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diff --git a/old/54016-0.txt b/old/54016-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 96912f4..0000000 --- a/old/54016-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9770 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of In Search of Treasure, by Horatio Alger Jr. - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: In Search of Treasure - -Author: Horatio Alger Jr. - -Release Date: January 23, 2017 [EBook #54016] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN SEARCH OF TREASURE *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - - - - IN SEARCH OF - TREASURE - - By HORATIO ALGER, JR. - - Author of “Mark Manning’s Mission,” - “Tom Temple’s Career,” “Tom Thatcher’s Fortune,” - “Tom Turner’s Legacy,” Etc. - - [Illustration: colophon] - - NEW YORK - HURST & COMPANY - PUBLISHERS. - - Copyright 1894 - By FRANK A. MUNSEY & COMPANY - - Copyright 1907 - By A. L. BURT COMPANY - - IN SEARCH OF TREASURE - - - - - In Search of Treasure - - - - -CHAPTER I - -INTRODUCES GUY AND HIS FATHER - - -“I wish I could send you to college, Guy,” said Mr. Fenwick, as they sat -in the library, reading by the soft light of a student lamp. - -The speaker was the Rev. Mr. Fenwick, the pastor of a church in Bayport, -a few miles from New Bedford, Massachusetts. - -“I don’t think I care much about going to college, father,” said Guy, a -bright, manly, broad-shouldered boy of sixteen. - -“When I was of your age, Guy,” replied his father, “I was already a -student of Harvard. You are ready for college, but my means are not -sufficient to send you there.” - -“Don’t worry about that, father. There are other paths to success than -through college.” - -“I am rather surprised to hear you speak so indifferently, Guy. At the -academy you are acknowledged to be the best Latin and Greek scholar they -have had for years.” - -“That may be, father.” - -“It is so. The principal so assured me, and he would not misrepresent -just to please me.” - -“I am glad that I have so good a reputation.” - -“With such qualifications it seems certain you would achieve success in -college, graduate high, and, in time, become a distinguished -professional man, or perhaps professor.” - -“Perhaps I might; but, father, in spite of my taste for study, I have -one taste still stronger.” - -“What is that?” - -“A taste for adventure. I want to see the world, to visit strange -countries, to become acquainted with strange people.” - -As the boy spoke his face became flushed and animated. - -Mr. Fenwick looked surprised. - -“Certainly,” he said, “you don’t get this taste from me. When I was a -boy I used to stay indoors to read and study. I cared nothing for the -sports and games that interested my school companions.” - -Guy smiled. - -“I believe you, father,” he said. “You don’t go out half enough now. -Instead of shutting yourself up in your study, you would be stronger -and healthier if you would walk five miles a day.” - -Mr. Fenwick slightly shuddered. - -He was a pale, thin man, with an intellectual look, but had the air of a -scholar and a recluse. - -“I couldn’t do it, Guy,” he said. “Even if I walk a mile, I feel that it -is a hardship. It is tame and monotonous. I don’t see where you get your -red cheeks and exuberant spirits from.” - -“From my mother’s family, I think, father.” - -“Very likely. Your mother was bright and animated when I married her, -but she broke down under the manifold duties and engagements of a -minister’s wife.” - -“That is true. Poor mother!” - -Guy sighed, and his bright face looked sorrowful, for it was only a -twelvemonth since his mother was laid away in the little graveyard at -Bayport. - -“You look very much like your uncle George, your mother’s brother, as he -was at your age.” - -“He became a sailor?” - -“Yes. He had an extraordinary love for the sea. If he had been content -to live on land and follow some mercantile business, he would, in all -probability, be living to-day.” - -“How did he die?” - -“He took a fever at some infected port, and died on shipboard. The poor -fellow was still a comparatively young man, little more than thirty, and -it seemed sad that he should be cut off at such an early age.” - -“Was his body brought home?” - -“No. Sailors are superstitious, and they don’t like to sail in a ship -that has a dead body on board. So poor George was sewed up in a sack, -and committed to the ocean depths. His chest was sent to us, and is -stored in the attic.” - -“Have you ever opened it?” - -“Yes, I opened it, but didn’t examine the contents. Probably there was -nothing except a sailor’s plain outfit. As to money, George was not a -man to save anything. He was extravagant and prodigal, like most of his -class.” - -“Was he a common sailor?” - -“No; he was second mate, and received fair wages. He did not have your -education, but had good native talent, but nothing could divert him from -his plan of going to sea.” - -“Well, father, I suppose there must be sailors. You would hardly want -everybody to go to college?” - -“No, Guy.” - -“Even if they were qualified.” - -“Still, I should not care to have my son a sailor.” - -“I don’t care to be one, father, but I own I should like to take a -single voyage--a good long one--so as to see a little of the world. I -think, after that, I should be more content to settle down to some -business on shore. By the way, father, is there any objection to my -examining the contents of Uncle George’s chest?” - -“I have no objection, Guy; but I think it will hardly repay you for the -time.” - -“My time isn’t of very much importance just now. Somehow I have a great -desire to see if I can find anything that will throw light on my uncle’s -life and character.” - -“Very well, Guy; do as you like. And now, I must get to work on my -sermon for next Sunday. It is Friday evening, and I must make progress, -as I may have one of my bad headaches to-morrow.” - -“Can I help you, father?” asked Guy, with a humorous smile. - -Mr. Fenwick smiled, too. Though so different in temperament, he was -really fond and proud of his lively son. - -“I hardly think your additions would be for the edification of my -people,” he said. - -“Perhaps they might suit some of the young folks,” suggested Guy. - -“Doubtless they would. If you would like to try your hand at sermon -writing you can write a sermon and submit it to me. If suitable, I will -preach it, and give you credit for it.” - -Guy laughed. - -“I’ll think of it, father,” he said. “I am going to make a call on one -of my schoolmates, and will leave you to do your writing undisturbed.” - -The schoolmate with whom Guy spent his evening was Tom Todd, a boy of -about his own age. He had a sister some ten years older than himself, -who was a teacher in one of the Bayport schools. She, as well as Tom, -liked the bright son of the minister, and he received a cordial greeting -from both. - -“So you have got through school life, Guy?” she said. - -“Yes, Miss Todd.” - -“And you are fitted for college? Does your father think of Harvard for -you?” - -“He would like to have me go, but there are two objections in the way.” - -“What are they?” - -“First, he can’t afford the expense.” - -“What is the second?” - -“I have no desire to go.” - -“That is the most important. If you really desired to go, I think you -could borrow money enough somewhere, for you are acknowledged to be an -excellent scholar.” - -“Thank you for the compliment; but it is no disappointment to me not to -go, though it is to my father. He is a regular bookworm, you know.” - -“I know that he is not practical.” - -“Come, Guy, let us have our game of checkers,” said Tom. “Let me see, I -beat you last time.” - -“Then it is my turn to beat you now.” - -The boys played for an hour and a half, then Guy rose to go. - -“What is your hurry? It is early yet.” - -“That is true, but father is nervous, and he doesn’t like to have me out -after half past nine o’clock. I left him writing his sermon for Sunday.” - -“Why don’t you offer to help him, Guy?” asked Tom, with a smile. - -“I did.” - -“Really and truly?” said Tom, laughing. - -“Yes; really and truly.” - -“I suppose,” remarked Miss Todd, “he did not accept your offer?” - -“No; he thought that what I would write would not be edifying.” - -“If you would write a sermon, Guy, I would go to hear it,” said Tom. - -“And I, too,” added his sister, the teacher. - -“Then I should be sure of a congregation of two. Well, I will think of -it.” - -Guy took his hat to go. - -“I will walk with you part way,” said Tom. “It is pleasant out, and I -shall sleep the better for a walk.” - -“I shall be glad of your company, Tom.” - -When they were outside, Tom said, “I had an object in proposing to walk -with you to-night, Guy. There is something I wanted to tell you.” - -“Go ahead, Tom.” - -“I think it is something you ought to know. I was walking home from -singing school the other evening, when I came up behind Deacon Crane and -another member of the church, Mr. Job Wilkins. I didn’t hear the first -part of the conversation, but as I came within hearing I heard Deacon -Crane say: ‘Yes, Brother Wilkins, I have thought for some time that the -best interests of the church required that we should have a younger -minister, who would stir up the people and draw in a larger number.’” - -Guy flushed with indignation. - -“Deacon Crane said that?” he ejaculated. “Why, he pretends to be one of -father’s best friends.” - -“I think it is a pretense,” said Tom. - -“Poor father! If he should hear this it would almost break his heart. He -is so fond of the people here.” - -“It is a shame; but don’t worry too much over it. I am sure the majority -of the parish don’t wish any change.” - -In spite of this assurance, Guy went home in a sober frame of mind. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -WHAT GUY FOUND IN THE BLUE CHEST - - -Mr. Fenwick was only forty-eight years old, but his sedate and scholarly -manner gave him an appearance of being several years older. - -It came to Guy as a shock that his father should be considered too old -by his parish, and that there should be any movement in favor of a -younger minister. He knew that his father was dependent on his salary, -having very little property. A change would be disastrous to him. - -“I wish I were rich,” he thought, “so that I could relieve father from -any anxiety about money matters. It is lucky I don’t want to go to -college, for if I did, it would be a good many years before I could even -support myself.” - -The next morning, after breakfast, Guy thought of his sailor uncle, and -the curiosity again seized him to find out the contents of the chest up -in the attic. - -He went up the narrow stairs leading to the garret, and found himself -in a large room covering the entire extent of the house, for the attic -had never been finished off or divided into chambers. There were piles -of old papers and magazines in one corner, old mildewed garments hanging -from nails in the rafters, and two or three old rusty trunks. - -But none of them attracted Guy’s attention. He was looking for his -uncle’s chest. - -At last he found it--a typical sailor’s chest, painted blue, showing -signs of wear, for it had accompanied his uncle for years. - -Guy’s face lighted up, and he hurried toward it. - -He thought it might be locked, but he was glad to find that the lock -seemed to have been broken, so that he had no difficulty in lifting the -lid and examining the contents. - -There was nothing unusual about these. They consisted of the plain -outfit of a sailor. - -There were one or two books. One of them was a Bible, which had been -presented to his uncle George by his mother at the time he left home on -his first voyage. - -Guy lifted it carefully, for he had been taught to reverence the Bible. -Then he saw underneath, an envelope of large size, unmarked on the -outside. - -Opening this, he found a large sheet of paper, folded lengthwise, with -writing upon it. Lying inside was a smaller piece of paper, also written -over, the handwriting being that of his uncle George. - -This Guy read first. The contents interested him exceedingly. - -The paper is subjoined. - - * * * * * - -What I am writing here may or may not be of interest or value, yet it -may prove of importance to those who may read it, though it is possible -this will not be till after my death. Last year (from the date Guy saw -that it was the year before his death) among my mates on the good ship -Cyprus was a dark, thin man, the darkest in complexion, I think, that I -ever met outside the negro race. - -No one on board knew him, nor did any of us get well acquainted with -him, for he was very silent and reserved, and did not care to make -friends or confidants. Yet he did his duty well. No fault could be found -with him. He did not become a favorite, as he did not care to talk or be -sociable with the rest of the sailors. We could not help respecting him, -however, as one who strictly minded his own business, and never in any -way interfered with others. - -This man’s name was Antonio Smith, or Tony, as we should have called him -if we had been sufficiently intimate. The two names did not go well -together, and one day I asked him why it was that he had two such names. - -“It is easily explained,” he said. “My father was an Englishman, named -Smith, but my mother was an Italian woman.” - -“That explains your being so dark,” I said. - -“Yes, I suppose so,” he answered. - -He did not confide in me to any further extent. As far as I could -observe, he seemed moody and morbid. It seemed as if he had something on -his mind--something of a disagreeable nature. - -Well, toward the end of the voyage he had a bad fall. He was helping to -furl sails when another sailor above him lost his hold, and fell on him. -This made Antonio lose his hold also, and he dropped to the deck, -striking his head. - -It is a wonder he was not immediately killed. As it was he was fatally -injured, as it proved, and was removed to his bunk in a dying condition. -I pitied the poor fellow, and as much time as my duties would permit I -spent at his side, trying to make him comfortable. - -One evening he looked at me earnestly, and asked: “Do you think that I -can live, George?” - -I shook my head. “I don’t want to deceive you,” I answered, “and I will -tell you the truth.” - -“It is what I want to hear,” he said. - -“The doctor says you can’t live.” - -He showed no agitation, but said, thoughtfully: “That is what I -thought.” - -After a pause he continued: “Before I die there is something I want to -confide to someone. You have been a friend to me, and you are the one I -choose, if you don’t mind, to listen to what I have to say.” - -“I will hear it,” I said, “and if it is a message to anyone in whom you -are interested I will engage to deliver it, if possible.” - -“No, there is no one in whom I am interested,” he answered. “All who -once knew me are dead, or at all events are dead to me. But I have a -secret which I once thought would be of value to me, and may be of value -to you, whom I constitute my heir.” - -All this seemed very queer to me, and I half thought that the sick man -might be wandering in mind. He went on: “You must know, George, and this -is my first secret, that for five years I sailed under the black flag, -and was a pirate!” - -I looked astounded, as well I might, and he continued: - -“I see you look surprised, but you are not more surprised than I was -when I found myself enrolled as a member of a piratical crew. I shipped -on board the Vulture, supposing it to be an ordinary merchantman. It was -not till I got well out to sea that I learned the true character of the -vessel. Then I was asked to sign as a member of the crew, and knowing -well it would be dangerous to refuse, I agreed. - -“After a while I got reconciled, in a measure, to my position. I found -it more profitable than the post of an ordinary seaman, and yet not so -much so as might be supposed. While the booty taken was very large, it -was not all divided between the officers and men. There was a -considerable portion that was set aside as a fund to be divided some -time between us when we disbanded. For not one of the officers or men -expected always to continue pirates. Some day we hoped to give up this -outlaw’s life and become respectable citizens, living in ease and luxury -on our share of the booty. No one would be the wiser. - -“I was an Englishman, and I looked forward to returning to my native -village in Devonshire, marrying, and settling down. There was a farm on -which I had my eye, and an old schoolmate--a farmer’s daughter--whom I -thought I could induce to marry me when I returned rich.” - -“But where was this booty, as you call it, concealed?” I asked. - -“That is what I was coming to. It was concealed on a small island east -by north from the great island of Madagascar, which, as you know, lies -southeast of the African continent. There is a group of islands there. -None of us, that is, none of the ordinary sailors, knew the name of the -island, if it had any. But I have thought it over, and consulted maps, -and to the best of my reckoning it is one of the Agalegas Islands in -about 57 degrees east longitude, and a little more than 10 degrees south -latitude. I estimate that it may be a few hundred miles from Cape Amber, -the northern extremity of Madagascar.” - -“Did you often go there--that is, did the ship often touch there?” - -“Every few months, when we had a good supply of money and articles to -leave there.” - -“I suppose there was quite a valuable collection of articles stored -there?” - -“I can’t tell the value, but there were chests full of gold and silver -coins, boxes of bankbills, and merchandise of the rarest and most -valuable description.” - -“Is it there now, or has it been divided?” - -“It is there yet.” - -“How came you to leave the pirate ship?” - -“I did not leave it till I was compelled to do so.” - -“How is that? Were you discharged? I should hardly think the officers -would have dared to let you go, considering your knowledge as to the -character of the ship.” - -“You are right there. They would not have dared to do so, but the -Almighty, whose laws had been so flagrantly defied, interfered. There -came on a terrible storm when we were cruising in the Indian Ocean. It -was so violent and unexpected that we were by no means prepared to meet -it. - -“In the course of three hours the staunch ship Vulture became a wreck, -and the crew who manned it were forced to take to the boats. There were -three of these. The captain was in one, the first mate in the second, -and the boatswain in the third. The sea was so rough that the first and -second boats were swamped before our eyes. I was in the third. When the -storm abated it was still afloat. I was one of the men on board. - -“For a week we drifted about, suffering everything from hunger and -thirst, for we were able to carry but scanty stores of food and water. -One by one I saw my comrades die, but having, perhaps, the best -constitution, unimpaired by excesses of any kind, I survived--the last -of eight men. I was very near death when I was picked up by an American -ship. Of course, I did not say a word as to the character of the vessel -to which I belonged, and those who rescued me were not too inquisitive, -so I reached New York without divulging any secrets. But my great secret -was that, as the last survivor of the piratical crew, I was the heir and -sole possessor of the treasure stored on the island!” - - - - -CHAPTER III - -GUY TAKES THE FIRST STEP - - -Guy drew a long breath when he had read thus far in the manuscript, and -then plunged into it again. - - When I heard this stated I could not help feeling an emotion of - pity for the poor fellow who would never have the benefit of the - large treasure to which he had become heir. I could not understand - exactly why he had revealed all this to me, but he soon made it - plain. - - “I shall not live to enjoy it,” he continued, “but I don’t want the - secret to die with me. I would like to have it benefit someone not - utterly a stranger. You have been kind to me, and to you I will - give all right and will to this great property.” - - “But how shall I find it?” I asked. - - “I have prepared a document,” he replied, “in which I describe the - island, and the particular part of the island where the treasure - is concealed. Put your hand into the pocket of my blouse, and you - will feel a folded paper. Take it, and some day I hope you will be - fortunate enough to find the place where the booty is secreted.” - - I thanked him, though I was almost too bewildered to realize that a - secret had been communicated to me that might make me fabulously - rich. - - That very night Antonio died. His body was sewed up in a sack, as - is the custom, and thrown into the sea. Of all who witnessed it, I - was the only one who had a kindly feeling of regret for the poor - fellow. - - Whether I shall ever be able to make any use of this information, I - do not know. It would require a considerable outlay in money to fit - out an expedition, and I have very little chance of inducing anyone - to make this outlay. I have, however, written out an account of the - sailor’s revelation to me, in the hope that someone, perhaps after - my death, may seek and obtain a treasure which I think must be of - fabulous amount. - -(Signed) GEORGE BRANDON. - - - -Guy read this letter with breathless interest. He took in the full -importance of its contents. - -He realized that by the death of his uncle he became the next heir to -this far-away treasure. What should he do about it? With him there was -the same embarrassment and the same difficulty that his uncle had -experienced. - -The treasure he fully believed in, but it was located thousands of miles -away on a small island in the Indian Ocean. - -It was tantalizing to reflect that it existed, and might make him rich, -when it seemed wholly beyond his grasp. All the capital he could command -was about twenty-five dollars in the Bayport Savings Bank. - -The next question was: Should he tell his father of the discovery he had -made? It might be his duty to do so. He did not know as to that. - -His father had given him full permission to open and examine the chest -and its contents. Possibly the papers and the secret belonged to him, -but he knew very well that they would be of no earthly benefit to a -quiet country minister who lived in his books and his study. - -To him--Guy--on the other hand, it might prove of value. He did not know -when or how, but he was young, and to the young all things are possible. - -So, after thinking the matter over fully, Guy resolved to keep the -matter secret. - -He glanced at the second paper, and found that it was a minute -description of the island, but he had not got far enough along to feel -interested in this. It would keep. - -Guy went downstairs slowly, plunged in thought. He hoped his father -would not ask about the contents of the chest, but he need not have felt -alarmed. The matter had passed entirely out of the minister’s thoughts. - -In order the better to think over the wonderful revelation, Guy went out -for a stroll. Like many older persons, he found a walk was favorable to -thought. - -He walked slowly up the street to the post office. At the corner of the -second street, just opposite the dry goods store, he met a boy whom he -had never liked. - -It was Noah Crane, the son of Deacon Crane, already referred to as -desiring a younger minister. - -The thought of the deacon’s wish to drive his father from Bayport was -not calculated to increase Guy’s friendship for the son. Yet he would be -courteous, being naturally a gentleman. - -“Where are you going, Guy?” asked Noah. - -“I am only taking a walk.” - -“Some other people may have to take a walk,” said Noah, with a coarse -laugh. - -“What do you mean?” asked Guy, coloring, for he knew to what the -deacon’s son referred. - -“Oh, I guess I’d better not tell,” replied Noah, in a tantalizing tone. - -“Just as you please,” said Guy, coolly. - -Noah was disappointed, for he wanted Guy to ask him a question which he -was very ready to answer. Guy’s indifference piqued him. - -“You’ll know soon enough,” added Crane. - -“In that case I will be content to wait.” - -“I don’t know that I have any objection to tell, though. I mean your -father.” - -“Take care how you talk about my father,” said Guy, angrily. “I won’t -stand it.” - -“Oh, is your father so high and mighty that he can’t be spoken about?” - -“He can be spoken about--respectfully.” - -“I suppose you think he’s a great man because he’s a minister.” - -“I rank a minister higher than a deacon,” retorted Guy, quietly. - -“You do, hey? Why, my father could buy out your father two or three -times over.” - -“That may be; but what does that prove?” - -“It proves that you’d better be careful how you talk. I heard my father -say the other day that the people wanted a new minister--a young man -that would make things lively. I shouldn’t wonder if your father’d have -to take a walk before long.” - -“And I am certain that you’ll have to walk pretty fast if you don’t want -to feel the force of my fists.” - -Guy advanced toward Noah so menacingly that the latter took counsel of -prudence and retreated hastily. - -“Keep away from me, you bully!” he cried, “or I’ll tell my father!” - -Guy laughed, and walked away, not caring to have any difficulty with -Noah. What the deacon’s son had said, however, furnished him food for -reflection. - -Things began to look serious. There was evidently a movement on foot to -get rid of his father, and this movement was headed by Deacon Crane, a -man of influence in the parish and the town. - -“If I could only get hold of this treasure, say within a year,” thought -Guy, “I would snap my fingers at the deacon. It would make me rich, and -if I were rich my father would be rich, too, and independent of the -parish.” - -The “if,” however, though a very short word, was a very important one. -It seemed about as practicable to go in search of the treasure as to -undertake a journey to the moon, and no more so. - -When Guy went home to dinner he found Captain Grover, an old schoolmate -of his father, a guest at the parsonage. - -The captain and his family lived in New Bedford, and he was about to -start on a voyage from there. Happening to be in Bayport on a little -private business, he called on the minister. Unlike some shipmasters, he -was a man of a kindly nature, and was a favorite with Guy. - -“So here is Guy,” he said, as the boy entered. “Bless my soul, Guy, I -shouldn’t have known you if I had met you out of Bayport, you have grown -so. What are you going to do with him, Brother Fenwick?” - -“I would like to send him to Harvard, John,” replied the minister, “but -there doesn’t seem to be any chance of that,” he added, with a sigh. - -“Why not?” - -“Because I am not rich enough.” - -“Oh, well, college is all very well, but there are other things that are -good for a boy. If I had a son, I don’t think I would send him to -college.” - -“I agree with you, Captain Grover,” said Guy, promptly. - -“Your uncle George was a sailor?