“No.  And I’m glad he’s going.  Four makes a nice party, and Rad will make himself useful around camp.  I’ve been sorry ever since he said he wouldn’t go, on account of the good cooking I’d miss, for Rad is sure a fine cook.”

“Bless my knife and fork, that’s so!” agreed Mr. Damon.

So complete were the preparations of our friends that nothing remained to do the next morning.  Eradicate had his things all in readiness, and when good-byes had been said to Mr. Swift, and Mrs. Baggert, Tom, Ned and Mr. Damon, followed by the faithful colored man, set off for the depot to take the train for New York.  There they were to take a coast steamer for Tampico, Mexico, and once there they could arrange for transportation into the interior.

The journey to New York was uneventful, but on arrival there they met with their first disappointment.  The steamer on which they were to take passage had been delayed by a storm, and had only just arrived at her dock.

“It will take three days to get her cargo out, clean the boilers, load another cargo in her and get ready to sail,” the agent informed them.

“Then what are we to do?” asked Ned.

“Guess we’ll have to wait; that’s all,” answered Tom.  “It doesn’t much matter.  We’re in no great rush, and it will give us three days around New York.  We’ll see the sights.”

“Bless my spectacles!  Its an ill wind that blows nobody good,” remarked Mr. Damon, “I’ve been wanting to visit New York for some time, and here’s my chance.”

“We’ll go to a good hotel,” said Tom. “and enjoy ourselves as long as we have to wait for the steamer.”

CHAPTER IX

“That looked like Andy!”

What seemed at first as if it was going to be a tedious time of waiting, proved to be a delightful experience, for our friends found much to occupy their attention in New York.

Tom and Ned went to several theatrical performances, and wanted Mr. Damon to go with them, but the odd man said he wanted to visit several museums and other places of historical interest, so, while he was browsing around that way, the boys went to Bronx Park, and to Central Park, to look at the animals, and otherwise enjoy themselves.

Eradicate put in his time in his own way.  Much of it was spent in restaurants where chicken and pork chops figured largely on the bills of fare, for Tom had plentifully supplied the colored man with money, and did not ask an accounting.

“What else do you do besides eat, Rad?” asked Ned with a laugh, the second day of their stay in New York.

“I jest natchally looks in de jewelery store windows,” replied Eradicate with a grin on his honest black face.  “I looks at all de gold ornaments, an’ I tries t’ figger out how much better mah golden images am gwine t’ be.”

“But don’t you go in, and ask what a gold image the size of a man would be worth!” cautioned Tom.  “The jeweler might think you were crazy, and he might suspect something.”