Chagres. The _California_ acted as
if she were going to butt right into the beach; and the passengers,
crowded along the landside rails, eagerly waiting, could make out no
harbor. Yet Acapulco was said to have the finest harbor between Panama
and San Francisco; and there was Acapulco itself--the old fort guarding
the harbor, the roofs of houses beyond it, and the tips of masts
betokening where ships lay at anchor.

Between horizon and sky, far up the coast, over the sea floated a
thread of black smoke. Another steamer, this, passengers said; and Mr.
Grigsby, whose eyes were so keen, agreed. The smoke seemed to attract
considerable attention from the ship's officers, and the captain
surveyed it long through his spy-glass. However, Acapulco, where they
were to be permitted to land for an hour or two, was of more importance
to the passengers; and landward the majority of eyes were turned.

Only when the _California_ had passed between a rocky island and a high
bluff or headland, did the harbor of Acapulco unfold, so cleverly was
it fashioned. Like a huge basin it was, scooped from the cliffy shore,
as if a giant shark had taken out a big bite. So steep were the
whitish cliffs, that several small vessels were lying right under them.
A dazzling beach fringed the edge of the great basin; palms and other
trees shaded it. On a high point was the castle, or fortress of San
Diego, similar to, but not so ruined as old Fort Lorenzo at the mouth
of the Chagres.

The _California_ steamed on, when suddenly "Boom!" sounded her signal
gun, to announce her arrival.

From the leafy town people came running down to the beach, and a
regular flock of canoes made a mad race from the beach for the ship.

The ship's boat was lowered, and was pulled away for the shore, bearing
the first mate. Word was spread that passengers might go ashore, for
f