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Did you ever think you would like to go to sea?” - -“I don’t think I should like to be a sailor, but I should like to go to -sea for a single voyage.” - -“It would do you good. You’d learn more in a year at sea than in double -the time on land.” - -“So I think, sir. When do you start on your next voyage?” - -“Next week.” - -“In what direction shall you go?” - -“I shall go to India--probably stopping at Bombay.” - -“Will your course lie through the Indian Ocean?” asked Guy, eagerly. - -“Yes.” - -“I always wished I could sail over the Indian Ocean,” said Guy. - -“Yes, it is an interesting voyage. Are you through school?” - -“Yes; I finished last week.” - -“Then I’ll tell you what, Guy; if your father’ll let you go, I’ll take -you.” - -“Oh, father, may I go?” asked Guy, in a tone of earnest appeal. - -“Go to India?” exclaimed the minister, bewildered by the suggestion. - -“Yes; it would make me very happy.” - -In the end, Guy, seconded by the captain, carried his point, and -obtained his father’s consent. He had, as we know, his own reasons for -wishing to make this voyage. It was something more than a boy’s love of -adventure. - -The next week the Osprey sailed with Guy as a passenger. He quickly -established himself as a favorite with the sailors. He was so bright, -handsome, and intelligent, that he seemed like a gleam of sunshine, -making the whole ship cheerful. - -He cultivated the acquaintance of the crew, plying them with questions, -and often might be seen engaged in an animated discussion with veteran -sailors who were always ready to spin a yarn for him. - -Captain Grover viewed all this with an indulgent smile. - -“I am afraid, Guy,” he said one day, with a laugh, “that you are picking -up so much knowledge you will try to supersede me on the next voyage.” - -“It will take more than one voyage to qualify me for a captain,” -returned Guy. “Still, if you need help, call on me.” - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -IN THE INDIAN OCEAN - - -Day followed day, and week succeeded week, and the good ship Osprey kept -steadily on her way. Guy was not seasick, rather to his own surprise. - -“You seem to be cut out for a sailor. Guy,” said the captain. - -“I don’t know about that.” - -“You enjoy the sea, do you not?” - -“Yes, sir; but I don’t think I should care to be a sailor.” - -“You are picking up a good deal of seamanship. It won’t be long before -you know every rope in the ship.” - -“Knowledge doesn’t come amiss, captain. I have an inquiring mind.” - -They rounded the Cape of Good Hope at length, and soon found themselves -in the Indian Ocean. It would not be long before they would reach the -neighborhood of the island which was the goal of Guy’s hopes and -expectations. - -Till now he had not thought particularly what he would do when he got -there. It would be small satisfaction to see the island, if perchance he -should, and not be able to stop there. What could he do? - -Alone, he was quite aware that he could do nothing. It was absolutely -necessary that he should make a confidant of someone, and of someone who -could be of service in helping him carry out his cherished plan. - -Evidently there was no one on the Osprey who answered this description -except the captain; but how would the captain look upon this plan? - -Captain Grover was a pleasant man, and a good friend, but how he would -regard Guy’s project was something that could not be guessed. - -Guy decided, however, to tell his secret and sound the captain. - -Already they had passed the southern point of Madagascar, and Guy felt -that there was no time to be lost. - -He had free access to the captain at all times, and he took the -opportunity of entering his cabin one evening when the first mate was -taking his turn in commanding the vessel. - -“Well, Guy, how goes it?” asked the captain, pleasantly. “I am tired. -You can talk to me.” - -“That is just what I want to do, captain,” said Guy. - -“Heave ahead, then. I am listening. Perhaps you have some advice to give -me as to the management of the vessel.” - -“I have, captain. I wish you would be guided by me.” - -“Well,” said Captain Grover, eyeing his young companion with curiosity, -“I am getting more than I bargained for. Please favor me with your -suggestions, Captain Guy.” - -He said this with a pleasant smile, for he really liked his young -passenger, apart from the friendship he felt for the father. - -“I wish, captain, you could be induced to visit the Agalegas Islands in -your course.” - -“What on earth do you know about the Agalegas Islands, Guy?” - -“I know, or am very confident, that one of them was used by a band of -pirates as a hiding place for treasure which they had collected from -those they had robbed.” - -“Where did you read about this?” asked the captain, abruptly. - -“Not in any book,” answered Guy, “but in a letter written by my uncle -George.” - -“Your sailor uncle?” - -“Yes.” - -“And was this your object in coming to sea with me?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Let me know what your uncle George said. I attach no importance to it, -but I have a feeling of curiosity. He was never a pirate, was he?” - -“I hope not.” - -“Then how could he know anything of pirate treasures?” - -“I have his letter, captain. Would you mind hearing it?” - -“No; but first, where did you get the letter?” - -Guy told the story of his search in the attic, and his discovery of the -letter in George Brandon’s chest. - -“Very well. Now for the letter. Read it to me.” - -In a slow, deliberate manner, in order that it might be fully -understood, Guy read the letter. - -The accompanying paper, however, he did not produce. He did not care to -give away the whole secret unless he was assured of the captain’s -co-operation. - -“This is a strange yarn,” was Captain Grover’s comment, after he had -heard the letter through. - -“Don’t you believe it?” asked Guy, quickly. - -“It sounds plausible,” answered the captain, slowly, “but I have heard a -great many stories about pirate treasure. Plenty of sailors are ready to -manufacture them. They tell them so often that at last they come to -believe them themselves.” - -“My uncle George would not indulge in deception.” - -“I presume not, but I am not so sure as to the sailor from whom he -received the information.” - -“The sailor was on his deathbed. Would a man be likely to tell a -falsehood at such a time?” - -“No doubt it has been done often. However, the paper which he gave to -your uncle was not written when he was on his deathbed, as I understand, -but some time before, when he was perfectly well, and had no idea of -death.” - -“That is true,” Guy was obliged to admit. - -“I don’t see what object he could have had in deceiving my uncle, -though,” he added, after a pause. - -“Nor I.” - -“Then you think there may be something in it?” - -“There is such a possibility.” - -“Think what a great thing it would be for us to find the treasure,” said -Guy, his face lighting up with enthusiasm. - -“It would be very agreeable, certainly; but there are some serious -obstacles in the way, even if we knew the treasure to be there.” - -“What obstacles, captain?” - -“The islands you refer to are considerably to the north of my usual -course, and my duty to the owners of the vessel would not permit me to -vary my route for any private enterprise of my own.” - -Guy’s countenance fell. He saw at once that the captain was right in his -statement, but it destroyed the faint hopes he had entertained that he -might secure his co-operation. - -“I am afraid,” he said, despondently, “you don’t have any confidence in -the existence of the treasure.” - -“I don’t say that, Guy. It may exist; but unless you have clear and -explicit directions, we might miss it even if we should go especially in -search of it.” - -“But I have a description of the island,” urged Guy. - -“Suppose you give me an idea of it.” - -“It is well wooded to within a mile of the shore; toward the center -there is a hill, or slight eminence, perhaps a hundred and fifty feet in -altitude. The extent of it is probably five miles by eight.” - -“That is tolerably definite.” - -“Don’t you think it is sufficiently so to identify the island?” - -“Perhaps so; but, though small, one might hunt a good while before -finding the treasure after the island was discovered.” - -“I have some directions that would help me.” - -“That is well, or would be if there were any chance of your ever finding -yourself on the island.” - -“Captain Grover, I want to ask your advice. Can you suggest any way by -which I can manage to reach the island?” - -“You’ve got me there, Guy. These islands are never visited for -commercial purposes. I know almost nothing of them--indeed, nothing at -all, except their location. Of course, if there were ships that visited -them for any purpose, that would simplify matters; but, so far as I see, -the only way of seeking the treasure would be to organize an expedition -expressly for that purpose.” - -“I suppose that would be very expensive.” - -“It certainly would.” - -“But if the treasure were found, the one who incurred the expense would -be richly repaid.” - -“Well, perhaps so,” said the captain, skeptically. - -“You won’t go anywhere near the island, then, captain?” - -“No, Guy, I sha’n’t.” - -Guy sat quiet a moment. He was very much disappointed. He began to -realize how utterly quixotic was the expedition on which he had -embarked. - -“I begin to wish I had never found the letter,” he said. - -“As to that, Guy, no harm is done. I presume, if you hadn’t found the -letter, I should not have had the pleasure of your company on this -voyage.” - -“No, I suppose not.” - -“Probably you will derive some pleasure and benefit from the trip, even -if you never touch a dollar of this treasure.” - -“That is true, captain; but I have a special reason for wishing I might -obtain money from this source, or some other.” - -“What is it?” - -Then Guy told what he had learned as to Deacon Crane’s intention of -driving his father from the parish. It would be a heavy blow to the -minister, who was no longer endowed with a young man’s energy or -hopefulness. - -“You are a good boy, Guy, to have so much consideration for your father; -but I am afraid you are leaning on a broken reed if you have any idea -of helping him by the discovery of this treasure. However, I will turn -the idea over in my mind, and if I can think of any suggestion to offer -you I will do so.” - - - - -CHAPTER V - -AN ADVENTURE IN BOMBAY - - -Guy’s conversation with Captain Grover left him with a feeling of -disappointment. He felt that the captain had little faith in the reality -of the treasure, and considered his enterprise a failure in advance. - -Guy had overlooked the principal difficulties in the way. He had managed -to reach the Indian Ocean, but this had brought him no nearer the -realization of his hopes. If he had had nothing on his mind he might -have enjoyed the bright, calm days and the clear skies, with glimpses -here and there of islands covered with tropical vegetation. - -But he had started on his voyage with a purpose. He wanted to find and -secure the treasure hinted at in his uncle’s letter, and make his father -independent for life. Of this there seemed to be now no chance, or next -to none. - -There was nothing for him to do except to remain on board the Osprey -till the vessel reached Bombay. Then there would be the return voyage, -at the end of which he would have seen considerable of the world, but -would have gained nothing to repay him for the year he had spent away -from home. - -But there was no help for it. The captain would not change his course, -and Guy must be content to leave the island unvisited, and the great -problem unsolved. - -At last they reached Bombay. - -Guy surveyed the place with curious interest. He was not prepared to -find it so large. - -A city which contains seven hundred thousand inhabitants is a great city -in any part of the world. - -Not having any duties on board the ship, Guy was allowed to go and come -when he pleased. - -He found that among the foreign residents the English were the most -prominent and influential. His walks were chiefly in what is called the -European town, but he frequently strolled through the more picturesque -part occupied by the natives. - -One evening he was sauntering through the Persian quarter when he was -startled by seeing a brown-faced native, his head surmounted by a -turban, dart from an alleyway and pursue a well-dressed man, apparently -either English or American. - -That his object was murder or robbery, perhaps both, seemed evident, for -he held in his hand a long, narrow, dangerous-looking knife. - -Guy was not only courageous, but prompt. He carried a stout cane, not -that he needed its support, but because he had been recommended to have -it with him for defense, if needed. - -He did not pause a moment, but springing forward, brought it down with -emphasis on the arm of the Persian. - -The native gave a sharp, shrill cry, which attracted the attention of -the man whom he had intended to attack. - -He was clearly an Englishman, inclined to be stout, and apparently about -forty-five years of age. - -He looked quickly from the native to Guy, and back again. - -“What’s the matter?” he asked. - -“Only that this man was about to attack you with his knife.” - -“And you saved me?” - -“Yes; I was, fortunately, in time to prevent his striking you.” - -“I don’t know how to thank you, but I must deal with this scoundrel, -first.” - -He seized the Oriental by the throat, and forced him to his knees. - -“Dog!” he said, “what have you to say before I kill you?” - -The cowardly fellow uttered voluble and abject entreaties for pardon in -bad English. The purport of his speech was that he was a poor man, and -had no money. - -“Forgive me, Mr. Saunders,” he said. - -“Ha! You know my name!” said the Englishman. - -He bent over and scanned the face of his would-be assailant closely. - -“I know him,” he said, briefly. “He was a native servant in my employ. I -had to discharge him because I found him dishonest and a liar. Probably -his attack to-night was prompted by a spirit of revenge.” - -“Don’t kill me!” pleaded the Persian, in terrified accents. - -“So you would have killed me, you scoundrel!” retorted the Englishman, -shaking him vigorously. - -“I--pardon me--I didn’t know it was you, worshipful sir!” - -“You knew it well enough, I’ll be bound!” - -“If you will go with me,” went on the Englishman, turning to Guy, “I -will conduct this fellow to the police office. I do not propose to let -him off. He is evidently a dangerous man, and, coward as he is, he may -do harm unless he is secured.” - -Guy readily accompanied his new acquaintance, and saw Isef, as he was -called, placed in the hands of the police officials. He agreed, also, to -appear the next day and give the testimony of an eye-witness as to the -man’s felonious attempt to assault Mr. Saunders. - -“And now,” said the Englishman, after this matter was disposed of, “let -me know the name of the boy who has done me such an important service.” - -“My name is Guy Fenwick.” - -“Are you English?” - -“No, sir; I am an American boy.” - -“I thought so. Though there are resemblances, there is a dash about you -Americans that I don’t find in my own countrymen. But how does it happen -that you are so far from home?” - -“I came to Bombay as a passenger on the American ship Osprey, Captain -Grover.” - -“A passenger? Then you are not connected with the ship?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Did you come here on a business errand?” - -“Partly, sir; but it is business of a strange nature. If you will let -me call upon you to-morrow, I shall be glad to tell you what it is.” - -“I shall certainly wish to know, and if it is anything in which I can -help you, I will try to do so.” - -“You don’t know how much you are promising, Mr. Saunders,” said Guy, -smiling. - -“No, I don’t know that; but I do know that you have saved my life this -evening,” returned the Englishman, earnestly. - -Guy did not gainsay him, for he knew that it was true. Had the Persian -driven his knife into the back of the English merchant the blow would -have been instantly fatal. - -“Perhaps I had better leave you now, sir,” said Guy. “The captain -expects me to report at the ship before ten o’clock.” - -“Very well; but I shall expect to see you to-morrow at my office.” - -“Where is it, sir?” - -In reply, Mr. Saunders handed Guy his card. - -The office was on the principal business street in the European town. -Guy was already sufficiently acquainted with Bombay to know exactly -where it was located. - -“I will come, sir,” he said. - -When Guy returned to the ship the captain said: “You are late to-night, -Guy.” - -“Yes, sir; I was detained by important business.” - -“So you have business here already?” returned Captain Grover, smiling. - -“Yes, sir. Shall I tell you about it?” - -“If it won’t take too long.” - -“I was fortunate enough to save the life of an English merchant.” - -Guy here gave particulars. - -“John Saunders!” repeated the captain, in surprise. “Why, he is one of -the wealthiest and most prominent men in the English colony.” - -“Whatever he is, he was very near death to-night.” - -“Did he ask you to call upon him?” - -“Yes. I am to call to-morrow.” - -“By all means keep the appointment,” said the captain, in a significant -tone. - -“I certainly shall. Mr. Saunders seems to be very friendly to me, and I -am glad to have made his acquaintance. Do you know, Captain Grover, he -is the first Englishman I ever met; that is, to become acquainted with.” - -At eleven o’clock the next day Guy presented himself at the office of -his English friend. - -He sent in his card by a young Persian who seemed to be in the -merchant’s employ. He was received at once. - -“I am glad to see you, my young friend,” said the merchant, cordially. -“I didn’t fully realize till after you left me what a narrow escape I -had. It is God’s mercy that I am alive to-day.” - -“The danger came so suddenly, and was so soon over, that I have not -realized it yet.” - -“I realize it, and shall always remember it. But you came here to -explain the business that brought you to Bombay.” - -“I had no thought of Bombay, Mr. Saunders. It was an island in the -Indian Ocean that I wished to visit.” - -“Indeed! Have you visited it?” - -“No, sir; and I fear that I shall never have an opportunity to do so.” - -“I am in the dark. I do not understand you.” - -“Then, sir, I will try to explain, but I am not sure what you will think -of my enterprise.” - -“Go on.” - -The merchant settled himself in a posture of attention, and Guy began -his narrative. - -He was listened to without interruption. Guy could not gather from the -merchant’s expression what impression the story was making upon him. - -When he finished, Mr. Saunders said: - -“Your tale is certainly a strange one, and your business of a remarkable -character for a boy of your age.” - -Here he paused. - -“I am not prepared to express any opinion yet,” he added. “I must take a -little time to think it over. Meanwhile I will detain you through the -day. I shall be glad if you will take dinner with me.” - -“I shall be happy to do so.” - -“Then if you will occupy yourself with the papers and magazines you will -find on yonder table, I will write some letters which must go by the -next steamer, and will then be at your disposal.” - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -GUY’S PROGRESS - - -“How long will the Osprey remain in port?” asked the merchant, when they -sat at dinner. - -“Four weeks, sir.” - -“Your sole object in taking passage and coming to this part of the world -was to look after the concealed treasure, I take it?” - -“Yes, sir. At any rate, but for that I should hardly have come.” - -“Of course, you knew that the chances of your ever being able to visit -the island were small?” - -“Yes, sir; I knew that, but I trusted to luck; and I knew that at any -rate I should enjoy the voyage.” - -“In what way do you propose to make your living--by a profession, or by -a business career?” - -“I expect to become a business man.” - -“Have you a fair education?” - -“Yes, sir; I am prepared to enter Harvard College. I completed my course -of preparation last summer.” - -“That is well. Now I am going to make you a proposal.” - -He paused, and Guy listened eagerly for what was coming. - -“It is this,” said the merchant. “I suppose you have nothing to do on -the ship.” - -“No, sir.” - -“I will invite you to work for four weeks in my counting-room. It will -be the commencement of your business education. Besides, you will do me -a favor, as a young clerk is absent from duty, sick with a fever. What -do you say?” - -“I will accept gladly, sir.” - -“The hours are not wearing. In this warm climate we cannot venture to -work as steadily as in England or America.” - -“Will it be necessary for me to board in the city?” - -“No; it will be better, on the whole, to sleep aboard the vessel, as you -might contract a fever on shore, not being acclimated.” - -“Very well, sir. When do you wish me to begin?” - -“To-morrow morning.” - -“All right, sir.” - -“As to your compensation, I will give you twenty-five dollars per -week.” - -“But,” said Guy, astonished, “that is a large salary for a novice like -me.” - -“You won’t be a novice very long, and I paid that salary to my clerk who -is sick.” - -“You are very liberal, sir.” - -“I have good reason to be.” - -When Guy reported his engagement to Captain Grover, that officer -congratulated him. - -“It is a great thing,” he said, “to have won the favor of a rich -merchant like Mr. Saunders. Besides, the knowledge you will obtain of -business will be of infinite value to you.” - -So Guy went to work the next day. - -Of course, everything was new at first, but he had a thorough training -as a student, and he set to work to learn business in the same way he -had learned Greek, Latin, and mathematics at school. The result was that -he made such progress as to surprise Mr. Saunders. - -“You have already become of value to me,” the merchant said one day. - -“Didn’t you think I would, sir?” - -“I thought it would take longer to break you in. You have the making of -a very successful business man in you.” - -Guy was gratified by this tribute. - -“I am pleased to have you say so,” he replied. “I have a special object -in wishing to succeed.” - -“What is that?” - -“My father is a minister, dependent upon a small salary for support. He -is now fifty, and there is a movement to oust him from the place. Should -that succeed, I want to be able to free him from pecuniary anxiety.” - -“That is highly commendable in you.” - -A part of the time Guy was employed upon the books of the firm. One day -he pointed out an incorrect entry which would have entailed a -considerable loss. - -“You are sharp,” said the merchant. “Do you know that you have saved me -five hundred pounds? Besides, you have opened my eyes. I have reason to -think that my former bookkeeper--the one whose place you have taken--was -in league with the customer in whose account you have found an error. -Our transactions are so large that I should have suspected nothing. Now -I shall make an investigation.” - -“My predecessor may have been simply careless,” suggested Guy. - -“True; but I can’t afford to employ men who are careless.” - -“You won’t deprive him of his situation, sir?” - -“Not at once, but I shall watch him. For some reason I should like to -have you in his place.” - -“I should like to be in your employ, but I should not care to be so far -away from my father for any length of time.” - -“There is another consideration, also. This climate would be dangerous -to one unaccustomed to it. No; I have other views for you.” - -“I wonder what they are,” thought Guy. - -The four weeks rolled quickly away. They might have seemed long to Guy -if he had been unemployed, but his duties in the office so occupied his -time that the period seemed very short indeed. - -One day Captain Grover surprised him by saying: “Well, Guy, the Osprey -will start for home next Monday.” - -Guy heard the announcement with regret. He had become so interested in -his work that he did not like to leave it. - -“I suppose you will be ready?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -Guy notified Mr. Saunders that he should have to leave him. - -The merchant looked thoughtful. - -“I am sorry for that,” he said. “Your predecessor--the man whose place -you are taking--is not yet well.” - -“I am sorry if I inconvenience you, Mr. Saunders.” - -“You are specially anxious to return on the Osprey?” - -“If I don’t, I know of no other way of getting home.” - -“You can get home quicker by way of London and Liverpool.” - -“But that would cost considerable money.” - -“That is true. Of course, if I detain you here I shall undertake to send -you home free of expense to yourself. Perhaps, however, that may not be -a matter of so much importance to you.” - -Guy looked puzzled. - -“You would travel by steamer to Liverpool, and from there to New York or -Boston, also by steamer.” - -“It would enable me to see more of the world, but it would cost you a -good deal of money.” - -“Yes; but I have not yet told you that I may have some business for you -to attend to for me in England.” - -“That would alter the case, sir. If you have confidence enough in me to -employ me in that way, I shall be very glad to do what I can for you.” - -“Then there is another matter. I have not yet spoken to you about the -pirates’ treasure.” - -“No, sir.” - -“I have thought over the story you told me, and I will tell you the -decision to which I have come. I think there is a faint chance of the -story being true.” - -Guy brightened up at this admission, for he had great faith in Mr. -Saunders’ judgment. - -“Of course, it will cost money to obtain it, even if it exists, for I -see no other way than to fit out a special expedition.” - -“Yes, sir,” returned Guy, soberly, for he believed this would destroy -all chance of his ever obtaining the treasure. - -“As to the prospect of influencing anyone with capital to go on such a -quest, I am afraid it is not bright.” - -“I suppose I may as well give it up, then?” - -“Not necessarily. The time may come when I can myself undertake it. -Meanwhile, as it may be a good while, you will be left in suspense and -poverty.” - -“Still, if I thought the time would ever come when you would be willing -to take hold of it, I would be content to wait.” - -“Then suppose you have a copy made of your uncle’s letter, and also of -the one in which directions are given as to the island and the place of -concealment. The original papers you can keep, and leave the copies with -me.” - -“I will do so, sir.” - -“You repose a good deal of confidence in me. Suppose I fit out the -expedition, secure the treasure, and cheat you out of your share of it?” - -“I have no fear,” replied Guy. “I have perfect confidence in you.” - -“You shall not regret that confidence. I will see that you derive some -immediate benefit from this treasure to which you have fallen heir. I -propose that, as the expense of fitting out the expedition will be mine, -I shall have a right to claim one-half the treasure.” - -“I agree to that, sir.” - -“And I furthermore agree to pay over to you _at once_ one thousand -pounds, to be repaid to me out of your share of the treasure when it is -found.” - -“But it may never be found!” - -“That will be my lookout.” - -“And I shall be worth a thousand pounds--five thousand dollars!” said -Guy. - -“Exactly so.” - -“I can hardly believe it.” - -“You will believe it when the money is in your hands, as it will be -to-morrow.” - -“It was a very fortunate day when I met you, Mr. Saunders,” said Guy, -gratefully. - -“And a providential day when I met you, Guy. Don’t forget that you saved -my life. But I have not yet spoken of the business which you are to do -for me in England.” - -When Guy heard this he was even more surprised. