The party were to leave for La Guayra at nine in the morning, and the boys were up long before that time, taking a last look at their surroundings. Then came a good breakfast, and soon they were on the cars and winding over and around the mountains which separate the capital city of Venezuela from the seacoast. “Here is where we had to get off and walk,” said Mark, as the train rushed on. “Do you remember that, Frank?” “To be sure I do. And I remember how you got lost in a hole under the cliffs, too.” “Yes, and not far away is the spot where you and Hockley pitched into each other,” whispered Mark, with a sly look at the bully, who sat just ahead. He did not think the lank youth heard, but he was mistaken. “Raking up old sores, eh?” growled Hockley, swinging around and with his face very red. “I thought all that was to be dropped.” “It is to be dropped, too, Jake,” answered Mark, quickly. “Oh, yes,” came with a sneer. “You’re dropping it fast enough.” “But I didn’t really mean anything, Jake,” pleaded Mark. “It--er--just came to my mind, that’s all. It’s past and gone now.” “You can’t humbug me, Mark Robertson! You’re laughing in your sleeve because you think Frank got the best of me in that fight. But let me tell you I would have come out on top if Professor Strong hadn’t come up and stopped us.” “Maybe you would not have come out on top,” said Frank, dryly, for his temper was rising. “I fancy I had the best of it by a good deal. Anyway, your teeth----” “Oh, let that old quarrel drop,” came from Darry, who had caught the latter part of the conversation. “We’re out for a good time, and let us have it.” “I’m willing to let it drop,” said Mark, readily. “I wouldn’t have said a word, only Hockley--” began Frank. “That’s it, blame everything on me!” howled the bully, his anger getting the better of him. “I knew that pretended friendliness of yours wouldn’t last. You are all down on me and you know it. But I’ll show you a trick or two before we’re done--you see if I don’t!” Professor Strong had gone to the end of the car for a drink of water and to gaze for a moment out of the doorway. Now he returned to his seat near the boys, and the talk came to a sudden end. CHAPTER III OFF FOR JAMAICA “He is the same old Hockley,” murmured Mark to Frank, when he got the chance. “His friendliness was all put on.” “No, I don’t think that, exactly,” returned Frank. “I think he meant well, but he’s one of the kind who won’t let matters rest. I suppose it galls him to think I had the better of that fight, and some day he’ll try to square accounts.” “In that case, Frank, you’ll have to be on guard.” “Oh, don’t worry; I’ll keep my eyes open.” As my old readers know, La Guayra is only a small seaport, located on a stretch of land between the water and the high cliffs of the mountains. It is a dirty, ill-smelling place, and nobody lives there who can help it.