at the equally famous Island of Taboga--the most beautiful place,
as seemed to Charley, in the world. It had a white beach; from the
beach rose long slopes of green, shaded by bananas, palms, figs,
plantains, oranges, limes--every kind of tropical growth. And these
slopes were gayly colored with tiers of peak-roofed huts and houses, in
pink and yellow and brown and blue and red. Along the beach were
scores of white canoes. The people of Taboga, mostly negroes and mixed
breeds, appeared to have nothing to do but loaf about and fish and eat
and play. It was a sort of a resort place.

At Taboga the _California_ took on fresh water, and on she steamed, for
the open sea.

Gradually the walls and houses of Panama, and even mighty Ancon Hill,
faded from view.

The captain came down from the bridge, and approached the little party.

"I'll turn over my cabin to you, for sleeping quarters," he announced,
rather more kindly than before. "You'll all have to bunk in together,
some way, but I'll rig you up a cot. I'll pair off with the first
mate."

"We can't permit that, sir," answered Mr. Adams, at once. "Not a bit.
Any place on deck will do. We slept on deck, to Chagres, and we can do
the same here."

"No, sir," and the captain spoke decisively. "We're overloaded, and
you'll not find a spot vacant. I'll fare very well with the mate. I
can use the cabin daytimes, when necessary. You must have done the
handsome thing by Crosby, and I'll return the compliment as far as
possible. The steward will have your luggage stowed away, and show you
where you belong."

So saying, the captain left, not waiting for thanks.

The cabin, of course, was airy and convenient, and to occupy it made
Charley feel like a personage of importance. Mr. Grigsby chose the cot
(which was to be folded away during the day), and insisted on Charley
and his father taking the berth. After arranging their baggage, they
might stroll about and inspect the ship.

By this time the _California_ was headed well out to sea. Evidently
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company was wealthy and progressive. The
_California_ was much larger and finer than the _Georgia_, her decks
were scrubbed smooth and white, her brass-work highly polished, and
everything looked to be in apple-pie order. Her table, too, proved to
be better supplied than the table on the _Georgia_. In a large pen,
forward of the wheel-house, surrounding a platform built for the
purpose,