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -GUY RECEIVES A COMMISSION - - -“Not going back on the Osprey?” exclaimed Captain Grover, in great -surprise. - -“No, sir. Mr. Saunders wishes to retain me in his employment.” - -“But are you aware that the climate of Bombay is very trying to a -foreigner?” - -“I do not expect to stay in Bombay.” - -“I thought you were intending to remain with your present employer?” - -“I expect to remain in his employ, but he will very soon send me to -England on business.” - -Captain Grover looked still more amazed. - -“Does he know how old you are?” he asked, abruptly. - -“He knows how _young_ I am,” answered Guy, with a smile. “Still, he -seems to have confidence in me.” - -“I suppose I shall have to give my consent, Guy. I hold myself in a -manner responsible, for you, as you left home under my charge. Still, I -can see that Mr. Saunders is likely to prove a good friend to you. How -much does he pay you?” - -“Thus far he has paid me twenty-five dollars a week.” - -“You can hardly expect that he will pay you such large wages when you -are traveling.” - -“On the contrary, he says he will pay me more.” - -“Either you are a very smart boy, or he overrates you greatly.” - -“Suppose we say the first?” said Guy, smiling. - -“Well, perhaps so. How long are you to stay in England?” - -“I don’t know yet.” - -“From there where will you go?” - -“To Boston or New York.” - -Captain Grover looked relieved. - -“I want to be able to tell your father that you are all right. He will -naturally feel anxious when he thinks that you are alone in a distant -country.” - -“I don’t know about that. He always had considerable confidence in my -ability to get along.” - -“He didn’t know anything about your crazy idea of hunting for a pirate’s -treasure, did he?” - -“I never mentioned the matter to him, and I hope you will not. He gave -me permission to search Uncle George’s sea chest, but I never told him -what I found in it. You know, captain, he is a very absent-minded man. I -presume he has never thought of the matter from that day to this.” - -“I am glad you have given up the notion of hunting for a treasure which -very likely does not exist.” - -“Have I?” said Guy to himself; but he only smiled. - -He had never said anything to Captain Grover about Mr. Saunders’ plans, -or about the thousand pounds which the merchant had paid over to him. He -knew that the captain would rejoice in his good fortune, but he wanted -to bide his time and surprise his friends, at home with the story of his -luck. - -He felt that already he was worth enough money to help his father -materially in case Deacon Crane should succeed in his efforts to have -him ousted from his parish in favor of a younger man. - -On the day that the Osprey was to weigh anchor Guy remained on board, -with Mr. Saunders’ permission, till the good ship had fairly left her -dock. - -As he watched her gradually fading out of sight, and realized that he -was perhaps eight thousand miles from home, with none of his old friends -near him, he felt homesick for a short time, but soon the thought of his -wonderful good fortune cheered him up, and he went back to the office -full of exhilaration and hope. - -In about a week the sick clerk, whose place Guy had taken, returned, and -a few days later Guy embarked on an English steamer, bound for -Liverpool. - -On the departure of the Osprey he had taken up his residence at the -house of Mr. Saunders, who was a widower. A maiden sister kept house for -him. - -“I want you with me,” said the merchant, “partly because it will be more -homelike for you than a hotel, and partly because I shall have a better -chance to instruct you in the business which you are to transact for me -in London.” - -Guy learned that Mr. Saunders was special partner in the London firm of -Russell & Co., and had constant transactions with them. - -A part of Guy’s instructions related to business to be done with them. -He had thought that this would be all, but he was mistaken. - -One evening, after supper, Mr. Saunders said: “I have given you -directions as to business matters, but I have another affair, requiring -discretion and good judgment on your part, in which I shall require your -help.” - -“I shall do my best, sir.” - -“I am sure of that. You must know that three years since I was informed -of the death of an old schoolmate, Herbert Bell. We had been very -intimate in school, and retained an interest in each other, though our -paths in life differed materially. - -“He became a clergyman, while I entered upon a business career. His wife -died before him. At his own death he left a son, about your age, I -should judge, and he left him to me, beseeching me, in remembrance of -our old intimacy, to look after him. This I willingly agreed to do. - -“Poor Herbert left only a few hundred pounds, the income of which was -quite insufficient to support and educate his son Vivian. On the whole, -I was not sorry for this, as it enabled me to be of even more service to -my friend’s boy. - -“I would have been glad to send for him and bring him up under my own -eye, but I didn’t dare to expose his health to this dangerous climate. I -therefore placed him at school about fifty miles from London. - -“I had been so long absent from England that I knew nothing of the -schools there, but trusted to my business correspondent to find one that -was satisfactory. - -“He was placed at an academy kept by Dr. Peter Musgrave, whom I -supposed a fitting guardian for the orphan boy. - -“You see, I trusted to the judgment of my business associate. I have had -little or no direct communication with or about Vivian, but, immersed in -business, took it for granted that all things were going on as they -should. - -“My first doubt came when, about a month since, I received a letter from -the boy, which I will show you.” - -He took from his desk a letter, written in a schoolboy hand, which he -gave to Guy to read. It ran as follows: - - -MY DEAR GUARDIAN: - - I have been wanting for a good while to write to you about the way - I am treated by Dr. Musgrave. He seems to have taken a great - dislike to me, and uses me cruelly. I am sure it is not because of - my conduct, because I try to obey the rules of the school. But I - once complained of his son, Simon, who was in the habit of ordering - me about, and who regularly made me give him half of my pocket - money. Simon denied that this was so, and his father chose to - believe him. The result was that I was flogged, and from that time - I have been ill treated. Scarcely a day passes without my - receiving punishment. I can never be happy here, and I do hope, my - dear guardian, that you will remove me to another school. - - If Dr. Musgrave knew that I was writing to you he would not permit - me to send the letter. I do not dare to post it myself, but have - got a schoolmate to drop it in the post office for me. - -This was the material portion of the letter. - -As Guy read it, he felt a strong sympathy for the writer, and his -indignation was excited against the tyrannical schoolmaster. - -His lips closed firmly, and there was an angry light in his eyes. - -“Dr. Musgrave wouldn’t have treated me in that way,” he said. - -“No, I think not. You have evidently plenty of pluck. But Vivian -probably takes after his father, who was of a gentle and retiring -disposition. He never asserted himself, and always seemed to me to be -lacking in proper spirit. - -“Since I received this letter I have felt uneasy, and wished that I were -in England to investigate Vivian’s complaints, and, if necessary, remove -him from the school.” - -“I wish you had done so at once, Mr. Saunders.” - -“I had no one whom I could call upon to act for me. This letter came -since I made your acquaintance, and it was this partly that led me to -think of sending you to England. You will go as my representative, with -full power to act in my place, as your judgment may dictate. - -“I have an idea that the boy is delicate, and wish you to consult a -physician. If the doctor recommends a few months spent in travel, I may -allow you to take him with you to America.” - -“I should be a young guardian, Mr. Saunders. I think you said he was -about my age.” - -“Probably he is a year younger. At any rate, in all essential points you -are several years older. I have not known you long, but I have -confidence in your judgment. As to the expenses, I shall authorize you -to draw upon my London correspondent for whatever money you may need.” - -“I will gladly undertake the commission, Mr. Saunders. I think I can -promise that your ward will have no complaints to make of me. Shall you -have any business for me to attend to in New York?” - -“In all probability I shall have. My New York correspondent is Gilbert -Frazer, whose office is opposite Bowling Green. Have you ever been in -New York?” - -“No, sir; but I have no doubt I shall be able to attend to whatever -business there you may place in my hands.” - -“I have no doubt of it. Where is your home?” - -“In Bayport. That is a village in Massachusetts, not far from New -Bedford.” - -Mr. Saunders made a note of this. - -“I will give you further instructions, should any occur to me,” he said. -“Now we had best retire.” - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -FROM BOMBAY TO LIVERPOOL - - -On the steamer which left Bombay with Guy as a passenger he occupied one -of the best staterooms, which had been selected by Mr. Saunders himself. - -The voyage was a long one, and Guy had abundant opportunity to become -acquainted with his fellow passengers. - -Among them was a young Englishman, perhaps twenty-five years of age, -named August Locke. The rest were old or middle-aged men, and it was -natural that Locke and Guy should become more closely acquainted than -the others. - -On the first day, August Locke made overtures to Guy. - -“I am glad,” he said, “that there is one young person on board besides -myself. Suppose we become friends?” - -“I shall be glad to know you better,” replied Guy. “I was beginning to -feel lonesome.” - -“You are English, like myself?” - -“No; I am an American.” - -“And traveling alone? Why, you can’t be much over sixteen!” - -“That is my age.” - -“It seems strange to me that a boy of your age should be traveling alone -so far from home.” - -“I sometimes wonder at it myself.” - -“It can’t be for health, for you are fresh and blooming.” - -“No. Suppose I say that it is on business?” - -“Then all I can say is that you Americans begin life much earlier than -we English. Why, at your age I was attending school in England.” - -“What school did you attend?” - -“The school of Dr. Peter Musgrave, not far from London.” - -“I am very glad to hear it.” - -“Why?” asked Locke, with a puzzled look. - -“Because there is a boy at that school in whom I am interested.” - -“An American boy?” - -“No; a ward of my employer. He has received complaints that the boy is -ill treated, and has sent me to inquire into the matter. If you can tell -me something of the school I shall be very much obliged.” - -“I can’t say much good of it. Dr. Musgrave is an ill-tempered man, of -small acquirements, whose delight it is to tyrannize over the boys under -his charge. I have received more than one flogging from him, wantonly -inflicted, without my deserving it.” - -“You would not send any boy there in whom you were interested?” - -“Most certainly not!” - -“Then I shall probably withdraw Vivian from the school.” - -“You speak as if you were his guardian, and had full powers.” - -“So I have; and I suppose I may call myself his guardian, since the -responsibility has been given me by Mr. Saunders.” - -“Are you speaking of the great Bombay merchant?” - -“Yes.” - -“He seems to repose a great deal of confidence in you.” - -“He does,” answered Guy. - -“This seems strange, since you are an American.” - -“Yet you are disposed to be my friend,” said Guy, smiling, “in spite of -this drawback.” - -“True.” - -“I will show you a letter written by the boy to Mr. Saunders, and you -can give me your opinion of it.” - -August Locke cast his eyes over the letter of Vivian Bell already quoted -in a previous chapter. - -“Poor chap!” said the young Englishman. “He does seem to be having a -hard time of it.” - -“Can you tell me anything about Simon Musgrave, the doctor’s son?” - -“Not much. When I was at school he was a small boy in knickerbockers. He -was old enough, however, to show that he was a chip of the old block, -and inherited his father’s unpleasant traits. That he would bully a boy -whom he disliked I can readily believe. I remember once giving him a -thrashing for impertinence. I got flogged for it by the doctor, but I -had the consolation of knowing that I had hurt Simon quite as much as -his father hurt me.” - -“I don’t think he would bully me.” - -“You don’t look like a boy that would allow himself to be bullied. I -suppose this Vivian Bell is a different sort of boy.” - -“Yes; Mr. Saunders tells me that his father had a gentle disposition, -and thinks the son may resemble him in that respect. His father was a -clergyman.” - -“That explains it.” - -“I don’t think so. I, too, am the son of a clergyman; but I hope I have -some spirit.” - -“I am very sure you have. Anyone could tell that from your manner and -bearing.” - -“Did you continue at the school till your education was finished?” - -“No. My father withdrew me, partly because the doctor got ‘down on me,’ -as the saying is, and partly because he was led to think the pupils -didn’t learn much.” - -“I suppose you don’t revere the memory of your old teacher?” - -“I have often wished that I could get hold of him and repay with -interest some of the floggings which I received from him as a boy.” - -Guy was glad to have obtained, before arriving in England, some -information in regard to the school which Vivian Bell was attending. Now -that he knew for certain that the complaints the boy made were -justified, he was in a hurry to release him from the tyrannical rule -under which he was suffering. - -“When I go out to Dr. Musgrave’s school, Mr. Locke,” he said, “I wish -you would come with me.” - -“Perhaps I may; I should like to see the old place. My memories of it -are not all disagreeable. Some of the boys were friends of mine, and I -remember them with attachment. I am one who does not forget old -friends.” - -“I am sure not.” - -“Then I should like to see the doctor again. When we parted I was a boy -of fifteen, and I stood in fear of his superior strength. Now----” and -he smiled as he rose to his full height and stretched out his muscular -arms. - -“Now, you would be more than a match for him,” suggested Guy. - -“I think there is no doubt of that. I have been growing stronger, until -I am much more powerful than he was at his best, while the years that -have elapsed--ten--have probably diminished his vigor.” - -During the voyage Guy and August Locke had many pleasant conversations. -Guy learned that he was the nephew of a Glasgow merchant, and that his -visit to Bombay had been on business. - -“You are Scotch?” said Guy. - -“My mother was English, so that I am only half Scotch.” - -Among the passengers on board was another American, but he was a man of -sixty. He seemed a cynical man, who, strangely enough, appeared to -conceive a dislike for his young countryman. - -Indeed, he had no sympathy with young people, whom he thought to be -utterly destitute of judgment. His curiosity was excited by finding a -boy of Guy’s age traveling alone, and he plied him with questions till -he found out that he was in the employ of John Saunders of Bombay. - -“Couldn’t Mr. Saunders find an older representative than you?” he asked, -in an unpleasant tone. - -“I have no doubt he might, sir.” - -“Then he was a fool to confide his business to a mere boy.” - -Guy was not offended, but he was amused. - -“Do you know Mr. Saunders, sir?” he asked. - -“I have met him--in a business way.” - -“Did he impress you as a fool?” asked Guy, demurely. - -Solon Johnson eyed the boy sharply. He was not quite sure whether he was -being made fun of or not. - -“I can’t call him that,” he answered, “for he has been successful in -business and made a large fortune.” - -“Yet he has appointed me his agent.” - -“Yes, he has shown his folly there.” - -“I suppose if you had known him well enough you would have dissuaded him -from doing it?” - -“I certainly should. I don’t mean any reflection upon you, young man, -but it stands to reason that a boy of your age is unfit for any large -responsibility.” - -“Perhaps you are right,” said Guy, a little nettled, “but I shall -endeavor to show that he made no mistake.” - -“I can’t understand at all how such a man should have made such a -blunder. Were you ever in business before you left America?” - -“No, sir.” - -“What could possibly have recommended you to Mr. Saunders?” - -Guy could easily have satisfied his curiosity, but he did not propose to -do so. - -“We became acquainted, sir, and he employed me in his office in Bombay. -So he had some opportunity of becoming familiar with my capacity for -business.” - -“What did he pay you?” - -Guy felt that this was going too far. He did not care to gratify Mr. -Johnson’s impertinent curiosity. - -“You must excuse my answering that question, Mr. Johnson,” he said. - -“Oh, well, just as you please. If you were in my office in Boston I -should not think of offering you more than five dollars a week.” - -“Then, sir, I think I shall hardly be likely to apply to you for -employment.” - -“I don’t think much of your countryman, Guy,” said August Locke, when -they were alone. - -“Nor do I, Mr. Locke. I wonder which is right in his estimate of me--Mr. -Saunders or he.” - -“Mr. Saunders, I am sure.” - -“Thank you for your good opinion.” - -At length the long voyage was over, and with a thrill of interest and -excitement Guy stepped on the wharf at Liverpool. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -GUY ARRIVES IN LONDON - - -In company with his new acquaintance, August Locke, Guy pushed on to -London. He knew nothing about hotels, but by the advice of Locke he -secured a room at the Charing Cross. - -The next morning he called at the offices of Mr. Saunders’ -correspondent, Mr. Russell. - -These offices were in a solid and heavy-looking building, quite -different from the business structures to be found in American cities. - -Guy entered, and was asked his business by the clerk, who looked as if -he might have come from Glasgow or some other Scotch city. - -“I wish to see Mr. Russell,” answered Guy. - -“You can give me your message.” - -“I might, but I don’t think I shall. I wish to see Mr. Russell -personally.” - -“Mr. Russell does not see boys,” said the clerk, in an important tone. -“What firm are you with?” - -“Mr. John Saunders of Bombay.” - -The clerk opened wide his eyes in astonishment. - -“As I have come some thousands of miles to see Mr. Russell, I hope he -will grant me an interview,” Guy added. - -“Do you come from Bombay?” asked the clerk, in an altered tone. - -“Yes.” - -“Who came with you?” - -“Quite a number of passengers,” answered Guy, coolly, “but I don’t see -what concern that is of yours.” - -“You are a hextraordinary boy,” said the Scotch clerk, who had been long -enough in London to acquire the Cockney accent. - -“Thank you for the compliment, but I should like to see Mr. Russell.” - -The clerk withdrew to an inner room, and presently reappeared. - -“You can go in,” he said. - -Guy nodded, and betook himself to Mr. Russell’s private room. - -He found himself in the presence of a grave-looking man of fifty, who -looked staid and dignified. - -He surveyed Guy with evident curiosity. - -“My clerk tells me you came from Bombay, from my correspondent, Mr. -Saunders.” - -“I am glad he told you so much. He tried to prevent my seeing you.” - -“I do not often transact business with boys of your age. That was -doubtless his reason.” - -“Whatever his reason may have been, he made a mistake.” - -“I suppose you have credentials?” - -“Here is Mr. Saunders’ letter.” - -The dignified Mr. Russell took the proffered letter, and as he read it -looked from time to time at Guy in evident surprise. - -This was the letter: - - MY DEAR SIR: - - This letter will be presented you by young Mr. Fenwick, who has - been in my employ here, and who has my entire confidence. I have - given him two or three business commissions, of which he will speak - to you. I have also instructed him to visit the school at which you - placed my young ward, Vivian Bell, and investigate some complaints - which the boy has made in a letter to me. Should he find them to be - well founded he will, at his discretion, either remove him to - another school, or, should his health require it, take him on a - journey. - - Whatever funds he may require you will supply him with, to an - extent not exceeding five hundred pounds, and aid him in any way he - may suggest. Though he is young, I have implicit confidence in his - good judgment. - -Yours respectfully, - -JOHN SAUNDERS. - - - -It was evident that the grave Mr. Russell was very much amazed. - -Guy seemed so young, and the responsible position in which he had been -placed seemed so unsuitable to his youth, that the London merchant could -hardly believe that the letter was genuine. - -“Mr. Saunders writes that you were in his office in Bombay.” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“How long were you there?” - -“About six weeks.” - -“Did he know you before he engaged you to enter his service?” - -“Only a day or two.” - -“All this is very extraordinary. Were you born in England or in Bombay?” - -“In neither, sir. I am an American.” - -“I cannot understand how Mr. Saunders should have engaged you on such -short acquaintance, as you are so young.” - -“I don’t like to mention it, sir, but I had the good fortune to save his -life, and----” - -“How?” - -Guy related the particulars of the night attack on Mr. Saunders. - -“I understand,” said the Englishman, his face clearing up. “You -certainly placed my friend under great obligation; but how came he to -have so much confidence in your business ability?” - -“He knew nothing of my business ability at first, but after employing me -a few weeks he seemed to be satisfied with me.” - -“Quite so. I was at first inclined to fear that my old friend had lost -his usual discretion, but I begin to see that he has acted sensibly. I -shall, of course, comply with his request, and will assist you to the -best of my endeavors. First, do you require any money?” - -“Not to-day, sir, but I probably shall soon.” - -Guy gave some business messages to Mr. Russell, and then asked: “Have -you heard anything of Mr. Saunders’ young ward, of late, Mr. Russell?” - -“Yesterday I received a letter from Dr. Musgrave, complaining of his -insubordination.” - -“Will you kindly show me the letter?” - -The merchant opened his desk and produced a letter, which he placed in -the hands of his young companion. - -Guy read it with mingled interest and curiosity. - -This is the material portion of it: - - RESPECTED SIR: - - I regret to find myself under the necessity of complaining to you - of the boy whom you some time since placed under my charge. I - should have refrained from doing so, feeling quite able to manage - him, if I did not suspect that he had made complaints to you or Mr. - Saunders, of Bombay, of his treatment at the school. Let me say, - then, that he has shown himself very insubordinate, and in that - respect has set a bad example to my other pupils. In particular he - is impudent to my son Simon, and seems to have conceived a violent - hatred for him. - - Simon is a very trustworthy and reliable boy, who endeavors in - every way to carry out my wishes. I have made him a monitor, and to - a certain extent have placed the younger boys under his charge. He - has exercised great forbearance with Vivian, only requiring him to - treat him, as my representative, with proper respect. This, young - Bell seems unwilling to do, and I have no doubt is quite capable of - misrepresenting the condition of things at the school, and his own - treatment. - - I do not ask your assistance in any way, feeling quite able to cope - with him, but I wish to prepare you for any mendacious statements - the boy may be tempted to make. - - My school has, happily, a high reputation, and has been for years - noted for its excellent parental discipline. I have received many - testimonials from parents who appreciate the valuable training - their sons have received at the school. - -I am, very respectfully, - -Your obedient servant, - -PETER MUSGRAVE, LL.D. - - - -“What do you think of this letter, Mr. Russell?” asked Guy. - -“I have nothing to go upon. I have not received any letter of complaint -from young Bell.” - -“Mr. Saunders has.” - -“Indeed!” - -“I have brought a copy of it to show you.” - -The merchant looked over the letter, which has already been given in an -earlier chapter. - -“If these statements are true,” he said slowly, “the boy should be -removed at once. The question is, are they true or not?” - -“What did you know of the school, sir, that led you to select it for -Vivian Bell?” - -“I saw it advertised in the _Times_. Several well-known names were -appended as references.” - -“I chanced to have a fellow passenger, a young man, who, in his boyhood, -was a pupil at the school.” - -“Ha! And what did he say?” - -“That Dr. Musgrave was a brute and a tyrant.” - -“Possibly he was insubordinate, also.” - -“I shall bring him in some day to call upon you. His name is August -Locke, of Glasgow.” - -“Indeed! Is he related to the merchant of that name?” asked Mr. Russell, -with interest. - -“He is his son.” - -“His testimony carries weight. Then he thinks the complaints are well -founded?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Well, Mr. Fenwick, the affair is in your hands. I have no -responsibility in the matter. You will doubtless go to Milton and -investigate.” - -“Yes, sir. I am glad to say that Mr. Locke has agreed to go with me.” - -“He can assist you materially, as he is acquainted with the school.” - -At this moment the young Scotch clerk made his appearance. - -“Here is a message just received from Milton,” he said. - -The merchant tore it open, and read aloud, in some excitement: - - FROM DR. MUSGRAVE, OF MILTON, TO DAVID RUSSELL, GRACE COURT, - LONDON. - - _The boy Vivian Bell has run away. Will you defray expenses of - search?