the wreckage floating in on the beach. That's why you find me here."

"What ship is it?" asked Ned, interested in spite of the aversion he
and the others felt toward Mr. Blowitz.

"It is a brig, Rockhaven by name. But suppose we go inside'? It is
rather warm out here in the sun, and I'm not quite used to this
climate yet. Won't you come in and have some chocolate with me? They
have a very nice drink in here, and I--"

"It's my treat," interrupted Bob.

"No; if I may be so bold as to insist, you must be my guests this
time," went on Mr. Blowitz. "It is not often that I see lads away off
east and meet them a little later, in California, so I must have the
pleasure of their company for a little while. The young ladies too--
I'm very fond of young ladies," and Mr. Blowitz smiled in a manner
that Rose characterized later as "ugly," though just why she thought
so she couldn't explain.

There was no way of getting gracefully out of the invitation, and so
the crowd of young people and the professor accompanied Mr. Blowitz
into the refreshment booth.

They went out into the shaded courtyard, where a fountain of splashing
water at least gave the effect of coolness, if it did not really make
it so. They sat at small tables, and were served with cold chocolate
and sweet cakes, by a pretty Mexican girl. Bob wanted to pay for the
treat but Mr. Blowitz would not hear of it. In fact he played the host
in such a genial way, and seemed so anxious to make every one have a