[Illustration: Down came the youth, head first.--_Page 145._] Pan-American Series THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS OR AMERICAN BOYS IN THE WEST INDIES BY EDWARD STRATEMEYER Author of “Lost on the Orinoco,” “With Washington in the West,” “American Boys’ Life of William McKinley,” “Old Glory Series,” “Ship and Shore Series,” “Bound to Succeed Series,” etc. _ILLUSTRATED BY A. B. SHUTE_ BOSTON: LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. 1930 COPYRIGHT, 1902, BY LEE AND SHEPARD Entered at Stationers’ Hall, London _All rights reserved_ THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS PRINTED IN U.S.A. PREFACE “THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS” is a complete story in itself, but forms the second volume of a line issued under the general title of the “Pan-American Series.” When I began this series of tales I had in mind to acquaint my young readers with some of the sights to be seen in the three Americas,--especially such portions as lie outside of the United States. In the first volume, called “Lost on the Orinoco,” I told of the sight-seeing and adventures of five American lads, who, in company with their academy professor, who is also a great traveler and hunter, journey to Venezuela, our sister Republic on the north-east coast of South America. The boys visit several principal cities, inspect cocoa and coffee plantations as well as gold and silver mines, and then explore the mighty river already named. In the present volume the scene is shifted from Venezuela to the West Indies, that group of islands of which Porto Rico has already become the property of the United States. Because of the recent Spanish-American War, and the still more recent volcanic disturbances in Martinique and St. Vincent, these islands are of unusual interest to us. In this book the boys and their instructor sail from Venezuela to Jamaica, stopping at Kingston, and then go to Havana, Cuba. In Cuba several places of importance are visited, and then the trip is continued to Hayti and to Porto Rico, where the party travel overland from San Juan to Ponce. At the latter city word is received that the fathers of two of the boys have gone to St. Pierre, Martinique, and the party start for that point, only to encounter the effects of the volcanic eruption when still far at sea. But Martinique is visited, nevertheless, and later on St. Vincent also, and in spite of the many dangers, all ends happily. In penning this tale I have, as usual, tried to be as accurate as possible when giving historical or geographical details. The latest and best American and Spanish authorities have been consulted, and, in the case of the disasters at Martinique and St. Vincent, I have read with care the reports of all who suffered and escaped, and of those who have since visited these spots of interest. Once again I wish to thank the many thousands who have perused my former works. May the present volume fulfil their every expectation.