_ - -“How shall I answer this, Mr. Fenwick?” - -“Please wire him that a special messenger will call upon him -to-morrow.” - - - - -CHAPTER X - -AT MILTON SCHOOL - - -Milton School was situated in a delightful part of the country. It was -broad on the ground, and built of stone, the sides being overgrown with -the clinging ivy so abundant in England. - -It ought to have been a paradise. Casual visitors always admired it, and -declared that the boys who attended it were especially favored. - -But they did not know the character of Dr. Peter Musgrave, who had for -fifteen years exercised tyrannical sway over the pupils committed to his -charge. - -He was in the habit of forming sudden prejudices against his pupils, and -when he was “down on a boy,” as the saying is, no amount of good -behavior softened him. Vivian Bell had been unfortunate enough to incur -this man’s enmity, and his life had been a hard one ever since he had -entered the school. - -Two days before the date of the telegram mentioned at the close of the -last chapter, Simon Musgrave, the doctor’s son, ordered Vivian to go on -an errand to Milton village. - -“I have a bad headache, Simon,” said Vivian. “I don’t feel as if I could -sit up.” - -“I don’t believe a word of it,” returned the young tyrant. “You’re lazy, -that’s all.” - -“But indeed my head aches badly, Simon.” - -“Don’t call me Simon.” - -“Isn’t that your name?” asked Vivian, wonderingly. - -“My name _to you_ is Mr. Musgrave. Just remember that, will you?” - -“Yes, Simon--I mean Mr. Musgrave.” - -“Take that!” said Simon, aiming a blow at Vivian that nearly felled him -to the ground. “Perhaps you’ll remember next time.” - -“You have no right to strike me!” said Vivian, plucking up courage. - -He did not dare to retaliate, for he was weak compared with the young -tyrant. - -“Haven’t I? Then I’ll do it again!” - -Which threat he promptly translated into action. - -“Now you know me. Don’t you ever dare to tell me again that I haven’t a -right to wallop you! Start for the village at once, or you’ll get -another!” - -But there was an unexpected champion in the person of one of the older -boys, who had come up while Simon was gratifying his brutal instincts. - -“I say, Musgrave, what are you doing to Bell?” - -“None of your business!” - -“Isn’t it, though? You have made him cry.” - -“Oh, he’s a cry-baby, anyway,” said Simon, scornfully. - -“What has he been doing to you, Vivian?” asked the other boy, kindly. - -“He hit me twice!” - -“What did you do that for?” - -“I told you before it was none of your business,” returned Simon -Musgrave, sullenly. “If you’re not careful, I’ll serve you the same -way!” - -“You will, eh? I should like to see you do it!” replied Jim Rawdon, not -in the least terrified by Musgrave’s threats, even if he were the son of -the head master. - -Simon Musgrave scowled at the intrepid boy, but he knew very well that -it would not do to treat him as he had Vivian Bell. Simon was a born -bully, and bullies are generally cowards. - -He took advantage of Vivian Bell’s gentleness, but he held in unwilling -respect James Rawdon’s strength and pluck. - -“I’ll report your insolence to my father,” he said, biting his nether -lip. - -“Do,” retorted Rawdon. “Go and complain to your pa like an overgrown -baby!” - -Simon was in such a passion that he ached to strike Rawdon, but prudence -got the better of temper, and he refrained. - -Turning to Vivian, he said: “You heard what I told you to do. Go and do -it!” - -“What did you tell him to do?” asked Rawdon. - -“I told him to go to the village on an errand for me.” - -“Why don’t you go yourself?” - -“Because I don’t choose to.” - -“I would go if I hadn’t a headache,” interposed Vivian, putting his hand -to his head and sighing. “It’s very bad.” - -“It’s all put on,” said Simon, brutally. “Your head doesn’t ache any -more than mine does.” - -“Indeed, indeed it does!” - -James Rawdon listened to Simon with a disgust for his brutality which he -did not attempt to conceal. - -“Don’t you go, Bell,” he said. “I’ll stand by you.” - -“Look here, Rawdon, don’t put in your oar! You’ll get into trouble!” - -“Who’s going to get me into trouble?” - -“I am.” - -“Come on, then!” and Jim Rawdon put himself in an attitude of defence. - -“Oh, I sha’n’t touch you! I’d scorn to fight you; but I’ll report you -and Bell to my father.” - -“I’ve been reported to your father before now,” said Rawdon, -significantly. - -It was quite true that Jim Rawdon had little to fear from Dr. Musgrave. -He was a resolute and determined boy, who would not permit anyone to -impose upon him. - -His father was a wealthy merchant in London, and it so happened that Dr. -Musgrave was under a pecuniary obligation to the senior Rawdon to the -extent of five hundred pounds. These two considerations made Jim a -privileged character. - -Simon, however, knew nothing of the pecuniary relations between his -father and Mr. Rawdon, and was now thoroughly incensed, especially when -Rawdon, taking Vivian Bell under his protection, walked off with him. - -“I’ll go and complain to my father!” exclaimed Simon, wrathfully. - -“Go along! Come with me, Vivian!” - -Vivian, influenced by the older and stronger boy, obeyed him. - -“Now, Vivian,” said Rawdon, “tell me why you let that brute impose upon -you?” - -“Because I can’t help it, Rawdon.” - -“That’s something I wouldn’t say.” - -“You don’t need to. You are strong--oh, so strong!” returned Vivian, -admiringly. - -“I am not as strong as Dr. Musgrave, but he never touches me.” - -“He has flogged me often.” - -“The old brute! And yet you are always gentle and inoffensive.” - -“I try to be good and obey the rules, but the doctor is always finding -fault with me.” - -“That’s his way.” - -“I can’t seem to please him.” - -“Then why don’t you give it up?” - -“I don’t understand you, Rawdon.” - -“Then I’ll tell you, Vivian. If I were treated as you are I’d leave the -school.” - -“But how can I?” - -“Who put you here?” - -“My guardian.” - -“Then why don’t you ask him to take you away?” - -“I’ll tell you something, Rawdon, if you won’t tell.” - -“Of course I won’t tell! What do you take me for?” - -“I wrote to my guardian four months ago, telling him how I was treated -here.” - -“Four months ago! And haven’t you had any answer?” - -“No. You see, he lives in Bombay.” - -Jim Rawdon whistled. - -“Bombay! That’s a terrible distance off!” - -“Yes. It takes a long time for a letter to reach there. That’s the -reason I haven’t yet heard from him?” - -“Did you ask him to take you away?” - -“Yes; and I do hope he will.” - -“Very likely he won’t. If he lives so far off, very likely he won’t take -any trouble in the matter.” - -“Oh, I hope he will!” - -“If I were you I would take the matter into my own hands. I’d run away!” - -Vivian Bell almost gasped at the daring suggestion. - -“But what could I do if I did run away? I haven’t any money; that is, I -have only half a crown.” - -“I’ve got two half-sovereigns, and you may have one of them.” - -“You’re awfully kind, Rawdon. Would you really advise me to run away?” - -“Yes, I would.” - -“Where shall I go first?” - -“There’s a farmer four miles away on the Bolton Road. His name is Giles -Glover. Go there and ask him to keep you for a couple of days. You can -pay him, you know. Tell him I sent you. He’s a friend of mine.” - -“But after the two days?” - -“I’ll call over and have a talk with you. I can ride with the carrier, -so it won’t be any trouble. Then I’ll arrange something for you. Perhaps -I may send you to London with a letter to my father.” - -“But if the doctor catches me?” asked Vivian, with a shiver. - -“The doctor won’t catch you. I’ll put him off the scent.” - -“I don’t know, Rawdon. It seems a very bold thing to do.” - -The conversation was interrupted here, for Simon Musgrave came up with a -triumphant smile on his face. - -“Rawdon and Bell are wanted,” he said. “You are to report at once to my -father at his office.” - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -AN INDEPENDENT PUPIL - - -Simon Musgrave walked away, not doubting that the two boys would obey -orders. - -“What shall I do, Rawdon?” asked Vivian, in a state of nervous alarm. -“The doctor will be sure to flog me!” - -“Then don’t go near him.” - -“But he will come for me.” - -“Then mind you are not to be found.” - -“What do you mean?” - -“Go to your room, get a few underclothes, and run away. Remember where I -told you to go. You know where Farmer Glover lives?” - -“Yes.” - -“Go there. Ask him to keep you till I come.” - -“But will he?” - -“I am sure he will. He hates Dr. Musgrave, who tried to cheat him out of -pay for some hay he bought of him. You’ll find him to be a good -friend.” - -“It seems a bold thing to do, Rawdon, but if you say I had better, I -will be guided by you.” - -“That is right. Now lose no time in going to your room, and I will delay -matters so that you will have a chance to get away.” - -“Shall you go to see the doctor?” - -“Yes; I am not afraid of him.” - -Jim Rawdon loitered about the quadrangle, and it was nearly fifteen -minutes before he presented himself near the office. Simon had been sent -out to look for him. - -“Why don’t you go to my father’s office?” he demanded. - -“There is no hurry,” returned Rawdon, composedly. - -“You’ll find out if there isn’t. Pa’s awful mad; I can tell you that.” - -“Then he’d better get over it as soon as possible. It isn’t healthy for -an old man like him to get into a rage.” - -“I hope he’ll flog you!” said Simon, exasperated at Rawdon’s coolness. - -“You were always kind and friendly, Simon. Just as sure as he tries to -flog me, I’ll flog you!” - -“Where is Bell? Has he gone to the office?” said Simon, who felt that -Rawdon would be very likely to carry out his threat. - -“What have I got to do with Bell? Isn’t he in the office now?” - -“If he isn’t it’ll be worse for him. Pa isn’t in a humor to be trifled -with.” - -Five minutes later Jim Rawdon sauntered into the office of Dr. Musgrave. - -The doctor was sitting at his desk. His face was stern and wrathful. - -“Where is Bell?” he asked, abruptly. - -“I can’t tell you, sir.” - -“Wasn’t he with you when my son Simon summoned you to my office?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“Then how is it you don’t know where Bell is?” - -“I am not his guardian, Dr. Musgrave. We separated, and I did not -trouble myself to see where he went. Hasn’t he been here?” - -“No, he hasn’t,” answered the doctor, sharply. “How happens it that you -come so late?” - -“Simon didn’t tell me there was any particular hurry.” - -“My orders are always to be obeyed at once!” - -“Very well, sir.” - -“You’d better remember that next time.” - -“I am here now. What did you wish to see me about?” - -“I understand that you have treated my son Simon with disrespect.” - -“Please be more explicit, sir,” said Rawdon, with exasperating coolness. - -The doctor bit his lip. He felt that Rawdon was impertinent, though his -language was strictly respectful. - -“You interfered between him and Bell.” - -“I did. I saw that he was bullying Bell, and I interfered to protect -Bell.” - -“What business was it of yours?” - -“Sir,” said Rawdon, with dignity, “I am an English boy, and I can’t -stand by and see a younger boy bullied by an older and stronger one.” - -“Do you think I will allow you to interfere with my son? If you had any -complaints to make, you should have come to me.” - -“There was no time for it.” - -“Simon tells me that he asked Bell to go to the village on an errand for -him.” - -“Bell had a headache, and was not fit to run errands.” - -“You could have told me that.” - -“And in the meantime Bell would have been on his way to the village.” - -“Hark you, Rawdon! You are taking too much on yourself!” - -Jim Rawdon made no reply. - -“And if this continues I shall feel compelled to flog you!” - -“I think you had better not, Dr. Musgrave,” said Rawdon, in a -significant tone. - -“Why not, sir?” demanded the doctor, angrily. - -“Because my father won’t permit it. He told me when I came to school to -report to him if you laid your hand on me.” - -Dr. Musgrave winced. He had reason to believe that Jim told the truth, -and he knew that he was under obligations to the senior Rawdon, who -might make things uncomfortable. - -“I don’t allow any outsider to interfere with my discipline,” he said, -“but I will postpone your case till I have dealt with Bell. You say you -don’t know where he is?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Have you any idea where he went when he left you?” - -“I think he may have gone to his room.” - -“Did he understand that I sent for him?” - -“I presume so, Dr. Musgrave. I didn’t ask him.” - -“You may go to his room and see if he is there. If so, tell him to come -here directly.” - -Rawdon left the office. - -Outside stood Simon Musgrave. - -“Did my father flog you?” he asked, maliciously. - -“You had better ask him.” - -“I hope he did.” - -“By the way, Simon, have you seen Bell?” - -“No.” - -“Your father thinks he may be in his room. Will you go and tell him, if -you find him there, that he is to go to the office?” - -This was to Simon an agreeable errand, and without asking whether it was -desired by the doctor that he should go, he set off at once. - -He returned in a brief space of time, saying: - -“I can’t find him.” - -“Then you might tell your father; or shall I do so?” - -“I’ll go in.” - -“I’ve been round to Bell’s room, pa,” he said, “but he isn’t there.” - -“Inquire around among the boys if anyone has seen him,” answered the -doctor, frowning. - -“Did you flog Rawdon?” asked Simon, eagerly. - -“Not yet. Do as I told you.” - -Inquiry was made among the pupils, but if anyone had seen Vivian Bell, -no one would give information on the subject. - -At length an under-gardener said: “I seen him going off Bolton way. He -had a bundle under his arm. He looked like he was running away.” - -“Bell running away!” exclaimed Dr. Musgrave, scandalized. “Why, he -wouldn’t _dare_ to do such a thing!” - -“You know best, sir,” said the gardener, humbly. - -“If he has run away,” said Dr. Musgrave, setting his teeth, “I’ll half -kill him when I get him back!” - -Jim Rawdon was summoned again. - -“Rawdon,” said Dr. Musgrave, abruptly, “has Bell ever said anything to -you about running away?” - -“Has he run away?” asked Rawdon, innocently, looking immensely -surprised. - -“Answer my question, sir.” - -“I can’t say that he has, sir, although he has complained of being badly -treated.” - -“No one is badly treated here!” roared the doctor, furiously. “What do -you mean by such an insinuation?” - -Jim Rawdon did not seem terrified by the doctor’s angry outburst. - -“I am not saying he was ill treated,” he replied, “but----” - -“Well?” - -“I think he was.” - -“You are the most impudent boy I have in my school! How dare you talk in -this way?” - -Rawdon merely shrugged his shoulders. - -Dr. Musgrave wished he might set off at once in pursuit of the missing -pupil, but he could not break away from his duties. - -“I’ll go for him, pa,” volunteered Simon. - -“No; I will wait till to-morrow morning, and go myself.” - -“But he may get away for good and all!” - -“He can’t go far, for he has no money. I am not afraid of losing him.” - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -HOW VIVIAN ESCAPED - - -When Vivian Bell parted from Jim Rawdon he strictly followed the -directions of his schoolmate. He went hurriedly to his room, made up a -bundle of underclothing, and then crossing the grounds in nervous haste, -started on the Bolton Road. - -He knew the way, for he had often gone in this direction on holidays, -usually with a company of his schoolfellows. - -He had hardly time to consider the importance of the step he was taking. -He was animated by a feverish desire to get as far away as possible from -the school where he was ill treated. - -He feared and detested the head master, who, to the best of his -remembrance, had never spoken a kindly word to him. - -He would never of his own impulse have dared to run away, but the -stronger will of Jim Rawdon dominated him. - -As he hurried along on a rustic road between two delightful hedge-rows, -he looked backward from time to time with nervous apprehension, almost -expecting to see the tall, gaunt figure of Dr. Musgrave following him in -hot pursuit, or the red head and malicious face of his young tormentor, -Simon. - -But when a mile away he began to feel less apprehension. He was -confident that Rawdon would somehow cover his flight and put the -pursuers off his track. - -An unwonted sense of freedom came to him. - -“Oh, if I could get away entirely from Dr. Musgrave!” he thought. “I -would be willing to work hard. Perhaps some farmer would engage me. I -would not mind hard work as long as I was well treated.” - -It is a very serious thing when a teacher who should be the guardian and -guide of his pupils inspires dread and abhorrence. It is difficult to -estimate how much unhappiness is occasioned by such unprincipled tyrants -as Dr. Peter Musgrave, the head master of Milton School. - -It seems a pity that they could not for a time change places with some -of the pupils they abuse, as is done in the ingenious story, “Vice -Versa.” - -Vivian had walked about two miles when he was overtaken by the carrier -in his cart. - -All the boys of Milton School knew Jack Hunt, who was a good-natured man -of middle age. - -“Where are you going, Master Bell?” asked the carrier, slackening his -speed. - -Vivian turned round and answered: “Won’t you ever tell, Jack?” - -“No, I won’t,” answered Jack, stoutly. - -“Then I am running away.” - -“You don’t mean it now, Master Bell?” exclaimed Jack, half incredulous. - -“Yes, Jack, it’s true.” - -“What! Running away from the schoolmaster?” - -“Yes, Jack.” - -“Then I’ll be danged if I blame thee, lad. He’s a brute, he is.” - -“He’s treated me brutally, Jack.” - -“But I say, Master Bell, I didn’t think thee had it in thee. Why, I -didn’t think thee had the pluck to run away.” - -“I don’t think I would, Jack, if it hadn’t been for Jim Rawdon.” - -“Ah, yes, Rawdon. He’s a plucky lad. He wouldn’t let the master flog -him.” - -“No, I don’t think Dr. Musgrave ever flogged Rawdon.” - -“But he’s flogged thee?” - -“Oh, many a time,” answered Vivian, shuddering. “Oh, he has beat me -cruelly.” - -“I’d like to get at him,” said Jack, shutting his teeth firmly together. -“I’d like to get at him with a horsewhip, that I would!” - -“But Simon is almost as bad.” - -“That’s the schoolmaster’s boy. I know that Simon. He’s got an ugly -temper, he has. And he’s impudent, too.” - -“Did you ever have any trouble with him, Jack?” - -The carrier laughed. - -“He’s had trouble with me,” he answered. “I’ll tell you how it was. I -was drivin’ along one day, just as you see me now, when Simon came up, -and, just out of ugliness, picked up a stone and fired it at my ’orse. -Well, I wouldn’t stand that, you know, so I jumps off my cart and I ran -after the boy whip in hand.” - -“Did he run away?” - -“No; he stood his ground. He thought I wouldn’t dare to hit him. So when -I said: ‘Why did you go to do that?’ he answered, impudent like: -‘Because I chose.’ With that I took my whip and slashed him about the -legs till he jumped and swore.” - -“You lashed Simon Musgrave?” asked Vivian, almost incredulous. - -“Yes, I did. Oh, wasn’t he mad, though! He threatened that he would tell -his pa, and have me locked up.” - -“I am glad to hear that. It does me good! And you really and truly -lashed Simon?” - -“Ask him if I didn’t.” - -“I wonder he didn’t tell the doctor.” - -“I told him I would have him arrested for stoning my ’orse.” - -“I would like to have been there.” - -Vivian Bell was far from being a vindictive boy, but it seemed to do him -good to hear that his persistent young persecutor had for once had the -same treatment meted out to him that he had so often inflicted upon -others. - -“Where are you going, Master Bell?” asked the carrier, with a sudden -thought. - -“Rawdon told me I’d better go to Farmer Glover’s, and ask him to take me -in over-night.” - -“And a good plan it is; but you’re only half way to Giles Glover’s.” - -“I’m not tired, Jack. I shall be able to walk.” - -“There’s no need of walking. I’m going all the way there myself. So just -jump up into my cart, Master Bell, and I’ll have you there in a jiffy.” - -Vivian was glad to accept this offer, and in a minute he was in the -cart, riding beside Jack, the carrier. - -“I am afraid I will get you into trouble, Jack,” said Vivian, after a -pause. - -“Never you think of that, Master Bell. You don’t think the doctor’ll be -flogging me, do you, now?” asked the carrier, with a broad grin. - -“No; I don’t think he would do that.” - -“I would like to see him try it, I would.” - -“But he might refuse to employ you.” - -“As I am the only carrier hereabouts he wouldn’t do that.” - -“Well, you are very kind, Jack.” - -“And why wouldn’t I be? I’d help any of the schoolboys. There’s one -thing I’d like to help them in.” - -“And what’s that?” - -“To flog the schoolmaster. That would be rare fun.” - -So Vivian Bell and his good friend the carrier sped along till they came -in sight of the farmhouse occupied by Giles Glover. - -It so happened that the farmer himself was out in the yard when the -carrier drove up. - -They greeted each other like old friends. - -“And whom have you got with you, Jack?” asked the farmer. - -“I’ve got a boarder for you, farmer.” - -“I don’t understand. Isn’t this one of Dr. Musgrave’s boys?” - -“Yes; and he’s run away from school.” - -“You don’t say! And what for?” - -“Because the doctor has been flogging him almost every day, till he’s -tired of it. Will you take him in for a night?” - -“Aye, that I will! But what are you going to do, lad?” - -“I will wait here till Jim Rawdon comes. He will advise me.” - -“Aye! I know Rawdon. He is a manly boy, Rawdon is.” - -“It was he that advised me to run away.” - -“But have you any money, lad? You know you can’t get along without -money.” - -“Yes, I have a little money. I will pay you for taking me in.” - -“No, you won’t, lad! Giles Glover wants no pay from a poor, persecuted -lad. There’s plenty to eat here, and you’re heartily welcome to it. But -have you nothing to live on? Where is your father, lad?” - -“I have no father nor mother.” - -“Then who pays your bills?” - -“My guardian.” - -“Then why don’t you go to him?” - -“I can’t. He lives in Bombay. That’s ever so many thousands of miles -off. I have written to him, and I hoped to hear from him before this -time.” - -“Wouldn’t it have been better to wait?” - -“I couldn’t,” said Vivian, wearily. “It is four months since I wrote.” - -“But how will you get along?” - -“If I can get to London I will go to my guardian’s bankers.” - -“Well, I will keep thee at any rate for a night or two, and it sha’n’t -cost thee a penny.” - -Soon after Vivian’s arrival he sat down to a plentiful supper. He ate -heartily, and his courage rose. He was surrounded by humble but cordial -friends, and the atmosphere of kindness was as grateful as it was new to -him. - -But it would not be long before his place of concealment would be -discovered, and his foes be on his track. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -DR. MUSGRAVE RECEIVES INFORMATION - - -It so happened, though Vivian did not know it, that he was seen riding -with Jack the carrier by a boy named Jarvis, connected with Milton -School. - -Jarvis was a toady to Simon, and strove to ingratiate himself with Dr. -Musgrave by carrying him tales of his schoolmates. - -Hidden behind the shrubbery, Jarvis saw the carrier’s cart with Bell as -passenger. - -He had been to Bolton to call on an aunt. - -On his return to the school he heard of Vivian Bell’s disappearance. - -Jarvis congratulated himself on being the first to carry news of his -missing scholar to the head master. - -In crossing the campus he fell in with Simon. - -“What’s the news, Simon?” he asked. - -“Bell has run away!” - -“Do you know where he has gone?” - -“No; but pa’ll catch him, I’m sure of that. I wouldn’t like to be in -his shoes then, I can tell you!” - -“Didn’t anybody see him go?” - -“No; I had just told him pa wanted to see him in the office, and I -supposed he would report there. I’ll tell you who knows something about -his going away.” - -“Who is it?” - -“Rawdon. He was with him, and I feel sure that he put Bell up to running -away.” - -“Very likely. Bell’s a milk-and-water chap. He wouldn’t dare to run away -unless someone put him up to it. Have you any idea in what direction he -went?” - -“No.” - -“Humph!” - -“What do you mean by your mysterious manner. Do you know anything about -his going away?” - -“Well, I might have found out something,” answered Jarvis. - -“If you know anything it’s your duty to tell _me_ right off,” said -Simon, imperiously. - -Jarvis, in general, acquiesced in anything that Simon said, but he was -aware of the importance of the information he had to offer, and chose to -get all the credit himself. - -“Why is it my duty to tell _you_?” he asked. - -“So that I may tell pa.” - -“It will do just as well if I tell him.” - -“No, it won’t. You tell me, and I will go to the office at once and tell -pa.” - -“There is no need to trouble you, Simon. Whatever there is to tell I can -tell myself.” - -“I don’t believe you’ve got anything to tell,” said Simon, cunningly. - -“Nothing much, only that I saw Bell when he was running away.” - -“Where did you see him?” asked Simon, eagerly. - -“That’s what I am ready to tell your father.” - -Simon made another attempt to obtain the information, but failing, he -escorted Jarvis to the office of Dr. Musgrave. - -“Pa,” he said, bustling in, “there’s some news of Bell.” - -“What is it?” asked the master, looking up from the desk. - -“Jarvis saw him running away.” - -Jarvis, who had followed Simon into the office, now pressed forward. - -“Well, Jarvis, what have you to tell?” asked the doctor. - -“This afternoon I saw Bell riding over the Bolton Road with Jack Hunt, -the carrier.” - -“Ha! that man is in it! I am not surprised. His influence over my pupils -is very demoralizing. He will get into trouble if he is not very -careful.” - -“Can’t you have him arrested, pa?” said Simon, who had a grievance of -his own against the independent carrier. - -“That depends on his connection with the affair. In what direction was -the carrier going?” - -“Toward Bolton, sir.” - -“Did he or Bell see you?” - -“No, sir. I was hiding behind the hedge.” - -“What else did you see?” - -“Bell had a bundle with him.” - -“Ha! a bundle of clothes, no doubt! What time was this?” - -Jarvis mentioned the hour. - -“He must have started about the time I told him to go to your office, -pa.” - -“Probably. Simon, do you know where the carrier lives?” - -“Yes, pa.” - -“What time does he get back from Bolton?” - -“About six o’clock.” - -“Very well; go there at that time and ask him to step around to see me.” - -“All right, pa.” - -This was an errand which Simon enjoyed. He reached the carrier’s house -just as Jack was unharnessing his horse. - -“I say, Jack,” he began, “pa wants to see you right off.” - -“Does he?” returned the carrier. “You can tell him where I am. If he -will come round here he can see me.” - -“He wants to see you at his office.” - -“Well, I haven’t time to go there. My supper is waiting for me. Do you -know what he wants to see me about?” - -“Yes; it’s about Bell. He was seen riding with you this afternoon.” - -“Oh, he was, was he? Did _you_ see him riding with me?” - -“No, but Jarvis did; so there’s no use of your denying it.” - -“I don’t deny it. Master Bell is always welcome to ride with me, but I -wouldn’t take you on my cart, nor yet that Jarvis.” - -“I say, you’d better be careful. Pa ain’t going to have you help his -boys run away.” - -“Who’s run away?” asked Jack, innocently. - -“Why, Bell, of course. You don’t mean to say you didn’t know it?” - -“Master Bell run away! You don’t mean it! Why should he run away from -such a kind man as your father?” - -“Because he was a bad boy. He always disobeyed the rules,” said Simon, -sharply. - -“You don’t mean to tell me so! And I thought he was such a good, quiet -boy.” - -“Where did you leave him?” - -“Where did I leave him? I didn’t leave him anywhere. He left me.” - -“Where was it?” - -“On the road.” - -“Did he tell you where he expected to spend the night?” - -“He might, and again he mightn’t. I am so forgetful that I never minds -what’s told me. It just goes into one ear and out of the other.” - -Finding he could get no certain information out of the carrier, Simon -started to go, threatening him with arrest for conniving at the escape -of Vivian Bell. - -“You don’t really think your pa would have me arrested, do you, Simon?” -asked the carrier, pretending to be very much frightened. - -“You just see!” - -“You’ll speak a good word for me, won’t you? You see it would be bad for -my business to be arrested.” - -“You ought to have thought of that,” said Simon, under the impression -that Jack was weakening. “Your only course is to tell pa all you know -about Bell, and just where he’s gone.” - -“I remember now he told me where he was going.” - -“Where?” asked Simon, eagerly. - -“To London.” - -“To London!” repeated Simon, in disgust. “Why, he’d have to walk all the -way!” - -“I don’t know anything about that.” - -“Why didn’t you turn right round and bring him back to the school? Pa’d -have given you a sixpence.” - -“Would he, now?” - -“Yes; I am sure he would.” - -“I can’t leave my business for any such trifle as a sixpence. Besides, -it wasn’t any of my business carrying back your father’s runaway -scholars.” - -“Perhaps you’ll change your mind, Mr. Jack.” - -“I’ll make one promise.” - -“What’s that?” - -“If I ever see you running away I’ll carry you back.” - -Simon did not deign a reply to this, but turning on his heel walked out -of the yard. - -As he left, he said: “You’d better go round and see pa after supper.” - -“He knows where he can find me,” returned the carrier, in a sturdy tone. - -Arrived at the school, Simon went at once to his father’s study, and -reported that the carrier would not obey his command. - -“Never mind, Simon,” said Dr. Musgrave. “The grocer has just been here -and told me that Bell is staying at Giles Glover’s farm. I shall go for -him to-morrow morning.