As only three staterooms were to be had, Amos Strong had taken Sam in with himself and given another room to Frank and Mark. This just suited the two New York boys and they at once proceeded to make themselves as comfortable as the limited means permitted. As the steamer was a small one and carried but few passengers, the help was also limited, and both the table and the staterooms were looked after by a tall, gaunt negro who rejoiced in the name of January Jones. The colored man was from Alabama and had shipped some months before. He was thoroughly good natured, but one would never have guessed this from his face, which was usually as solemn as that of an owl. “Be pleased to help yo’ young gen’men wid yo’ things,” he announced, on presenting himself. “Do whatever yo’ wants me to, sah.” “Thanks, but everything is about done,” said Mark, who was addressed. Then he added: “Are you the porter?” “Yes, sah, I’se de portah an’ de waitah, sah.” “Two in one, eh? All right, George, we’ll call on you later.” “Yes, sah--January Jones, sah.” “January Jones!” came from Frank. “That’s an odd name. How did they come to name you January?” “Ole massa did dat, sah--afo’ de wah, sah. Called me January because I was boahn in July, sah--said eberything was goin’ wrong, wid that wah comin’ on, an’ things was turnin’ ’round, sah.” At this Mark and Frank laughed outright. “He was certainly a humorist, January,” said Mark. “Massa was a cotton plantah, sah--had a big plantation on de ribber, sah. He’s dead an’ gone now, an’ so is de missus.” “Well, then he was a planter as well as a humorist.” “Didn’t nebber hear him say nuffin ’bout bein’ in de humorist business, sah. But I was a little piccaninny dem days an’ didn’t know nuffin. Den I can’t do nuffin fo’ you?” “Not now, but we’ll want you later,” answered Mark, and January Jones shuffled off to call on the others. “That’s what I call a character,” said Mark, after another laugh. “I reckon we can have some fun with January before this trip comes to an end.” Early in the morning the _Chester_ left the harbor of La Guayra, with its many ships of all nations and its strange native fishing smacks. The boys and the professor stood at the rail and remained there until land became a mere blur in the distance. “Farewell to Venezuela!” cried Sam, taking off his hat and making a profound bow. “Our trip was full of pleasure and full of excitement. May the coming trip please us equally.” “And be less full of peril,” added Professor Strong. “Too much excitement is worse than none at all.” “Oh, Professor, we’ve got to have some excitement,” said Darry. “Now that it is all over I think everything was just about right.” “But I am under orders to bring you back home safe and sound,” returned Amos Strong, with a peculiar smile. “And how can I do that if you insist on placing your head in the lion’s mouth?” “I haven’t seen a lion yet,” said Darry, with a vacant stare. “Where is he and where’s his mouth?”