The day had started in bright and clear, but by ten o’clock it began to grow misty, and soon a drizzling rain was falling and they were compelled to seek the shelter of the cabin. “I think we may as well improve our time by having a talk about Jamaica,” said Professor Strong. “We shall only stop for one day at Kingston--unless something unforeseen happens--but it won’t hurt to know something of this English possession.” He had his map handy, and placing it on the wall he sat down in front of it, and the boys ranged close alongside. “As you can readily see,” began the professor, “Jamaica is an island located in the Caribbean Sea directly north of Colombia in South America and south of the island of Cuba. It is oval in shape and is about one hundred and fifty miles long by fifty miles wide. Can any of you name a State at home of about that size?” There was a few seconds of silence. “If I am not mistaken New Jersey is just a little larger than that,” answered Mark. “You are right Robertson, the general length and the general width are about the same, although New Jersey contains more square miles than Jamaica. The island has a ridge of high hills running east and west, called the Blue Mountains, and from these hills spring over half a dozen small streams which flow into the sea.” “Can you sail on the rivers?” came from Darry. “On only a few, Crane, the others contain too many rapids and waterfalls. The deepest stream is the Black River, which is used by small boats for perhaps twenty-five or thirty miles. I once had an adventure on that river, so I am not likely to forget it.” “Oh, tell us the story!” cried Frank, eagerly. He always thought a “geography lesson” awfully dry. “It is soon told,” answered Professor Strong, with a good natured smile. “I had been out hunting and had slipped on a steep rock and twisted my ankle. I went down to the river and there discovered a rowboat. No one was at hand from whom I could hire the boat and I could not walk around looking up the owner. So I determined to risk taking the boat, and jumping in I shoved off and began to row down to the town, two miles away. I had hardly gotten quarter of a mile when I heard a shouting and two old Englishmen came running down the river bank, yelling wildly. They, too, had been out gunning, and before I could come back and explain one of them aimed his gun at me and fired.” “And were you hit?” asked several of the boys together. “No, fortunately his aim was poor and the charge passed over my head. Then I rowed to shore in a hurry, and after a good deal of trouble explained matters. They told me that they had had their boat stolen by negroes three days before and in the darkness took me for one of the negroes. I felt like giving them a piece of my mind for shooting at me, but as it was their boat I let the matter drop. But I never borrowed another boat without permission.” “I’d had ’em locked up,” came from Hockley, who had just joined the group.