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -GUY FENWICK REACHES MILTON SCHOOL - - -Guy Fenwick, accompanied by his friend and fellow passenger, August -Locke, started from London early in the morning, bound for Milton. - -Reaching the station, Locke proposed to Guy to walk to the school. - -“It is only half a mile,” he said, “and it will be a pleasure to me to -take a leisurely stroll over the road that was once so familiar to me.” - -“I am quite willing,” said Guy. “It is a charming morning, and the -country is beautiful.” - -“More so than America?” - -“I must confess,” said Guy, “that I know of no landscape in America that -equals the charm of an English village.” - -It was a bright, sunshiny day. The hedge-rows were a dark green. They -passed a church overgrown with ivy, and the air was perfumed by sweet -flowers. - -“How often I have been over this road,” said August Locke. - -“Did you enjoy your schooldays, Mr. Locke?” - -“I should have done so if we had had a better teacher. Dr. Musgrave’s -tyranny spoiled all.” - -“Did he abuse you?” - -“As much as he dared; but when he went too far my temper got the better -of me, and I was ready for anything. I think he knew that, for he did -not treat me as badly as some of his pupils who were more timid. How are -your American schools?” - -“No doubt we have some tyrannical teachers, but the one whose school I -attended was a gentleman. He was firm and yet gentle, and all we boys -respected and liked him.” - -“With such a teacher as you describe Milton School would be a paradise.” - -“I don’t see how Dr. Musgrave can retain his position. Does he own the -school?” - -“No; he is employed by the directors. Most of them live at a distance, -and know nothing of his administration. If complaints were made to them -they would pay no attention to them. They would take the ground that -there is a natural antagonism between pupils and teachers.” - -“So the poor boys have little hope of having their wrongs redressed?” - -“You are about right.” - -The distance between the station and the school was so short that by the -time their conversation was over they had nearly reached the gate that -led into the school-ground. - -“It looks just as it did when I left,” said August Locke, surveying the -building and campus with interest. “I can almost imagine that it was -only yesterday I went away.” - -“Except when you look in the glass.” - -“Yes; I have grown from a boy into a man of twenty-five. I should be -more than a match for old Musgrave now,” and the young man regarded with -satisfaction his muscular arms and well-knit figure. - -“Really,” he added, “I shouldn’t mind if there were occasion, having a -tussle with the old fellow. I fancy he wouldn’t stand long before his -old pupil.” - -There were several boys scattered about the campus. - -August Locke and Guy entered, and looked about them for someone whom -they could interrogate. - -The nearest was a stout, well-knit boy, with a strong, resolute face, -and a frank expression. In fact, it was Jim Rawdon, already introduced -as the friend and adviser of Vivian Bell. - -“My boy,” said Locke, with pleasant courtesy, “can you tell me if Dr. -Musgrave is in his office?” - -“No, sir; not this morning.” - -“Isn’t that rather strange--at this hour? You see, I am an old pupil, -and haven’t forgotten the ways of the place.” - -“He is usually here, sir; but he made an early start to hunt up a pupil -who ran away a day or two since.” - -“What is the name of the pupil?” asked Guy, quickly. - -“Vivian Bell.” - -“I thought so,” said Guy. - -“Are you a friend of Bell?” asked Rawdon. - -“Yes; I am more than a friend, though I never saw him. I am sent here by -his guardian.” - -“But I thought his guardian lived in Bombay?” - -“So he does; but I come from Bombay.” - -“I am glad of it,” said Rawdon. - -“Are you a friend of Vivian?” asked Guy. - -“Yes; I am about the only friend the poor boy has in this place.” - -“Do you mean that he is generally unpopular?” - -“No; we all like him; but I am the only one who dares stand up for him.” - -“His guardian received a letter complaining that he was ill treated by -the head master.” - -“That is true enough. He has been very badly treated.” - -“Why? Isn’t he a good boy?” - -“Yes. The trouble is that he is too good and gentle. Dr. Musgrave felt -that it would be safe to bully him, and he has done so.” - -“You are not giving Dr. Musgrave a very good character.” - -“He doesn’t deserve one.” - -“In what way has Vivian been ill treated?” - -“He has been flogged two or three times a week on an average.” - -“Without deserving it?” - -“Yes.” - -“What excuse can the doctor have for flogging him?” - -“Well, to begin with, Simon is down upon him.” - -“Who is Simon?” - -“Simon Musgrave, the doctor’s son. He’s as bad as his father, and I -don’t know but worse.” - -“Have you had anything to complain of?” - -“No. He doesn’t dare to meddle with me. I thrashed him once so -effectually that he thinks it wisest to let me alone.” - -“Coming back to Vivian, you say that Dr. Musgrave has gone in search of -him?” - -“Yes; he started early, accompanied by Simon.” - -“Then I suppose he had information as to his whereabouts?” - -“Yes. He heard that he was at Giles Glover’s farm, about four miles -away.” - -“Will he probably find him there?” - -“I am afraid so. It was I who advised him to run away, and I told him to -go to Giles Glover’s.” - -“Perhaps he may have left there.” - -“No. He was to wait till I got a chance to go and see him. I haven’t had -any chance yet. Bell is a timid boy, and he wouldn’t know where to go. I -meant to start him to London to see his guardian’s bankers.” - -“Let me shake hands with you,” said Guy, impulsively. “I am proud to -know you. You have had the courage to be a friend to a boy who was badly -abused. What is your name?” - -“Jim Rawdon.” - -“Mine is Guy Fenwick. I am an American boy.” - -“And yet you are sent here by Bell’s guardian,” said Rawdon, in -surprise. - -“Yes. It is too long a story to explain now.” - -“I like you, even if you are not English,” said Rawdon. “Do what you can -for Bell.” - -“That is what I have come here for. What will happen if Dr. Musgrave -captures him?” - -“He will flog Bell before the whole school, worse than he ever did -before.” - -“You may rest assured that he won’t do that,” said August Locke. “I -think I shall have something to say.” - -Jim Rawdon’s face glowed with pleasure. - -“I’m glad to hear that,” he said. “Oh, won’t there be a high old time!” - -“I fancy there will. I was once a pupil of Dr. Musgrave, and I owe him a -few returns for past favors. Does he often flog you?” - -“He never has yet,” said Rawdon. “He knows that my father would take me -away instantly if he tried it. Besides--I don’t mind telling you two--he -owes my father borrowed money, and that makes him cautious.” - -“I am glad that you, at any rate, are safe. So Simon is no improvement -on his father?” - -“No. If you were here as a pupil, how is it you don’t remember Simon?” - -“He was only a small boy then, perhaps six years old, and I was not -likely to know anything of him.” - -“Shall you stay here till the doctor returns?” - -“Yes. It will be our best course. You don’t think the doctor will -attempt to punish Bell before he gets him back?” - -“No. That isn’t his way. He will call the school together, and give him -a cruel flogging before all the boys. I have often seen such punishment, -and it makes my blood boil; but what could I do?” - -Five minutes later Rawdon called out in excitement: - -“There comes the doctor! Simon and Bell are with him!” - -August Locke and Guy looked up the road. A wagon was approaching, drawn -by a bony-looking horse. - -Simon was driving. On the back seat was Dr. Musgrave, tall, thin, with a -stern-looking visage, and beside him Vivian Bell, his face red and -tearful. - -He well knew what a terrible punishment awaited him. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -DR. MUSGRAVE’S HUMILIATION - - -Dr. Musgrave was so occupied with thoughts of the punishment that he -proposed to inflict on the poor boy whom he had captured that he did not -notice the visitors, who stood at one side of the path leading to his -office. - -Simon brought up the wagon in front of the gate. - -Dr. Musgrave jumped out, and then extended his hand to Vivian Bell. - -“Give me your hand!” he said gruffly. - -The poor boy tremblingly held out his hand, which was grasped roughly by -the tyrant. He was jerked out with no gentle motion. - -“Now, Simon, give me the whip!” - -Dr. Musgrave grasped it, and seizing Vivian by the collar, began to push -him before him up the path. - -Guy and August Locke looked on in disgust and anger. - -“Speak to him, Mr. Locke,” whispered Guy. - -“Dr. Musgrave!” said August, in a clear, cold voice. - -Then for the first time the head master turned his attention to the -newcomers. - -“I will be at your service in a few moments,” he said, waving his hand. - -He thought that August Locke wished to enter Guy at his school. - -“That will not do, Dr. Musgrave. I wish your attention now!” - -Dr. Musgrave, whose temper was none of the best, took umbrage at this. - -“You will have to wait!” he said, sharply. “I have to mete out justice -to this young rascal, who had the audacity to run away from me. I have -just recovered him, and I intend to flog him in the presence of the -school. You can be present, if you like.” - -“Dr. Musgrave,” said Locke, sternly, “this flogging shall not take -place!” - -“What!” exclaimed the head master, with blazing eyes. “Do you come here -to interfere with my discipline?” - -“I do; or rather we do.” - -“I never heard of such audacity!” exclaimed Dr. Musgrave, fairly -aghast. - -“Is not this boy Vivian Bell?” - -“Yes.” - -“Then you shall not flog him!” - -Dr. Musgrave was exasperated beyond endurance. He had been accustomed to -move among his pupils like an Eastern despot, with no one bold enough to -oppose him. - -“This is my answer,” he said, grasping the whip, and lashing Vivian -across the legs, eliciting a cry of pain. - -“And this is mine!” said August Locke. - -He snatched the whip from the head master, grasped him by the collar, -and with all the strength he possessed rained down blows across the -teacher’s legs. - -Dr. Musgrave shrieked with anger and dismay. As he did so he let go of -Vivian Bell. - -Guy instantly drew the trembling boy to his side. - -“What do you mean by this outrage?” demanded Dr. Musgrave. “Give me back -that whip!” - -“You cannot be trusted with it,” said Locke, coolly. - -Dr. Musgrave, fairly boiling with passion, made a spring for Vivian, but -August Locke anticipated the movement, and brought down the whip over -the head master’s shoulders. - -“Boys, come to the help of your teacher!” shrieked Musgrave. - -Not a boy stirred except Simon. - -He ran forward, and tried to attack Vivian Bell. - -Guy let go of Vivian, and with a well-directed blow stretched Simon on -the ground. - -“What do you mean by this outrage? Who are you?” asked the head master, -pale and agitated. - -“I, sir, am August Locke, once your pupil,” replied Locke. “I am paying -you off for some of your former brutality.” - -“I will have you arrested--yes, and you, too!” shaking his head at Guy. - -“Let me introduce my young companion, Dr. Musgrave,” went on Locke. “He -is Master Guy Fenwick. He comes here as the agent of Mr. John Saunders, -of Bombay, the guardian of Vivian Bell.” - -“Is this true?” asked the head master, bewildered and incredulous. - -“Yes, sir,” answered Guy. “I came here to find out how the boy was -treated, but I have seen for myself. I withdraw him from your school. He -is no longer a pupil of yours!” - -Vivian Bell’s expression changed at once. He looked overjoyed. - -“Oh!” he said, “is this true?” - -“Yes,” answered Guy, putting his hand caressingly on the boy’s shoulder. -“I shall take you away with me.” - -Dr. Musgrave, though still shaking with anger, was not wholly destitute -of prudence. - -“Gentlemen,” he said, “before anything is decided upon, I wish to -explain that this boy has committed a daring act of rebellion, an act -which merits summary punishment.” - -Vivian looked up nervously into Guy’s face, but the expression he saw -there reassured him. - -“Yes, sir; he ran away,” said August Locke, “and any boy would be -justified in running away under the circumstances.” - -“Sir,” said Dr. Musgrave, striving to recover some of his lost dignity, -“in a school like this there must be discipline.” - -“Yes, but not brutality.” - -“You have evidently been misinformed as to the character of my -discipline. It is firm, but parental.” - -“Dr. Musgrave,” retorted August Locke, with a disgust which he could not -conceal, “you forget that I was a former pupil of yours. Of all the -abominable tyrants to be found in English schools, I think you carry off -the palm.” - -“I had hoped, Mr. Locke--I remember you now--that your maturer judgment -would have enabled you to understand the reason of my occasional -severity. My own conscience justifies me in what I have done.” - -“Then you have a peculiar conscience; that is all I have to say.” - -“If this boy--as I can hardly believe--represents Bell’s guardian, I -will describe to him the flagrant acts of disobedience of which his ward -has been guilty. Surely he will not justify a pupil in running away from -his school!” - -“Under the circumstances I do, sir.” - -“I trust you will leave Bell here till the end of the term, four weeks -hence.” - -Vivian Bell looked alarmed. - -“I must decline to do so, Dr. Musgrave.” - -“I shall, under the rules of the school, charge to the end of the term.” - -“You can do so, sir, but I shall withdraw Vivian to-day.” - -“I claim the right, before he leaves, to inflict punishment for the act -of rebellion of which he has been guilty.” - -“So it would afford you satisfaction to flog him, Dr. Musgrave?” said -August Locke, with a sarcastic smile. - -“No, sir. I am always pained when I have to chastise a pupil, but it is -necessary to the maintenance of my authority over the other boys that -Bell’s offense should not go unpunished.” - -“Your authority will have to take care of itself, Dr. Musgrave. You are -fortunate that I do not punish you for your past brutality!” - -“Mr. Locke, a higher-handed outrage was never perpetrated than your -interference with my authority, and your assault upon myself. - -“You are quite welcome to take any view of it you choose. Guy, I think -you ought to take immediate steps toward the withdrawal of your young -ward.” - -“Dr. Musgrave, will you direct that my ward’s trunk be packed, and all -made ready for his departure? When this is done I will settle your -bill.” - -“I protest once more against your remarkable proceedings. I shall write -to Mr. Saunders and complain of them.” - -“You are at liberty to do so. In the meanwhile, please have the boy’s -clothes packed.” - -The humiliation of Dr. Musgrave was the greater because nearly all his -pupils had been witnesses of it. Though they had not manifested their -feelings in any way, there was not one, except Simon, his son, who was -not rejoiced when they saw the tables turned upon their tyrannical -teacher. - -Dr. Musgrave hesitated, but Guy’s bold, resolute bearing convinced him -that opposition would be useless. - -If he could have retained Vivian Bell to the end of the term he would -have had an opportunity to make him suffer, and thus obtained some -satisfaction; but Guy saw through his scheme, and resolutely vetoed it. -He would not allow Vivian to remain an hour longer, but declared his -intention of taking him away with him at once. - -When the doctor went inside to give orders about packing Vivian’s trunk, -Jim Rawdon went up to Guy and shook hands with him. - -“You are a brave boy,” he said. “I never enjoyed myself more than I have -in the last half hour. It was fun to see the doctor under the lash.” - -“I wish you could leave the school, too,” said Guy. - -“I shall soon. I am in no danger of a flogging, though. The doctor -doesn’t dare to flog me.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -GUY FINISHES UP HIS BUSINESS IN LONDON - - -When Vivian Bell found himself on a railroad train, in the company of -his new friends, bound for London, he was like one from whom a heavy -burden had been lifted. He became light-hearted and lively. - -“I am so happy,” he said, impulsively. - -“I am afraid you have never been very happy at the school,” returned -Guy. - -“No, never! Dr. Musgrave has always been unkind to me,” said Vivian, -with a shudder. - -“He would probably have punished you very severely if we had not made -our appearance.” - -“He would have almost killed me. He was frightfully angry at my running -away. How strong your friend is,” he added, looking at August Locke -admiringly. - -August smiled. He was human, and he was pleased with the compliment. - -“I think I was too much for the doctor,” he said, “but the time was -when he had the advantage of me. I have been flogged more than once in -my schooldays; but I fancy I deserved it more than you. You don’t look -to me like a very bad boy.” - -“The doctor said I was, but indeed I tried to do my duty. Yet he was -always flogging me.” - -“Rawdon was your friend, was he not?” - -“Yes; he was my only friend. He was always ready to stand up for me.” - -“The doctor never flogged him?” - -“No; I don’t see why, for he wasn’t a model boy, though he was a good -friend to me.” - -“He seemed like a trump. I’m sorry I didn’t tip him. I say, Guy, I mean -to send him a couple of guineas, just to show my appreciation of his -pluck and friendship for your ward.” - -“No; it is I who ought to do that.” - -“We’ll do it together.” - -For a few days Guy kept Vivian with him at the hotel. He set himself to -explore London, visiting all the noted places usually sought by -strangers, and this the boy thoroughly enjoyed. - -Guy determined to give him some pleasure after his long thraldom at -school. - -On the sixth day, in walking up the Strand, he and Vivian were surprised -to meet Jim Rawdon. - -Rawdon saw them first. - -“Hallo, you two! I was in hopes to meet you,” he said. - -“But how do you happen to be in London?” asked Guy. “You haven’t run -away from school, have you?” - -“Not exactly; but it amounts to the same thing, except that my father is -satisfied with my leaving.” - -“Tell me all about it.” - -“Well, it was this way. After you took Bell away the doctor was -fearfully cross. He was ashamed to think we boys had seen his downfall, -and as you were not there he vented his anger on us. There were never so -many boys flogged in the same length of time before.” - -“Did you receive the money Mr. Locke and myself sent you?” - -“Yes, and it got me into trouble. You see, the doctor heard of it, and -it set him to thinking. Finally he found out, by the help of that -sneaking son of his, that I had encouraged Bell to run away. He was -almost beside himself with anger, and made up his mind to do what he had -never done before; that is, give me a flogging.” - -“I hope he didn’t do it,” said Guy, hastily. - -“Listen, and I will tell you all about it. He summoned me before the -whole school, and made a short speech. ‘James Rawdon,’ he said, ‘I have -spared you heretofore on account of your excellent father, but I find -that you aided and abetted your schoolmate Bell to run away in defiance -of my rightful authority. Did you, or did you not?’ - -“‘I did,’ I answered. ‘The boy was so brutally treated that he had good -reason to run away.’ - -“‘I never heard such insolence!’ roared the doctor, his eyes blazing. -‘Take off your jacket!’ - -“‘Thank you, sir,’ I replied, ‘I’d rather keep it on.’ - -“He lost all control of himself then, and sprang for me with the whip. -My father had told me never to submit to a flogging, so I grabbed for -the whip, and we had a struggle for it. - -“I managed to break his spectacles, and convinced him that I was pretty -strong for a boy. But what frightened him most was this--I pulled out a -toy pistol from my pocket, and the doctor became pale as a sheet. - -“‘Put that down, sir!’ he cried. ‘I will dispose of your case -to-morrow!’ - -“That was all I wanted. That very evening I walked to the station and -took the cars for London, buying my ticket with the money you sent me. -When I told my father what led me to leave the school he told me I had -done right, and he sent the doctor a letter which he won’t be very glad -to read.” - -“Dr. Musgrave seems to be a very unwise man,” said Guy. - -“All the boys are getting dissatisfied,” rejoined Rawdon. “I know four -who have written to their fathers to take them away. Dr. Musgrave will -soon find himself deserted.” - -On this point we will anticipate matters a little by saying that -Rawdon’s statement proved prophetic. Dr. Musgrave’s temper was so -aggravated by what had occurred that he increased his severity to such -an extent as to induce a rebellion of the pupils. - -The directors were finally obliged to take cognizance of the complaints -made by parents, and the result was that Dr. Musgrave was removed from -the post of head master. He found it impossible to get another position, -and was compelled to live, or attempt to live, on the income of a small -sum which he had been able to accumulate in his twenty years’ service. - -His successor was a man of high scholarship and enlightened views, who -had assisted Dr. Arnold at Rugby School. - -Under his charge the school regained its lost popularity. For his -humiliation Dr. Musgrave had only himself to thank, but it is doubtful -if he fully realized it. - -A problem now presented itself to Guy, in reference to his ward. What -should he do with him? - -As the boy’s education was incomplete, it seemed desirable that it -should be continued. Moreover, in his future plans Guy felt that -Vivian’s company would hamper him, besides increasing his -responsibility. - -Jim Rawdon came to his rescue. - -One morning he called at the hotel where Guy was living, and said: “Why -can’t you let Bell go to school with me?” - -“Where are you going?” asked Guy. - -“My father will send me to a clergyman who takes but six scholars, and -who is highly recommended. He has two vacancies, so there is room for -Bell and myself.” - -“Please give me the clergyman’s name, and I will look the matter up.” - -Rawdon did so. - -Guy heard, upon inquiry, such good accounts of the teacher recommended -that he decided to send Vivian to him, especially as he found that his -young ward was in favor of the plan. - -This relieved him, and left him ready to carry out any instructions he -might receive from his employer in Bombay. - -It was not long before these instructions came. Going one morning to the -banking house, he found a letter from Mr. Saunders. - -A part of it ran thus: - - I presume you have visited Milton School, and inquired into the - charges brought by my ward Vivian Bell against the head master. If - the boy is really ill treated, have no hesitation in removing him. - I am not willing that my old friend’s son should be cruelly used. - Of my own knowledge I know nothing of Dr. Musgrave, but you will - have no difficulty in forming a correct judgment as to his - character and methods. - - I leave it to your discretion to select another school for Vivian, - unless the boy’s health should require a journey, in which case you - may take him with you to America. - - This leads me to say that certain matters which I will detail to - you in a note of instruction, I wish to have you discuss with my - New York agent, Gilbert Frazer, whose address you have. This will - make it necessary for you to make a brief visit to New York. - - I now come to the matter of the pirates’ treasure, which, - according to the papers you showed me, is probably concealed on one - of the Agalegas Islands. When you first mentioned the matter to me - I thought little of it. So many stories are extant about buried - treasure, that I was disposed to think this might be entitled to - little consideration. But further reflections have led me to think - that the treasure may really have an existence. - - I therefore authorize you to communicate with your old - acquaintance, Captain Grover, of the Osprey, with a view to - engaging his services on his next trip, in a search for the island. - That nothing may interfere with this object, he may report to my - agent, Mr. Frazer, who will provide him with a cargo consigned to - me. The search for the island will occasion delay, but of this I - shall not complain, though another party undoubtedly would. - - I send you a letter of credit addressed to Mr. Frazer, who will - provide you with such funds as you need. - -Yours truly, - -JOHN SAUNDERS. - - - -A memorandum of instructions accompanied this letter. