“It has a population of about thirty thousand,” answered the professor, “although newcomers are drifting in from the States by every steamer. It is a great shipping point for all islands south of this, and, as you know, the terminus of one of the three railroads of Porto Rico.” Half an hour saw them in the center of the city, at the hotel the professor had selected, a hostelry very much like that they had stopped at in Havana. The street was filled with people coming and going, and venders were pushing their way this direction and that, each with a wide board balanced on his head, containing fruits, candies, or pastries. Around at the side door of the hotel were several mules, each carrying two trunks, strapped together and hung over the beast’s sides. And over all a little native boy was running along with a bundle of newspapers under his arm shrieking at the top of his lungs: “_Americano_ news! Who buy de papair? _Americano_ newspapair!” “Hurrah! At last we have struck the Porto Rican cousin of the Bowery newsboy!” cried Frank. “I declare, it makes a fellow feel quite at home. Let’s buy some papers.” And they did, paying what was equal to fifteen cents each for the sheets. They were New York papers and nearly a week old, but all were satisfied later on to sit down and read them thoroughly. CHAPTER XXII HOCKLEY IN TROUBLE On the following morning all the boys, with the exception of Hockley, were up bright and early. They wanted to see as much as possible of Ponce, for the professor assured them that the public buildings, the ancient churches, and the parks and public drives were all well worth visiting. “I don’t want to go out,” said Hockley, when called. “The horseback riding made me stiff. I’d rather rest to-day,” and so, while the others spent a day visiting a score of places, he was left behind to do as he pleased. The money he had received from his indulgent father had been “burning a hole in his pocket,” to use a common expression. He wanted a chance to have a good time, and as soon as Professor Strong and the others had departed he set out for that purpose. “I’m going to do as I please after this,” he told himself. “And no Captain Sudlip shall get the best of me either.” Having finished his breakfast Hockley purchased a package of cigarettes and then went to the café for a “bracer.” He thought it quite manly to drink a “bracer,” although he was in no need of the liquor. To show off he paid for the drink out of a twenty dollar bill he possessed and at the same time took good care to show the roll of money he carried.