Jerry told Mr. Carter enough of Noddy to make that gentleman understand what sort of a youth the Cresville bully was. Mr. Carter said he was sorry for him, but that he could not afford to give up his land because Noddy had been fooled.
Learning that the chums were in no particular hurry, Mr. Carter invited them up to his house. He gave them a lunch and brought out some fresh cocoanuts, in a green state, which is when they are at their best for eating. He called one of his negro helpers and told him to open some of the nuts for the boys.
The negro set up in the ground a stake, sharpened on the end. Then, holding the nut, encased in its husky fibrous covering in both hands, he brought it down on the point of the stick with a slanting motion. The sharp point cut through the husk in an instant and the nut was exposed. Then the end was chopped off with a big knife and the interior, consisting of “milk” and soft pulp, was ready to eat.
“I never knew cocoanuts were so good!” exclaimed Bob, as he tackled his fourth one, for they did not eat the rind or hard white part.
“No, nor no one else does who gets only the ripe ones which are shipped north,” explained Mr. Carter. “We never think of eating anything but the milk and soft pulp of the partly ripe ones.”
Presently the boys bade their host good-bye and started for the village store where they had left the professor catching bugs.
“There!” exclaimed Jerry, when they were almost at the place. “We forgot something.”
“We didn’t give Noddy the message the man gave us. We didn’t tell him the government detective wanted to see him.”
“I believe you’re thinking more of the cocoanuts than you are of Noddy,” interposed Jerry. “No, I guess it will keep. Noddy will either go back home, in which case the detective can see him himself, or he will stay here and try to get a grove from some one. If he does the latter we’ll stop on our way back and give him the message.”
Jerry’s chums thought this the best plan, so they kept on, dismissing from their minds the thought of Noddy and his trouble. They found the professor in his element, catching bug after bug, to the no small amusement of the crowd of natives that had gathered to watch him.
The supplies were soon put aboard the boat, and once more the travelers took up their voyage. For three days they traveled slowly the length of Lake Okeechobee. At times they kept near shore, attracted by the beauty of the scenery, for there were tall palm and palmetto trees, gracefully festooned with long streamers of Spanish moss. There was a wealth of tropical vegetation, and amid the dense forests there flew flocks of birds of the most brilliant plumage.