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -HOW THINGS WENT ON IN BAYPORT - - -Guy was pleased with the prospect of a return to America, especially as -it was but for a short time. He would not have liked to feel that his -journeyings were over, and he was to go back there permanently. - -He had been some months away from his home in Bayport, and during this -time he had not heard anything from his father or the friends he left -behind. - -He felt that he had been remarkably successful. He left Bayport a raw -boy, and now, after six months, he represented a wealthy merchant in -Bombay, was worth a considerable sum in money, and had a prospect of -continued employment at a good salary. - -He had not thought much of it till now, but as the day of his sailing -for New York approached he began to be anxious about his father’s -health. He also troubled himself lest rumors might have come to him -about disaffection in the parish, and the schemes of Deacon Crane to -oust him from the position he had so long and so honorably held, and to -put in his place a younger man. - -While Guy is on the Atlantic, speeding for home on the good steamer -Etruria, we will precede him and let the reader know how matters are -going on in Bayport. - -Deacon Crane had gathered at his house three or four members of the -church one Thursday evening, and was seeking to bring them over to his -views on parish matters. - -“I tell you what, Brother Ainsworth,” said he, addressing the village -storekeeper, “it’s time we had a change in the minister. Mr. Fenwick is -behind the times. He isn’t a hustler. Why, the parish is at a -standstill. There are not more members than there were five years ago.” - -“That may be, Deacon Crane, but Bayport itself has been at a standstill. -I don’t believe the population has increased twenty-five in those five -years.” - -“Mebbe not, mebbe not; but the parson is feeding us on husks instead of -rich spiritual food.” - -“I think you are prejudiced, Deacon Crane,” said Jackson Butler, a -farmer, and one of the parish committee. “Mr. Fenwick is an able man, -and none of the ministers he exchanges with gives us a better sermon -than he. One of my friends from New Bedford attended church with me last -Sunday, and expressed himself as highly edified with our minister’s -sermon.” - -“I apprehend,” said the deacon, “that it is more important that he -should please the members of his own flock than the stray sheep who -attend church occasionally from other folds.” - -“Still the verdict of an intelligent outsider carries weight.” - -“I tell you I want a change,” said the deacon, with emphasis. “I want -some bright, young man that’ll make a stir.” - -“Do you think there are many that feel that way, deacon?” - -“Not a doubt of it.” - -“Who, for instance?” - -“Well,” said the deacon, after a pause, “Mr. Bucklin, for instance.” - -“Bucklin seldom goes to church, and last year he contributed but five -dollars toward the minister’s salary.” - -“Exactly so. Get a young man, and Bucklin would attend regularly, and -pay a larger sum toward the church expenses.” - -“He might double his subscription, but that would not amount to much,” -said Mr. Ainsworth. “Now I pay fifty dollars, and I think I have a -larger claim to consideration than Silas Bucklin.” - -“To be sure, to be sure! But we want to put aside our own preferences -and consult for the general good.” - -“Do you do that, Deacon Crane?” asked Mr. Ainsworth, pointedly. - -“Yes, sir! yes, sir!” - -“You are prejudiced against the minister.” - -“No, sir; I am only considering what will be for the good of the -parish.” - -“You object, then, to the minister’s sermons? Is that all?” - -“No, Brother Ainsworth. I object to Mr. Fenwick as a family man.” - -“That’s something new. What is your objection?” - -“Well, you see, he’s let his son Guy go off on a wildgoose chase to the -other end of the world. Instead of keeping him at home to complete his -education, or go into a store, he’s let him sail to India with Captain -Grover.” - -“That reminds me,” said Enoch Slade, the village carpenter. “Captain -Grover arrived home yesterday.” - -“Then where is Guy Fenwick? Nothing has been seen of him in the -village.” - -“He didn’t come home with the captain.” - -“Didn’t come home?” repeated Deacon Crane, in amazement. “Where is he?” - -“He stayed in Bombay. I believe he got something to do there.” - -“Well, that beats all I ever heard,” said the deacon, severely. “It -shows just what sort of a bringing up the boy has had. The minister -ought to have known better than to have let him leave home. Guy was -always self-willed. My son Noah never liked him.” - -This didn’t impress the deacon’s visitors as much as he anticipated, for -Noah Crane was by no means an object of admiration in the village. He -was generally considered sly and mean, while Guy was a universal -favorite. - -“I always liked Guy, myself,” said Mr. Ainsworth. “He is a good scholar -and a good boy. I do hope he will come out all right.” - -“It ain’t hardly to be expected, Brother Ainsworth. The boy has always -had his own way. You wouldn’t catch me letting my Noah go off to the -other end of the world.” - -“What did Captain Grover think of Guy remaining behind?” asked Mr. -Ainsworth. - -“He thought it was a good plan. Guy had a position with a leading -English merchant in that city.” - -“You’ll see him coming home before the mast as a common sailor, mark my -words,” said the deacon. “As I was saying, the minister ought to set a -good example to his people in the way of family discipline; but you see -what he’s done. Suppose we all followed his example?” - -“I think Guy will come out all right,” observed Enoch Slade. - -“I don’t.” - -“What would you have done with him?” - -“I’d have put him into a store, or had him learn a trade; that’s what I -would have done.” - -“Mr. Fenwick was anxious to have him go to college,” suggested Enoch -Slade. - -“What was the objection?” - -“He couldn’t afford it. You know Mr. Fenwick’s salary is only a thousand -dollars a year, and he has an aged aunt whom he helps. So it was quite -impossible for him to afford the expense.” - -“All the more reason for keeping Guy at home and setting him to work. -Now if I chose to send Noah to college, I could afford it,” added the -deacon, proudly. - -“Why don’t you do it, then?” asked Mr. Ainsworth. - -“Noah doesn’t care to go. He wants to be a business man.” - -“I wouldn’t give him a place in my store,” thought Ainsworth, “if he -would work for nothing.” - -Of course he didn’t say this. - -On the whole, Deacon Crane didn’t find as much sympathy as he expected -in his opposition to the minister, but he succeeded in converting half a -dozen heads of families to his views. They were not persons of much -importance, but, instigated by the deacon, they talked a good deal, and -managed to convey the impression that there was really considerable -dissatisfaction with Mr. Fenwick. - -Finally, Deacon Crane thought the time had come to call upon the -minister, and let him know how matters stood, or rather how he wished -matters to stand. - -So one evening he took his cane, and made his way to the parsonage. - -Mr. Fenwick was at work upon his sermon for the coming Sunday, but he -laid down his pen and greeted the deacon cordially. - -“I hear that your son hasn’t come home on the Osprey, Brother Fenwick,” -the deacon began. - -“No. It’s a disappointment to me. I have missed him sadly.” - -“It seems to me it was a very risky thing to let him go off so far.” - -“He was very anxious to go, and I thought it might be an education to -him. I would like, myself, to see more of the great world.” - -“Of course that’s one way to look at it, but there ain’t many boys that -can be trusted so far away. I was amazed at his not coming home. What -does the captain say?” - -“He says that Guy made a good friend, and he is earning enough to pay -his expenses.” - -“Then you approve of his staying?” - -“I hardly know what to think. Guy is a good boy, and I think he can be -trusted.” - -Deacon Crane coughed. - -A cough is very significant sometimes. The deacon’s cough indicated -incredulity of a very decided character. - -“Mebbe, mebbe,” he said; “but that isn’t the way I would have managed -with my boy.” - -“What would have been your course?” asked Mr. Fenwick, mildly. - -“I would have set Guy to work. He is old enough to be a help to you.” - -“He is earning his living.” - -“True, if he keeps his place. Suppose he gets discharged?” - -“The captain says that is not likely.” - -“Mebbe, mebbe; but I didn’t come here to discuss your son, parson. I -have a weightier matter to speak of.” - -“Go on, Brother Crane, I am ready to listen to you.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -WILY DEACON CRANE - - -“It’s a delicate matter,” said Deacon Crane, coughing slightly. “I’d -rather some other brother would have taken it off my hands, but duty is -duty, and it isn’t right to shirk it.” - -“True, Brother Crane,” said the minister, but he looked puzzled. He had -no idea what the deacon was driving at. - -“Do you think, parson, the parish is progressin’ as it should? Do you -think the people are as much interested in religion as they’d ought to -be?” - -“Is there any parish of which that can be said, Brother Crane?” - -“Well, perhaps not; but it seems to me there’s a good deal of spiritooal -indifference in the church to-day.” - -“More than there used to be?” - -“That’s the point I am comin’ to. To my mind the congregation is gettin’ -less and less spiritooally-minded.” - -“I am very sorry if this is the case. I had not noticed it. The -congregations keep up very well, and the people are attentive to the -services.” - -“Mebbe, mebbe; they’d appear to be so out of respect for you, parson; -but as I move about the village, of course I hear what’s said.” - -“Admitting that things are as you say, what remedy do you suggest?” - -“That’s the p’int! That’s the p’int I was comin’ at; but I don’t hardly -like to answer that question.” - -“Why not?” asked the minister, innocently. - -“Because it might hurt your feelin’s, parson.” - -“I will not allow my feelings to stand in the way, so be kind enough to -answer the question frankly and candidly.” - -“Then, if I must say it,” replied the deacon, watching under his shaggy -eyebrows to see what effect his words would have upon Mr. Fenwick, “if I -must say it, some of the people are sayin’ it might be well for the -parish to have a younger minister!” - -Mr. Fenwick started as if he had been struck. He was utterly unprepared -for this communication. He had lived among his people for twenty years, -and no thought of separation had come to him. - -He turned pale, and endeavored to stifle his emotion. - -“I--I was not prepared for this, Deacon Crane,” he said. “Are the people -really getting tired of me?” he added, with a tremor in his voice. - -“Of course there are some of us that stand by you, parson; for instance, -myself and Mrs. Crane. But I regret to say that some of the younger -people are gettin’ uneasy, and think that a change might be for the -benefit of the parish.” - -“Will you name to me some of the disaffected ones, Brother Crane?” - -“No, I’d rather not. You see, they all respect you. You see, you’re -gettin’ into years, parson.” - -“I am fifty-one.” - -“True, that isn’t very old. I’m a year or two older myself.” (The deacon -was fifty-nine.) “But then I am not a preacher. People don’t seem to -consider age an objection in a deacon. If they did, I hope I should be -willin’ to sacrifice myself on the altar of dooty.” - -Mr. Fenwick rose from his chair and began to pace up and down the study. -He was very much agitated, and heart-sore at the thought that the people -who were so near to him should wish him to go. - -“How long have you seen signs of disaffection, Deacon Crane?” he asked, -pausing in his walk. - -“Well, for about two years, I reckon, Mr. Fenwick.” - -“And yet the people seem to come to church in as large numbers as -usual.” - -“It is their sense of dooty, parson. They feel that they ought to come.” - -“That may be. It is certainly very commendable. I only mention it to let -you understand why I have not noticed this feeling.” - -“Of course, I needn’t say, parson, that I am very sorry to be the one -chosen to tell you how matters stand. You see, there was a meetin’ of a -few of your parishioners at my house last night, and we talked the -matter over, and it was thought best that I should give you a hint.” - -“May I ask who were at your house, Deacon Crane?” - -“Well, I don’t think I ought to tell. Some of them might be unwilling.” - -“I don’t see why.” - -“They might think you would be offended.” - -“I should have no right to be offended. I might feel grieved. Indeed I -do. But, of course, my first thought must be of the parish, and what is -good for it.” - -“I knew you would feel that way, Brother Fenwick. We all know what a -conscientious man you are.” - -“I hope so,” faltered the minister. “You think that I ought to send in -my resignation?” - -“Of course, parson, you will be able to preach to good acceptance in -some other parish. All people don’t have the same taste.” - -“It would be hard for me to settle down among strangers.” - -“Just at first it would; but after a while it would put new life into -you. We all of us need a change, ministers as well as other people.” - -“I will think over what you say, Deacon Crane. It has come as a surprise -to me.” - -“To be sure, to be sure! There is only one thing now I want to say,” and -the deacon cleared his throat with portentous significance. - -“And what is that other thing you have to say, deacon?” asked Mr. -Fenwick. - -“You know I hold a mortgage of five hundred dollars on your house?” - -“Yes.” - -“I was thinkin’ of callin’ it in; but if you should be goin’ to another -place, I wouldn’t mind buyin’ it if we could agree upon terms.” - -“I don’t feel like discussing that question now, deacon.” - -“All right. There’s plenty of time.” - -Deacon Crane rose to go. As he left the house a complacent smile -overspread his face. He felt that he had broached the subject -successfully, and deceived the minister as to the extent of the -opposition to him. - -Besides, and this was no unimportant consideration, he saw that there -would be a chance, in all probability, of buying the minister’s modest -house at a bargain, and so making a tidy little profit for himself. - -Half an hour later, Mr. Ainsworth entered the presence of the minister. -He had seen Deacon Crane leaving the parsonage, and guessed his object -in calling. - -Lest the deacon should have misrepresented matters, he wished to have a -little conference with Mr. Fenwick himself. - -“Mr. Fenwick,” he said, as he entered the study, “you look sober.” - -“Yes, Brother Ainsworth, my heart is heavy.” - -“Deacon Crane has called upon you?” - -“Yes. He grieved me very much by telling me that the people wanted a -change.” - -“Which means that _he_ wants a change.” - -“He assured me that he and Mrs. Crane stood by me. He said it was the -younger people who were getting uneasy.” - -“Mr. Fenwick, Deacon Crane has for months been trying to get up an -opposition to you.” - -“Can this be so?” - -“Yes. He has not met with very good success. I don’t think there are -more than half a dozen persons besides himself that want a change, and -those are members by no means prominent.” - -“But why should he be so desirous of having me leave?” - -“Because there is a cousin of his wife, now out of a charge, whom he -hopes to get here in your place. That is the true explanation. He has -deceived you as to the state of feeling in the parish.” - -“Brother Ainsworth, you have relieved my mind and lifted from it a heavy -burden. The deacon gave me to understand the feeling was general.” - -“Moreover,” continued Mr. Ainsworth, “he wants to get hold of your house -and let it to his cousin, if he can manage to get him installed as your -successor.” - -“Then you don’t think I ought to resign?” - -“Certainly not. We don’t propose to have the deacon run the parish.” - -Two days afterward Deacon Crane called again. - -“Well, Brother Fenwick,” he said, “have you decided to resign?” - -“No, Deacon Crane, not yet. Brother Ainsworth tells me that the great -majority of the people favor my remaining.” - -“He is in error,” said the deacon, tartly. “You are making a great -mistake. And I want to say that I shall have to foreclose that mortgage. -I want the money this day week.” - -“I doubt if I can obtain it so soon,” said the minister, troubled. - -“Then I will buy the place.” - -“I prefer not to sell. I will try to secure the money.” - -Mr. Fenwick went about among those of his friends who he thought might -be able to accommodate him with a loan, but there was a stringency in -the money market, and no one seemed able to oblige him. - -He returned, despondent, from his search, when, as he entered the house, -he found a letter awaiting him. - -It ran thus: - - -DEAR FATHER: - - I have just arrived in New York on the Etruria. I hope to reach - Bayport to-morrow. - -GUY. - - - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -PREPARING TO RECEIVE GUY - - -Though he was puzzled by Guy’s letter, Mr. Fenwick was overjoyed at the -thought of seeing his son again. - -Why he should have arrived at New York on the Etruria, when he had been -left by Captain Grover in Bombay, he could not understand. - -“Probably Guy was too young for his position,” he thought, “and his -employer has paid his expenses home. Never mind; he can find something -to do here. It seems a long, long time since I have seen my dear boy.” - -For the time he forgot the fact that he had no money with which to meet -the mortgage; but it was brought back to his recollection when, later in -the day, he met Deacon Crane in the village. - -“Well, parson,” began the deacon, abruptly, “I hope you haven’t -forgotten that the mortgage falls due day after to-morrow. Have you -secured the money to pay it?” - -“No, Deacon Crane. Money seems very hard to borrow just now.” - -“I am aware of that. You will find it best to sell to me.” - -“What do you offer?” - -“A thousand dollars over and above the face of the mortgage.” - -“But,” said the minister, dismayed, “that would make the place worth -only fifteen hundred dollars!” - -“Fifteen hundred dollars is a great deal of money.” - -“Why, I paid two thousand!” - -“Mebbe, mebbe; but property depreciates in the course of years.” - -“Certainly the land has not depreciated, and the house is in good -repair.” - -“Well, money is tight. You know that yourself, for you have found it -hard to borrow.” - -“Can’t you let matters run on for a year longer? By that time I may be -able to realize a large sum for the property.” - -Deacon Crane’s thin lips tightened, and his eyes looked crafty and -forbidding. - -“What you ask is unreasonable, Brother Fenwick,” he said. - -The minister looked despondent. - -“If I sell the house,” he said, “I don’t know where I can find another.” - -“You can board,” suggested the deacon. - -“I should not like it. I have been accustomed to have a home of my own. -Besides--I didn’t think to tell you--I am expecting Guy home.” - -Deacon Crane opened his eyes wide. - -“Why, I thought he was in Bombay, earning his living. Why did he leave -there?” - -“I don’t know. I got a letter this morning, saying that he had reached -New York on the steamer Etruria.” - -Deacon Crane’s puckered and wrinkled face looked jubilant. It might have -been thought that he was pleased at the prospect of seeing Guy back; but -this would have been a mistake. - -“I am not surprised,” he said, dryly. - -“I am. I did not dream of such a thing.” - -“Of course, it’s plain enough. Guy didn’t suit his employer, and he has -been discharged.” - -“I hope it isn’t that. But even that is better than his being sick.” - -“I told you, parson, that it was very unwise to let so young a boy go -off to the other end of the world. I know it wasn’t your fault, his -staying behind in Bombay, but I should think a sensible man like Captain -Grover would have advised against it.” - -“I shall soon know what brings Guy back. I only mentioned it to explain -that I should need a home for him as well as myself. It makes me all the -more anxious to keep the house.” - -“I am sure I have no objection if you can pay off the mortgage.” - -“You couldn’t extend it for another year?” - -“No, I couldn’t.” - -“Then perhaps you will take me as your tenant?” - -“I don’t think I could do that, either. I have other views.” - - * * * * * - -“I’ve got some news for you, Noah,” said Deacon Crane, when he entered -his own house. - -“What is it, father?” - -“Guy Fenwick is coming back.” - -“When?” asked Noah, eagerly. - -“His father’s had a letter from New York, sayin’ that he’s just arrived -by the Etruria.” - -“Why, the Etruria comes from Liverpool, not from Bombay!” - -“I know that. He must have come by way of England.” - -“Ho! ho! Why, I thought he’d got a place in Bombay?” - -“He’s probably been discharged and sent home.” - -“I’m glad of it!” - -“I suppose you’ll be glad to have his company again?” said the deacon, -slyly, for he knew just how his son felt toward Guy. - -“No, it isn’t that; but I’m glad he’s come home in disgrace. That boy -was always puttin’ on airs, though his father was only a poor minister, -and hadn’t half as much money as you.” - -“No; nor one-fifth,” said the deacon, complacently. “I’ll tell you a -secret, Noah. I’ve got a mortgage on the minister’s house.” - -“I know that already.” - -“But you didn’t know that I should probably have to foreclose the -mortgage, and take the place. Of course, I shall get it cheap.” - -“What are you going to do with it?” - -“Perhaps I shall keep it till you are married, Noah, and give it to you -to live in,” said his father, playfully. - -“Then Guy won’t have any home to go to?” - -“That’s about it.” - -“I wouldn’t be in his shoes. He’s lost his place, and now he will lose -his home, too.” - -“We mustn’t rejoice over his misfortune,” said the deacon, with the air -of a Pecksniff. “We should always feel sorry for the bad luck of our -fellow men.” - -“If you are, father, why do you foreclose the mortgage?” - -“That’s business, Noah. We sometimes have to do in the way of business -what we do not like to do. By the way, don’t mention to anyone what I -intend to do.” - -“No, I won’t. But why doesn’t the minister pay off the mortgage?” - -“For the very good reason that he cannot borrow the money.” - -“I thought perhaps Mr. Ainsworth would lend him. He seems to be a great -friend of the minister.” - -“It’s all Ainsworth can do to get the money to pay his own bills. The -only man in the village that’s got any spare cash is----” - -“Well, who?” - -“Deacon Crane,” answered Noah’s father, with a wintry smile; “and he -isn’t lendin’.” - -“Ho! ho!” laughed Noah. “When is Guy Fenwick expected back?” - -“I shouldn’t wonder if he’d be here this afternoon, though the minister -didn’t say. I don’t suppose there’s anything to keep him in New York.” - -“That is, if he’s got money enough to get home. It would be a joke if he -had to walk.” - -“I guess he’ll have money enough to get home, but I reckon it’ll be a -good while before he gets a chance to go away again.” - -“I’ll be on the lookout for him,” said Noah. “I want to see how he -looks, and what he’ll say when he finds his father is going to lose the -house.” - - * * * * * - -Mr. Fenwick had occasion to visit the village store during the day. -Sometimes he went there without any errand, for he was always cordially -received by Mr. Ainsworth. - -As he entered, the storekeeper looked up. - -“What is this I hear about Guy returning, Mr. Fenwick?” he asked. - -“I received a letter this morning stating that he had just reached New -York by the steamer Etruria.” - -“You didn’t expect him, did you?” - -“No. I supposed that he was still at Bombay.” - -“Your special friend, Deacon Crane, seems to be pleased to think he is -coming back.” - -“He thinks Guy has been discharged by the merchant who employed him.” - -“Of course, it is possible that he did not give satisfaction.” - -“I don’t know how that may be, but I shall be glad to have my boy at -home again.” - -“Have you formed any views for him?” - -“I suppose it will be well to let him go into some store or -counting-room. He doesn’t seem to care to go to college.” - -“If you see fit to let him enter my store, Mr. Fenwick, I shall be glad -to receive him. I always liked Guy, and I consider him a smart boy.” - -“Thank you, Mr. Ainsworth. You are always kind to me and mine. I can’t -decide till I have seen Guy, but I think it quite possible that we shall -accept your offer.” - -This was not the only opening for Guy. - -Deacon Crane offered to give him work on his farm. - -“I feel for your disappointment about the boy, parson,” he said, “and I -think I can set him to work on my place. Of course, I can’t pay him -much.” - -“Thank you, Deacon Crane. I will see what Guy thinks about your offer.” - -Mr. Fenwick knew, though he did not say so, that nothing would induce -Guy to enter the deacon’s service. