CHAPTER XIX.
HALF AN HOUR TOO LATE.
The highway we had now found was one of the best we had struck in the islands. It was broad, level, and well kept, and lined upon either side with stately palms and waving plantains, with here and there a stone wall supporting the native vines, which in some instances are fifty to a hundred feet in length.
"This is fine," exclaimed Dan, as he let his horse out on a swift gallop. "How balmy the air is!"
"And what beautiful scenery!" I returned. "I don't believe there is anything finer here than this Iao valley which we are leaving behind."
"Excepting it be the lofty mountain peaks, Mark." Dan turned to Oliver. "What are you so silent about?"
"I'm thinking of Caleb Merkin, Dan," was the sober reply. "We want to catch him if we can. He has that map, and now that he has found Joe Koloa"
"To my way of thinking he will have a job
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