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -GUY REACHES BAYPORT - - -Guy did not delay long in New York. He called upon Gilbert Frazer, the -American agent of his employer, and attended to the business that had -been intrusted to him. - -Mr. Frazer, a canny Scotchman, somewhat over fifty, was amazed that Mr. -Saunders had so far trusted “a mere boy”; but in his conversation with -Guy he found that “the mere boy” was quick and intelligent, and seemed -thoroughly to comprehend the business on which he was employed. - -“You are an extraordinary boy,” he said, raising his glasses, and -peering at Guy from under the rims. “How old are you?” - -“Seventeen, sir.” - -“You seem to have the brains of a man of twenty-five.” - -“Thank you, sir. I suppose I may consider that a compliment?” - -“Surely. When will you call again? I shall need to have some further -words with you.” - -“I wish to visit my father, whom I have not seen for six months or more, -but I will return to the city in four days.” - -“Where does your father live?” - -“In Bayport, Massachusetts.” - -“Very good. I will expect you in four days. There will be no harm in -waiting that length of time.” - -“Now,” said Guy to himself, joyfully, “I shall soon be at home.” - -He engaged passage by the steamer Pilgrim of the Fall River Line, and -started that night. - -He found himself the next morning in New Bedford. Here he took a stage -for Bayport. - -His heart beat with excitement when he reached the borders of his native -village. He realized the charms of home. - -He had traveled many thousand miles by land and sea, he had seen London -and Bombay, but neither of these cities seemed so attractive to him as -the obscure town on the Massachusetts coast where he had passed his -boyhood days. - -The first person whom he saw when he descended from the stage was Noah -Crane. - -In fact, Noah had managed to be around when the stage arrived, in the -hope of meeting Guy. - -Guy was so pleased to see a familiar face that he forgot the old -animosity between himself and the deacon’s son, and exclaimed, gladly: -“How are you, Noah? It seems good to see an old friend!” - -“So you’ve got back?” said Noah, coolly. - -“Yes, I’ve got back.” - -“I thought you’d be back before long.” - -Then it dawned upon Guy that Noah looked upon him as a failure, and it -amused him. - -“Of course I would come back, since my father lives here. Is he well?” - -“Oh, yes, he’s well--in health.” - -“Isn’t he well in other respects?” - -“Well, you see, some of the people want a younger minister. I don’t know -how it will turn out.” - -“I suppose your father is one who favors a change?” - -“Well, he seems to think it might be better for the parish.” - -Guy smiled. The suggestion did not trouble him as it might have done six -months before. - -“Besides,” continued Noah, “he may lose his house.” - -This was certainly news. - -“I don’t understand you,” said Guy. “The house belongs to him.” - -“Yes, but there’s a mortgage on it.” - -“Well?” - -“Father holds the mortgage, and as your father can’t pay it, of course -he’ll have to give it up.” - -“Do you remember how large the mortgage is, Noah?” - -“Five hundred dollars.” - -“That isn’t much. He ought to be able to borrow that small sum.” - -“Seems to me you have pretty large ideas. It’ll be a long time before -you’ll be able to earn five hundred dollars.” - -“Well, perhaps so,” said Guy, smiling. - -“Now you’ve come back to live on your father, it’ll be harder still for -him.” - -“Perhaps I shall get work,” answered Guy, smiling again. - -“Yes; you’ll have to earn something. My father says he will hire you to -work on our farm.” - -“That’s very kind of him.” - -“He does it on account of your father. He feels for him, considering he -has been so much disappointed in you.” - -“I didn’t expect so much kindness from the deacon and you. I’ll think -over this offer, if he decides to make it. But I can’t stop talking -here any longer. I know father will be anxious to see me.” - -“Guy is a queer boy,” thought Noah. “When I told him about his father’s -troubles he only smiled as if he didn’t care. I’d like to take as long a -journey as he has, but I shouldn’t like to return home a pauper.” - -“Noah is as kind and amiable as ever,” thought Guy. “Evidently he thinks -I am a bad failure. I wonder how he will feel when he learns how -fortunate I have been.” - -In a few minutes he found himself entering the yard of the parsonage. - -Guy was touched by his father’s evident delight. He began to understand -how near he was to his heart. - -“Welcome home, Guy!” he said. “I have had my cares and anxieties, but -this pays me for all!” - -“Thank you, father. It seems good to be at home again.” - -“And you have been in good health all the time, Guy?” - -“Never better, father.” - -“You must be hungry, my son. Come in, and you shall try some of Rachel’s -home cooking.” - -“Indeed, father, I can do it justice. Were you surprised to receive my -letter?” - -“Yes, Guy. I thought you were thousands of miles away. How did you like -your employer, Mr. Saunders?” - -The father asked this doubtfully, not knowing on what terms his son had -left the merchant. - -“He is an excellent man, and a good friend, father.” - -“Then how did it happen that he discharged you, Guy?” asked the -minister. - -“Who told you he discharged me?” - -“I judged so on account of your return home.” - -“I am still in his employ, father. I went to England first, and have now -come to America as his agent, and on his business. And you actually -thought I was discharged?” - -“Yes, Guy; and Deacon Crane is of the same opinion.” - -“I know that,” said Guy, with a laugh. “I met Noah on getting off the -stage. I really believe he went to meet me.” - -“I did not know you were friends.” - -“We are not. He wanted to triumph over me on account of my supposed -discharge. He offered me a place on his father’s farm.” - -“And Mr. Ainsworth is ready to give you a position in his store.” - -“Mr. Ainsworth is a friend. I would not mind working for him if there -was any need of it; but nothing would induce me to work for the deacon.” - -“But how can you be in the employ of Mr. Saunders while you are here?” - -“I am under pay all the time, father. I cannot be with you long. I must -be in New York in four days, to attend to some business there, and soon -after shall be obliged to start again on a long journey.” - -“It seems strange, Guy, to think of you as in the employ of a man -thousands of miles away. Are your prospects good?” - -“Excellent, father. And now tell me about yourself. Has Deacon Crane -been making trouble for you in the parish?” - -“Yes, Guy. He tried to stir up opposition to me in favor of a younger -man, but he found very few to join him. My good parishioners stood by -me. - -“Good for them! As for the deacon, he is a mean, malicious, double-faced -man!” - -“We must not speak ill of others, Guy.” - -“He deserves it, if anyone does! But you spoke of anxieties. To what do -you refer?” - -“To a very great one, Guy. You did not perhaps know that this house was -mortgaged?” - -“Yes; Noah kindly informed me of it when we met this morning.” - -“It is his father, Deacon Crane, who holds the mortgage.” - -“What is the sum?” - -“Five hundred dollars.” - -“That is not a large sum.” - -“No; but the deacon wants it. He will not consent to extend it.” - -“Can you borrow it in the village?” - -“No, Guy. Times are hard. No one has any extra money. My good friend -Ainsworth would lend it to me if he had it, but at present he can’t -raise it.” - -“Then what will follow?” - -“The place will be sold to satisfy the claim. Deacon Crane has offered a -thousand dollars over and above the mortgage.” - -“Why, that is robbery!” said Guy, indignantly. - -“True, Guy, but it can’t be helped. The deacon will secure the house, -and I shall be turned out!” - -“No, you won’t, father!” - -“What do you mean, Guy?” - -“When does the mortgage fall due?” - -“To-morrow.” - -“Very well; don’t borrow any trouble, father. It shall be paid.” - -“But how? I don’t understand.” - -“I have more than enough money to meet it.” - -“But, Guy, it would not be right to use your employer’s money!” - -“There is no need of that. I have more than enough money of my own.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -DEACON CRANE IS PERPLEXED - - -Mr. Fenwick was sitting at his desk when Deacon Crane called. The deacon -expected to find him nervous and agitated, and was surprised to note -that he was as calm and placid as usual. - -“Take a seat, Deacon Crane,” said the minister. - -The deacon seated himself in a rocking-chair and began to rock. It was -his custom when he was excited. - -“I hear, Mr. Fenwick, that your son Guy has got home,” he began. - -“Yes,” answered Mr. Fenwick, with a smile of satisfaction. “Guy has got -back.” - -“Rather unexpected, wasn’t it?” - -“Yes, unexpected, but very welcome. It has brightened me up a good -deal.” - -“Has it? I thought perhaps you might have been disappointed.” - -“Disappointed to see Guy? Oh, no! no!” - -“You know what I mean,” returned the deacon, with some asperity. - -“I don’t think I do.” - -“I mean, of course, that it can’t be pleasant to have your son thrown on -your hands when you thought he was earnin’ his livin’.” - -“I think I must ask you to explain yourself.” - -“If you wasn’t a minister, I might say that you seem a little dense,” -said the deacon, impatiently. “However, I feel for you. You can’t afford -to have a big boy eatin’ you out of house and home. I can find work for -him on my farm, though, of course, I shouldn’t feel justified in payin’ -much.” - -“You are considerate, deacon,” said Mr. Fenwick, with a slight smile, -“and perhaps I have misled you. Guy is not out of employment.” - -“No?” said the deacon, opening his eyes in surprise. “Do you mean to say -that he has a position?” - -“He is in the employ of Mr. Saunders of Bombay.” - -“How can that be?” - -“He was sent to New York on business by his employer, and took the -opportunity of visiting me.” - -“This don’t seem a very likely story,” said the deacon, in a tone of -disappointment. “Are you sure he isn’t deceivin’ you?” - -“I am quite sure,” answered Mr. Fenwick, with dignity. “Does your son -ever deceive you?” - -“That isn’t neither here nor there. If he told me such a story as Guy -has told you I would punish him.” - -“Guy doesn’t deceive me,” said the minister, quietly. - -He was annoyed with the deacon for his incredulity, but he understood -Mr. Crane’s suspicious nature, also his dislike for Guy, and he was not -surprised. - -“However,” continued the deacon, “that isn’t what I came over for. I -hope you’ve considered the matter, and are resigned to my foreclosin’ -the mortgage.” - -“I do not propose to allow the mortgage to be foreclosed.” - -The deacon was surprised and angry. He felt that Mr. Fenwick was -trifling with him. - -“I apprehend,” he said, “that it isn’t what you allow, Mr. Minister, but -what I choose to do.” - -“You are mistaken, Deacon Crane.” - -“How are you goin’ to stop me foreclosin'?” - -“By paying the mortgage.” - -“Have you got the money?” asked the deacon, his jaw dropping. - -“Yes.” - -“Who lent it to you? Was it Mr. Ainsworth?” - -“I don’t think, Deacon Crane, that that is a question which you have any -right to ask.” - -“Oh, well, if you don’t want to tell,” said the deacon, in a tone of -disappointment. - -“I don’t know that I have any objection to tell you, though, as I said, -it is not a question which you have a right to ask. Guy lent it to me.” - -“Guy lent it to you?” repeated the deacon, in an amazement which was -almost ludicrous. - -“Yes.” - -“Mr. Fenwick,” said the deacon, severely, “I thought you’d be above -takin’ from Guy his employer’s money.” - -“I think, Deacon Crane, that you are guilty of great impertinence in -hinting such a thing!” - -“This to me?” ejaculated the deacon, wrathfully. - -“Yes, sir. You are speaking in a way I shall not permit. We will, if you -please, proceed at once to business.” - -Mr. Fenwick displayed such unusual spirit that Deacon Crane was -electrified. - -“The minister’s gettin’ on his high horse,” he said to himself. “It’s a -mystery to me where Guy got so much money. I won’t rest till I find -out.” - -The money was paid, and Mr. Fenwick breathed a sigh of relief when he -realized that his little property was at last free from incumbrance. - -Deacon Crane left the house in a state of bewilderment even exceeding -his disappointment. How on earth Guy could have come to his father’s -assistance he could not understand. - -He determined to question the minister’s son at the first opportunity. - -He had not long to wait. - -He had walked but two hundred yards when he met Guy sauntering along -with a pleasant smile on his face. - -“Here, you, Guy!” he called out, unceremoniously. “Your father tells me -you have lent him five hundred dollars.” - -“I hope you don’t doubt my father’s word,” said Guy, amused by the -deacon’s evident perplexity. - -“I don’t doubt it, for I’ve got the money in my wallet. The question is, -where did you get it?” - -“Yes, that is the question.” - -“What have you got to say for yourself?” demanded the deacon, sharply. - -“Only that I was very glad to oblige my dear father.” - -“I don’t mean that. Where did you get the money?” - -“From my employer.” - -“Aha! That’s what I thought. Don’t you know you’re likely to be arrested -for makin’ such poor use of your employer’s money?” - -“But you’re mistaken, Deacon Crane. It was not my employer’s money.” - -“Just now you said it was.” - -“No, I didn’t. I said I got it from my employer. The money was mine.” - -“Do you mean to say he gave it to you?” - -“Yes, but not as a gift. I was and am still in his employ.” - -“And I s’pose he gives you five or six dollars a week. You can’t save -any five hundred dollars out of that.” - -“That’s true, Deacon Crane. You are a good mathematician. He pays me -very handsomely.” - -“How old be you?” - -“Seventeen.” - -“All that I can say is that he must be a fool to pay a big salary to a -boy like you, and you are very foolish to give up all the money you have -to your father.” - -“I have a little money left,” said Guy, smiling. “If, now, you were in a -tight place, I might be able to lend you a hundred dollars.” - -“I am never in a tight place,” returned the deacon, proudly, “but I -think it would be wise and prudent for you to put the money in my hands -for safe keeping. I’ll be willin’ to pay you three per cent.” - -“Thank you, Deacon Crane, but I can do better than that.” - -“You seem to be a very reckless boy, Guy Fenwick. You don’t seem to have -no judgment. You won’t keep that money long.” - -“I am afraid, Deacon Crane, you haven’t much confidence in me.” - -“No, I haven’t. Your father ain’t practical, and you take after him.” - -Guy smiled and passed on. - -During the afternoon he fell in with Noah Crane, who had heard from his -father the astonishing news about Guy’s prosperity. It influenced that -young man to seek an intimacy with his fortunate schoolfellow. - -“I say, Guy,” he began, “is it true that you’ve got a lot of money? Pop -tells me you’ve been lending your father five hundred dollars.” - -“That is true.” - -“And you offered to lend pop one hundred dollars.” - -“But he declined.” - -“It’ll be all the same if you lend it to me,” said Noah, eagerly. - -“What do you want to do with it?” - -“I want to buy a bicycle. I can get a safety, second-hand, for -seventy-five dollars.” - -“How could you pay me back?” - -“I guess I can get the money out of father next year. Do now, that’s a -good fellow.” - -“If you can get for me your father’s note of hand for the money and -interest, say on a year’s time, I might consent to do it.” - -“But he won’t give it to me.” - -“Then I can’t lend you the money.” - -Noah pleaded, but in vain. - -Five minutes later Guy had a pleasant surprise. Coming up the road from -the station he met Captain Grover of the Osprey. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE CAPTAIN OF THE OSPREY - - -“Guy, my son!” said Captain Grover, his face lighting up with -unmistakable joy. “It does me good to see you again. Why, you’re quite -two inches taller than when we parted at Bombay.” - -“Yes, captain; I think I have grown,” returned Guy, complacently. “When -did you get back?” - -“Only last week. You are here almost as soon as I. Have you got through -working for Mr. Saunders?” - -“Oh, no. I am still in his employ. I went to England to attend to some -business for him, and I am now in America on the same errand.” - -“And does he make it worth your while?” - -“Yes,” answered Guy, smiling. “I won’t go into particulars. I haven’t -done that even with my father. I will tell you, however, that since I -have been home I have paid off a five hundred dollar mortgage on the -parsonage.” - -“That is capital! Evidently Mr. Saunders is a liberal man; and I am -sure I am very glad, not only for your sake, but for the sake of my old -friend, your father. How long do you stay in Bayport?” - -“That depends partly upon you.” - -“How is that?” - -“I may be your passenger on your next voyage.” - -“You mean to go back to Bombay, then?” - -“Yes; or at least in that direction. How long before you will start?” - -“Well, you see, Guy, that isn’t an easy question to answer.” - -“Why not, captain?” asked Guy, puzzled. - -“I’ll tell you. I have been cruising about for about fifteen years -without any vacation, and I am minded to stay at home for six months at -least, more especially as my only sister is coming on from Wisconsin, -where she has been living ever since her marriage, twenty years since. -There are only two of us now, for all the rest of the family are dead, -and I may never see her again, as she means to go back to Wisconsin -after her visit.” - -“I see, captain,” said Guy, in a tone of disappointment. “Of course, I -can’t blame you, but it will interfere with my plans.” - -“I don’t see why that should be, Guy.” - -“I can’t wait six months.” - -“You won’t need to. The Osprey will sail just the same as ever, but for -this one voyage it will have a different commander. You ain’t set on -sailing with me, are you?” - -“I should certainly prefer to sail with you, captain; but the main -reason is that I should be more likely to make the arrangement with you -that I desire. Who is to command the Osprey in your place?” - -“It’s an Englishman, Captain John Richmond. I have seen him, but I don’t -know him very well. I am told that he is a thorough seaman, however.” - -“I don’t doubt that, as your owners have thought fit to employ him. But -the arrangement I want to make is a very peculiar one, and I should feel -more sure of doing it if you were to be still in command.” - -“You puzzle me, Guy. Heave ahead, and let me know what you are driving -at.” - -“You are going to the house, are you not?” - -“Yes. I came down to take supper with your father, and I may stay -over-night if he will keep me.” - -“He will be delighted to do that. It would take me too long to explain -myself now, but I will go back to New Bedford with you to-morrow -morning, and then we will talk the matter over. One thing, however, I -will ask. Say nothing of it to father, as I do not propose to tell him.” - -“Is that right, Guy?” - -“Yes. Father isn’t a practical man, as you know, and could not advise me -in the matter. I have talked it over with Mr. Saunders, who is a shrewd -man of business, and I think we can trust to his judgment.” - -“To be sure! to be sure! Let it lay over till to-morrow, then.” - -By this time they had reached the parsonage, and the minister welcomed -his guest with unaffected cordiality. - -“Well, Fenwick, you are not sorry you trusted Guy to me, are you?” - -“No! no! my old friend! Nothing but good has come to him. He has been -wonderfully fortunate, and has helped me out of what might have proved a -serious trouble.” - -“Aye, Fenwick, he is a good boy.” - -“I am only sorry that my necessities have robbed the poor boy of his -hard earnings. I have been blaming myself for my selfishness in -accepting it.” - -“Don’t worry about that, father. I have money left, as much as I shall -need. Besides, I am still in Mr. Saunders’ employ, and am receiving a -liberal salary.” - -“By the way, Guy,” said the captain, “how much are you receiving?” - -“I would tell you, if I knew, Captain Glover, but the amount has not -been decided upon. I am sure of one thing--that it will be large. -Besides, I am authorized to draw what I need.” - -“It is wonderful that a boy of Guy’s age should be so trusted,” said Mr. -Fenwick. - -“True; but Mr. Saunders is under the strongest of obligations to him.” - -“How is that?” - -“Didn’t Guy tell you that he had saved his employer’s life?” - -“No,” answered the minister, in great surprise. “Why didn’t you tell me, -Guy?” - -“It didn’t come into my mind, father.” - -“You are modest, Guy,” said the captain. - -“On the contrary, I might have wished father to understand that it was -my business ability that influenced Mr. Saunders to offer me -employment.” - -The story was told, and it was clear that it made Mr. Fenwick more than -ever proud of Guy. - -“Besides,” added Captain Grover, “if Guy had not shown business ability -he would not have been trusted with so important a commission.” - -Guy did not tell the captain of the thousand pounds which had been given -him by Mr. Saunders as part compensation for a share in the island -treasure. He did not care that anyone should know the extent of his good -fortune. - -Besides, if things went well, and the expedition which he was arranging -should prove successful, he hoped to secure a considerably larger sum. -This, however, was not certain. But whichever way things turned out, the -five thousand dollars were his, and he wouldn’t be expected to return -them. Even if he got no more, he would feel amply repaid for his trouble -in examining his uncle George’s chest. - -Nothing more was said during the evening about business. The next -morning, after breakfast, Guy notified his father that he would go up to -New Bedford with Captain Grover. - -Upon this the minister made no comment. He had come to look upon Guy as -his own master. - -Considering that he had already visited India and England, this was not -surprising, although Guy still lacked several years of his majority. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -ON THE WAY TO NEW BEDFORD - - -On the way to New Bedford, Guy broached the subject of engaging the -Osprey to visit the Agalegas Islands during her next cruise. - -“Then Mr. Saunders believes in the buried treasure?” said Captain -Grover. - -“He thinks there is a fair chance of it existing.” - -“Let me understand, then. He is willing to pay for the extra time the -voyage will be prolonged in order to make this side trip?” - -“Yes, captain.” - -“I think it will be a wildgoose chase, for my part,” remarked the -captain, slowly. - -“Perhaps so, but Mr. Saunders seems willing to take the risk.” - -“Well, he is certainly able to do so. He is a very rich man.” - -“Have you any idea how rich?” asked Guy, with natural curiosity. - -“I have heard it conjectured that he is worth a million pounds.” - -“That is five million dollars.” - -“Yes.” - -“That is a great deal of money.” - -“True. Of course, it is only conjecture, but it is just as likely that -he is worth more as that he is worth less.” - -“I think there is no doubt that he will be able to pay me my salary, -then,” said Guy, smiling. - -“There is not much doubt about that. It occurs to me as strange, since -he is so rich, that he should take any trouble about this treasure, -which may not exist, after all.” - -“I really think, Captain Grover, that Mr. Saunders cares very little -about it.” - -“Why, then, should he incur such an outlay in searching for it?” - -“I will tell you what I think. Though of very little importance to him, -it is of a great deal of importance to me. I think it is this -consideration that influences him.” - -“And very properly, too, since you saved his life.” - -“That may be, but I appreciate his kindness, nevertheless.” - -A little later Guy asked: “Do you think your owners will be willing to -make an arrangement for this side voyage?” - -“That depends on two things: First, whether Mr. Saunders will pay a sum -that will compensate them for their trouble; and secondly, whether he -will be able to pay the terms they may ask.” - -“There can be no doubt as to the last.” - -“No; and this I will assure them. I have known for years Mr. Saunders’ -financial standing, and his strict sense of honor. You have documents to -show that you are his accredited agent?” - -“Yes, captain. Besides, I can refer them to Mr. Frazer, his New York -correspondent.” - -“He, too, is well known. There will be no difficulty on that score.” - -“Have you seen this Captain Richmond?” - -“No; but I shall probably meet him to-day.” - -“I wish I were going to sail with you.” - -“So do I; but you see how I am situated. If you were willing to wait six -months----” - -“But I could not do that. I could not remain idle for so long. Besides, -I don’t think Mr. Saunders will approve it.” - -“Then we will drop that idea. I will introduce you to my owners, and -speak a good word for you. I am sure if they agree, they will be -reasonable in their charges.” - -“How soon will the Osprey be ready to start again?” - -“In about two weeks. By the way, Guy, I have a suggestion to make.” - -“What is it?” - -“Suppose you find the island and the treasure, you can’t take charge of -it single-handed.” - -“I have been thinking about that, and it puzzled me. What would you -advise me to do?” - -“I advise you to take two good, strong, reliable men with you who will -be able and willing to co-operate with you in carrying out your plans. A -boy, single-handed, would be at the mercy of designing or dishonest -men.” - -“I see that.” - -“If you were sailing with me, you would need no one else, as I would see -that no one interfered with you; but that cannot be.” - -“Where can I find any such men as you speak of? Do you know anyone you -can recommend?” - -Captain Grover looked thoughtful. Finally his face lighted up. - -“Yes,” he said. “I think I can find someone. I have a brother-in-law, -Abner Titcomb, living in Vernon, Maine, who is at present out of -employment. He is a blacksmith by trade, and naturally a strong, -muscular man. I think he would be glad to accept an appointment, if you -would feel authorized to pay him good, fair wages.” - -“I would do so. Now as to the second man.” - -“It will be best to leave the selection to Abner. No doubt he can find -some personal friend in the village who will be as well fitted as -himself for the work.” - -“That strikes me favorably.” - -“Very well; when you have made an arrangement with the owners, and it is -fully settled that you will go, I will write to Abner to come right on -and talk the matter over.” - -“All right, Captain Grover. You are doing me a great service.” - -“Do you know, Guy, I can’t help wondering whenever I think of you, a boy -of seventeen, with such a load of responsibility on his shoulders. Why, -only a few months ago, I thought of you as a mere schoolboy. Now you are -the leader of a very important expedition. There are men who would not -be competent to fill the place that has been assigned to you.” - -“I am not certain that I am competent myself,” said Guy, seriously. - -“I am sure you will do your best. You are not afraid? You have no -misgivings as to the outcome?” - -“No. On the contrary, I think I enjoy the prospect.” - -“That will help you to succeed. But here we are at the station. I will -conduct you to the office of my owners, John and Charles Gray.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -ARRANGING FOR THE VOYAGE - - -Captain Grover introduced Guy to John and Charles Gray, the shipping -merchants, by whom he had been for years employed. - -Looking upon Guy as a boy, they simply shook hands with him, and did not -feel called upon to pay him any further attention; but when the captain -explained his business they regarded him with curiosity and surprise. - -“I can hardly believe,” said the senior of the two, “that this boy can -have received such an important commission.” - -“I am not surprised at that,” returned the captain. “It certainly does -seem unlikely. I can assure you, however, that there is no mistake about -it.” - -“I don’t believe much in hunting for treasures, especially at the other -end of the world. To my mind there is not one chance in ten of finding -what is sought after.” - -“Let me call your attention to this fact, Mr. Gray, that your -compensation will not depend upon the finding of the treasure. Mr. -Saunders, the boy’s employer, is a man of vast wealth, and he backs the -enterprise. No matter if it is a failure, he will pay you what he agrees -to.” - -“To be sure, to be sure, that is important. If we are protected, of -course, we need not trouble ourselves as to the result of the quest.” - -“Exactly so.” - -“The next question is, will Mr. Saunders be willing to pay enough to -make up to us for the increased length of the voyage?” - -“That is a matter for the boy to decide. Mr. Saunders has given him full -power to act for him.” - -“How much time do you think you will need, Mr. Fenwick?” asked the -merchant. - -“I have talked the matter over with Captain Grover, and have decided -that I had better contract for two months.” - -“And should the time be prolonged?” - -“I will, of course, pay an additional sum.” - -“That is satisfactory.” - -“I ought to mention, also,” said Guy, “that I intend to have two men -with me to assist me in taking possession of the treasure, if I find -it.” - -“Then, in addition to paying for the vessel, there will be three -passengers, including yourself?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“If you will call to-morrow, we will be prepared to submit our terms. We -shall need to talk matters over, and estimate what sum we must ask to -make ourselves good.” - -“Very well, Mr. Gray. Then I will come into New Bedford again -to-morrow.” - -“No, Guy, you must stay at my house for the night,” interposed the -captain. “It is long since you have been my guest, and my wife and -daughter will be very glad to see you.” - -“Thank you, captain. I shall be glad to accept your invitation.” - -The next day, Guy, accompanied by the captain, called again at the -office of the brothers Gray. - -They submitted a proposal which, after consulting with Captain Grover, -Guy pronounced satisfactory. - -“Now that all is settled about the voyage, I will write to my -brother-in-law.” - -“I shall be glad to have him come to New Bedford at once,” said Guy, -“and his friend, too. You may say in your letter that his wages will -commence as soon as he reports for duty.” - -“That will remove every obstacle. My brother-in-law is a poor man, and -he would not be able to remain here any length of time on expense.” - -Captain Grover dispatched a letter at once. - -Abner Titcomb answered it in person. He brought with him a man as tall -and muscular as himself, but probably about ten years younger. - -Luke Clark was thirty years of age, and Abner Titcomb forty-one. - -Guy was pleased with his companions. They looked honest and reliable, -and in case he got into any trouble they were abundantly able to protect -him. - -Titcomb’s arms were hard and muscular, and Luke Clark, who was a farmer, -was a good match for him. - -Guy advanced the two men money to buy an outfit, and when the time came -to sail all were in readiness. - -It was not till the day of sailing that Guy saw Captain John Richmond, -the new commander of the Osprey. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -CAPTAIN RICHMOND - - -Captain Grover went on board the Osprey when she was ready to sail. - -“Captain Richmond,” said the old captain, “this is my young friend, Guy -Fenwick, who has engaged you to take him to one of the Agalegas -Islands.” - -Captain Richmond was a tall, dark-complexioned man, with a sallow skin, -and an unpleasant expression of countenance. - -“Humph, a boy!” he said, in a tone by no means cordial. - -“Yes, a boy, Captain Richmond, but quite as much entitled to -consideration as a man. He represents the wealthiest English merchant in -Bombay.” - -Captain Richmond shrugged his shoulders. - -“I don’t half like leaving the direct course,” he said. “It seems like a -crazy idea.” - -He seemed determined to make himself disagreeable. Guy felt it, and he -more than ever regretted that he was not to sail with his friend, -Captain Grover. - -The latter was considerably annoyed, and he said, sharply: “I take it, -Captain Richmond, that this is no concern of yours. This young man has -made a contract with the owners, and he has agreed to pay them well for -the extra length of the voyage.” - -“It strikes me, Captain Grover, that you are taking a liberty in talking -to me in this style,” said Captain Richmond, angrily. “I am the captain, -not you!” - -“True; but I know the captain’s duties. The owners have made a certain -agreement with my young friend here, and it is as his friend that I warn -you that this contract must be carried out in good faith.” - -“I will thank you to mind your own business,” retorted Captain Richmond, -wrathfully. - -“I propose to do so, and should you attempt to interfere with Guy in -carrying out his plans, I will report this conversation to the owners of -the Osprey.” - -This was said so sternly, and in such a determined tone, that Captain -Richmond did not dare to reply. He turned on his heel without a word and -walked away. - -“I am afraid I shall have trouble with the captain,” said Guy, when the -latter was out of hearing. “I wish so much that you were in command.” - -“I wish so, too, Guy; but you understand why I have taken a vacation.” - -“Evidently Captain Richmond doesn’t like the idea of leaving the direct -course.” - -“No; but it is none of his business. That is a matter between you, -representing Mr. Saunders, and the owners.” - -“I think my being a boy may lead to his treating me with less ceremony.” - -“The only thing to do, Guy, is to stick up for your rights. Even if you -are a boy, your rights are just the same. Should the captain break the -contract, you could, of course, withhold the money you have agreed to -pay the owners, and this would get him into hot water.” - -“You advise me, then, to be firm?” - -“Surely. It is your right and your duty. And by the way, Guy, you will -remember that you are not alone. You have two strong and able assistants -who are not boys, but independent men. They will help you to enforce -your rights.” - -“I see that your advice to me was good. Had I gone alone, I am afraid my -plans would have failed. Does the captain know why I want to visit the -island?” - -“I presume so. Probably he thinks it a foolish enterprise, and that may -account in part for his cavalier treatment of you. Of course, it is none -of his business, and you need not hesitate to hint as much if he begins -to talk roughly.” - -Guy considered this good advice, and determined to act upon it. He felt -that he must deport himself in a manner which might be unbecoming in an -ordinary boy, but was called for by the fact that he was acting for Mr. -Saunders. It was his duty to guard the interests of his employer. - -When he bade good-bye to Captain Grover he felt a presentiment that the -voyage on which he had embarked would be an unpleasant one, and that -Captain Richmond would make it so. But Guy had pluck, and though he -expected a conflict, he did not fear it. - -The first outbreak came very soon after the sailing of the Osprey. - -Dinner was announced. Guy was, of course, to eat at the captain’s table, -but when he entered he found that no seats had been placed for his two -assistants. - -“How is this, Captain Richmond?” said Guy, as he took his seat. “I see -no places at the table for Mr. Titcomb and Mr. Clark.” - -“They will eat with the sailors,” replied the captain, curtly. - -“I beg pardon, Captain Richmond,” said Guy, calmly, though he was very -angry, “I will consent to no such arrangement.” - -“You won’t, eh?” snarled the captain. “Who is the captain of this -craft--you or I?” - -“You, sir; but my arrangement was not made with you, but with the -Messrs. Gray.” - -“These men are your servants. I don’t have servants at my table.” - -“They are not my servants. They, like myself, are in the employ of Mr. -Saunders, of Bombay.” - -“I don’t know Mr. Saunders.” - -“Perhaps not; but I do. I know that unless these gentlemen are treated -with proper respect and consideration he will refuse to pay the sum he -has contracted to give your owners.” - -“I am an English captain, and do not care to meet common men on an -equality.” - -“These men whom you call common are as good as you or myself. One of -them is the brother-in-law of Captain Grover; the other is his friend. -But, above all, they are American citizens, and as such are entitled to -respect.” - -“I haven’t much respect for a Yankee,” muttered the captain. - -“I won’t argue with you on that point, though I am myself a Yankee,” -returned Guy. “I will, however, call your attention to the contract I -made with your owners, the Messrs. Gray. It is expressly stated that -these men are to be received as first-class passengers, and to be -treated as such. Will you be kind enough to cast your eyes over this -document?” - -Captain Richmond reluctantly took from Guy’s hand the paper he extended -to him, and looked over it. - -It was as Guy had stated. Titcomb and Clark were designated as -first-class passengers, and were to be treated as such. - -“I am surprised,” said the captain, in a tone of annoyance, “that -Messrs. Gray should have made such an agreement.” - -“It is conclusive, however,” returned Guy, coldly. “Will you kindly see -that seats are placed for my two companions?” - -“It shall be done at the next meal. To-day they can eat as soon as we -have finished.” - -Though Guy might have demanded more than this, he did not care to make a -fuss. He felt that in the controversy he had carried his point. - -Guy spoke of the matter afterward to the two men. - -“Why,” exclaimed Abner Titcomb, “the mean upstart! So he thinks we are -not fit to sit at the table with his royal highness, does he? If I had -him at my home in Maine we would soon see who is the best man.” - -“I wouldn’t have consented to eat with the sailors,” said Luke Clark, -“though there isn’t a sailor aboard that I don’t feel as much respect -for as I do for Captain Richmond. But I know that he meant to insult and -degrade us, and I have too much respect for myself as an American -citizen to allow that.” - -Though Guy had carried his point, neither he nor his companions enjoyed -their meals at the captain’s table. The only other person who sat there -was the mate, and he would often be on duty, so that he would not eat at -the same time with them. - -His name was Forbush, and he was a New Hampshire man, as agreeable as -the captain was morose. - -Generally there was very little conversation at meal-time. Captain -Richmond addressed Guy, but seldom vouchsafed a word to Titcomb or -Clark. - -“I wish Forbush were captain,” said Abner Titcomb, one day. “He is one -of our own people, while Captain Richmond has no sympathy for us.” - -“I wonder why the owners gave the command to such a man?” added Luke -Clark. - -“He is an experienced seaman, and understands his business, so Captain -Grover told me. I suppose that accounts for it,” answered Guy. - -“I am afraid we shall see trouble before the end of the voyage,” said -Titcomb, lowering his voice. “I will tell you what I have heard of the -captain from one of the sailors.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -A BRUTAL CAPTAIN - - -No one on board liked Captain Richmond. He was a surly, disagreeable -man, who liked better to sneer than to smile. - -He was a great contrast to Captain Grover, with his pleasant, hearty -manners. Guy tolerated him, and treated him respectfully, but Abner -Titcomb and Luke Clark repaid his rudeness with coldness. - -They had the self-respect of independent American citizens, and would -not overlook the uncalled for and studied impoliteness of the captain. - -Captain Richmond had one redeeming feature. He was a good seaman. He -seemed well qualified for the command of a merchant vessel. - -He was strict in his discipline, but that is always required. Captain -Grover was strict, and his crew liked him. On the other hand, there was -not a sailor who did not dislike Captain Richmond. - -Among the seamen was a young fellow of nineteen, from Castine, Maine. He -was known to Abner Titcomb, who, while on a visit to that town, had -become acquainted with James Low and his family. - -As Titcomb had not seen Low since he was a boy of fifteen, he did not -immediately recognize him till James called him by name. The boy seemed -very much pleased to find on board one with whom he had had a previous -acquaintance. - -Titcomb was speaking to the young sailor one day when Captain Richmond -came up. - -“Mr. Titcomb,” he said, “what can you have to say to one of my crew?” - -The tone was insolent, and Abner Titcomb resented it. - -“It happens, Captain Richmond,” he replied, “that this young fellow and -I are old acquaintances. I know him and his family.” - -“That may be, sir,” returned the captain, with an incredulous sneer. - -“What do you mean by that, Captain Richmond? Do you mean to doubt my -word?” - -“I would have you understand, Mr. Titcomb, that I am the captain of this -ship, and I will not tolerate insolence from you or any other man!” - -“There has been no insolence except on your part. I am a passenger on -this vessel, and I claim to be treated with civility.” - -He looked the captain straight in the face, and there was a look of -determination in his eyes that made Captain Richmond, who was a bully, -but not brave, think he had gone far enough. - -“I prefer that you should not speak to any member of my crew,” he -rejoined, as he turned abruptly away. - -“James,” said Titcomb, “as I don’t wish to get you into any trouble, I -will hereafter seek opportunities to speak to you when the captain is -not on deck.” - -“I wish Captain Grover were in command,” replied the boy. “_He_ was a -gentleman.” - -From this time Captain Richmond seemed to transfer to James Low some of -the dislike he felt for Titcomb. The latter was not in his power, but as -James Low was only a sailor, it was a simple matter to make things -uncomfortable for him. - -One morning Low appeared on deck looking pale and ill. He had malaria in -his system, and when he shipped he was not in good physical condition. - -“What is the matter, James?” asked Abner Titcomb, who was struck by the -young fellow’s appearance. - -“I don’t know. My head aches terribly, and I can hardly stand.” - -“Why don’t you report yourself sick to the captain, and ask leave to go -to your bunk?” - -“He wouldn’t believe it.” - -“He would be a brute if he didn’t grant your request.” - -“Hush! Here he comes!” - -Captain Richmond strode on deck, and looked about him in his masterful -way. - -He noticed James Low’s slow motions. - -“Be lively there!” he cried. “You lazy loafer! You’re skulking!” - -“Captain Richmond,” said the poor fellow, “I feel very sick. My head is -swimming.” - -“Sick, are you? Sick of work, most likely,” sneered the captain. - -“Indeed, sir, I am very ill. If you would kindly let me lie down for an -hour or two----” - -“Why, you lazy scoundrel!” roared the captain, in a rage, “I never heard -such barefaced insolence! Up to the masthead with you, and stay there -till you are ready to do your duty!” - -James Low turned a look of anguish upon the captain. - -“Indeed, sir, I am very sick,” he said. - -As the poor fellow spoke, his face became of a greenish hue, and he sank -to the deck, where he lay without sense or motion. - -By this time Captain Richmond was intensely irritated, and in his fury -he drew back his foot and kicked the prostrate boy brutally. - -The poor fellow quivered a little, but he was too far gone in -unconsciousness to make any other demonstration. - -“Shame! Shame!” was heard from at least two persons who witnessed the -captain’s cruelty. - -He looked sharply around, and roared out: “Who said that?” - -“I did, for one,” responded Guy, pale, but his eyes flashing with -indignation. - -“Don’t you dare to say it again!” cried the captain, with a volley of -oaths. - -“I did, for another,” said Abner Titcomb, coming forward, his face stern -and threatening. - -“You did, eh? You’ll find yourself in irons if you are not careful. I’m -not going to have any landlubber interfering with my discipline. D’ye -hear that?” - -“Captain Richmond,” said Titcomb, “you are the greatest brute I ever -came across!” - -“Don’t you dare to say that again!” cried the captain, almost foaming at -the mouth. - -“No one but a brute would kick a sick boy!” - -“Sick? He’s shamming!” - -“He is not shamming, and you know that as well as I do.” - -“I’ll put you in irons, sir! By heavens, you are inciting mutiny!” - -“If you put me in irons, you’ll have something to put me in irons for.” - -“What d’ye mean by that?” - -“I mean that if you are captain of this vessel, I am a man, and I won’t -allow you to treat a poor sick sailor as you have treated James Low.” - -“You won’t allow me!” yelled the captain. “You’ll see! I’ll do it again -for your gratification!” And he drew back his foot as if to kick the -prostrate figure once more. - -Quick and stern came these words from Abner Titcomb: - -“If you kick that boy again, Captain Richmond, by the heavens above me -I’ll fell you to the deck and kick you!” - -There was something so resolute in Titcomb’s words and manner that -Captain Richmond, furious as he was, was impressed in spite of himself. - -“Mr. Titcomb,” he said, “I can have you arrested and imprisoned for what -you have said.” - -“If you don’t desist at once I will report your brutality to the -American consul at the first port at which we stop, and demand your -trial!” - -As has already been said, Captain Richmond, though a bully, was a -coward, and he did not dare to follow up his brutal treatment, much as -he desired to do so. - -“You may find that someone else will report to the consul,” he said, -sullenly. “You will find, sir, that it is a serious thing to interfere -with discipline on board ship.” - -James Low moved slightly, opened his eyes, and seemed coming out of his -stupor. - -Captain Richmond bent over, seized him by the shoulder, and raised him -to his feet. - -“Now go below,” he said. “You will be kept on bread and water for the -next twenty-four hours.” - -James Low was glad enough to creep below, and the threat did not disturb -him in the least. - -Anything was better than going about his work when he was scarcely able -to stand erect. - -Captain Richmond, with as much dignity as he could command, went to his -own cabin, and left the field to Titcomb and Guy. - -“What do you think of such a man as that?” said Titcomb, turning to Guy. - -“I never felt so indignant in my life! He is not a man, but a brute! You -saved the poor fellow, Mr. Titcomb.” - -“Yes; and I mean to shield him from the captain’s malice hereafter, for -he will undoubtedly try to do him a mischief.” - -“What would you have done had the captain kicked him again?” - -“What would I have done? Don’t ask me. I would have treated Captain -Richmond worse than he treated James, regardless of consequences.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -GUY AND THE CAPTAIN - - -A strong, resolute man makes himself respected. Abner Titcomb had -asserted his manhood and faced the captain fearlessly. - -Autocrat as he aspired to be, Captain Richmond did not dare to go to the -lengths he intended. - -He made a show of maintaining his authority by ordering James Low below, -and restricting him to bread and water. This was not, on the whole, a -hardship, as it gave the poor fellow what he needed--complete rest. - -Feverish as he was, also, the scanty diet was not, on the whole, -undesirable. At the end of twenty-four hours he felt better, and -returned to his work. - -The captain did not molest him further, though he was seen at times to -look at him with a contracted brow, as if he hated him. For the present, -at least, however, he desisted from any further persecution, and as Low -did his duty faithfully he gave his captain no excuse for ill -treatment. - -The weather was, on the whole, favorable, and in due time they reached -the Indian Ocean. - -As they drew nearer the group of islands, one of which, as Guy believed, -contained the mysterious treasure of which he was in search, Guy became -restless and excited. He held conferences with his two assistants, and -managed to excite their interest, though he found that they were not so -sanguine as himself. - -“I have heard such stories before,” said Abner Titcomb, “and though it -may all be true, you must not be too much disappointed if you don’t find -what you expect.” - -“I shall certainly be disappointed, Mr. Titcomb. My uncle’s letter was -so direct and circumstantial that it carried conviction of its truth to -my mind.” - -“No doubt he believed it himself, but the sailor from whom he got his -information may have been spinning a yarn.” - -“You must remember, Mr. Titcomb, that he was on his deathbed. That is -hardly a time to spin yarns.” - -“True; and I hope his story was correct.” - -“It was certainly natural. Granted that there are pirates, they would be -likely to have a place of concealment for their booty.” - -“I don’t say anything against that, Guy.” - -The two men, though in Guy’s employ, were in the habit of calling him by -his first name. - -“At any rate, Luke and I are ready to co-operate with you and help you -in every way to secure this treasure.” - -“I don’t doubt that, Mr. Titcomb. I feel sure of your fidelity.” - -The time came when it would be necessary to deviate from the usual -course and make for the islands. - -Not a word had been exchanged between Guy and the captain on this -subject since the first day of the voyage, and he thought it well to -bring the matter once more to the attention of the Osprey’s commander. - -“Captain Richmond,” he said, one day, as that officer was about to leave -the deck, “I should be glad to have a few words with you.” - -The captain regarded Guy with an unpleasant frown, and said, sneeringly: -“Perhaps you have some advice to give me as to the management of the -vessel.” - -“You are mistaken, sir,” said Guy, with dignity. “I wish to speak to you -about the business which has brought me on board.” - -“Very well. I will listen to what you have to say.” - -They were now in the cabin. Guy took a seat opposite the captain, and -began: - -“I believe you know, in a general way, the object of my expedition.” - -“I know very little about it,” said the captain, indifferently. - -“It is desirable that you should know definitely. You understand that I -wish to visit one of the Agalegas Islands?” - -“Which one?” - -“I can’t tell yet.” - -“Then it looks as if we were bound on a fool’s errand.” - -“No. I have a description of the particular island I want to visit, -explicit enough for me to identify it when I see it.” - -“What _do_ you know about these islands? Are they inhabited?” - -“I don’t know.” - -“What do you know about them?” asked the captain, rudely. - -“Very little. It is not necessary that I should know much. The main -point is this: I have reason to believe that on the island I seek there -is concealed somewhere a large treasure, stored there years since by a -band of pirates.” - -Captain Richmond laughed incredulously. - -“That is an old woman’s tale,” he said. “And it is to find this treasure -that you want me to turn aside from my course and waste perhaps a couple -of months?” - -Guy was provoked at the other’s words and manner. - -“I don’t think, Captain Richmond,” he said, “there is any reason to -complain of this. You, or rather your owners, will be well compensated -for any prolongation of the voyage.” - -“I suppose we are to be paid out of this fabulous treasure,” sneered the -captain. - -“No, sir. My principal, Mr. Saunders, of Bombay, is abundantly able to -pay what he has contracted to do, even if the treasure proves fabulous, -as you suggest.” - -“So you talked him into a belief in its existence?” - -“As to that, he thinks there is sufficient chance of its existence to -warrant the outlay he has made.” - -“Then I don’t think much of his good judgment.” - -“It does not seem to me, Captain Richmond, that this concerns anyone -except himself. It is merely a business venture.” - -“How long do you expect me to cruise round among these islands?” asked -the captain, evidently in bad humor. - -“I can’t say yet. Of course, I shall want to make a thorough search.” - -“And in the meantime the Osprey is to lie at anchor, and all on board -are to fold their hands?” - -“As to that I have no control. It may be interesting to you to explore -the islands. At any rate, you will be paid for your time.” - -“I shouldn’t like this thing to get out. I should become a -laughing-stock.” - -“I don’t see why. You will simply be carrying out the instructions of -your owners.” - -“What more have you to say to me, Mr. Fenwick?” - -As the captain pronounced Guy’s name his inflection was sarcastic, but -Guy did not expect courtesy from this quarter and he chose to take no -notice of the slur. - -“Were you ever in the neighborhood of the Agalegas Islands, Captain -Richmond?” - -“No; and I presume very few skippers have had occasion to go anywhere -near them, except, of course, your friends the pirates.” - -“I suppose it will soon be necessary to change your course, so as to -steer for them?” - -“I think you can safely leave that to me, Mr. Fenwick. Did you seek -this interview in order to give me advice?” - -“No, captain; only to have an understanding. Though you don’t seem to -have a favorable opinion of my chances of success, I am sure you will -help me so far as lies in your power.” - -“Humph!” returned the captain. “I don’t know that I am called on to do -anything except to sail among the islands, and give you a chance to pick -out the one you are in search of.” - -“If you will allow me, I will read you a short description of the -island.” - -“Go on.” - -“It is well wooded to within a mile of the shore; toward the center -there is a hill, or slight eminence, perhaps a hundred and fifty feet in -altitude. The extent of it is probably five miles by eight.” - -“The island seems to be quite large. Do you expect to dig it all over -before giving up your search?” - -“That will not be necessary. I have some directions as to the place -where the treasure is hidden.” - -“This seems very much like a fairy tale, Mr. Fenwick. Would you like my -opinion of this man who has sent you on such a wildgoose chase?” - -“You can express it to me, if you like, Captain Richmond,” said Guy, -with dignity. - -“Then I think he’s a blooming idiot, neither more nor less.” - -This was said in a very offensive tone. - -“I don’t think, Captain Richmond, that you will find many persons in -Bombay who will agree with you in your estimate of Mr. Saunders’ -character. Blooming idiots don’t, as a general thing, succeed in -business as he has done.” - -Captain Richmond listened to these words with an ironical smile, and Guy -left his presence satisfied that he could expect no help from him beyond -what he felt obliged to give. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -THE ISLAND AT LAST - - -Guy was not without fears that Captain Richmond would, on some pretext, -decline to carry out his contract, and refuse to visit the Agalegas -Islands. - -A captain at sea is such an autocrat that he often takes indefensible -liberties, and transcends his rightful authority. He can make things -exceedingly uncomfortable for anyone for whom he feels a dislike or -cherishes a grudge. - -It soon became evident, however, that whatever opinion he might have of -Guy’s enterprise, he didn’t intend to interpose any obstacle to his -visit to the islands. - -Abner Titcomb, though for the last ten years a blacksmith, was from the -age of twenty to thirty years a seaman, and had risen to be a first -mate. He could, in an emergency, have taken the place of captain and -commanded a vessel. - -He assured Guy, from his own observations, that Captain Richmond had -changed his course, and was steering in the direction of the islands. - -“That relieves me very much,” said Guy. “I didn’t know what the -captain’s obstinacy might have led him to do.” - -“He may still be able to thwart you, even after reaching the island,” -returned Titcomb. - -“I won’t borrow trouble in advance,” said Guy. “The first step is to -reach the island. After that I will manage to carry out the rest of the -program.” - -The crew consisted of Irish and Americans, with one exception. This was -Guido Leporelli, a swarthy Italian, who was, upon the whole, a good -sailor. - -He was short, and of light weight, but strong and muscular. He held -little intercourse with the rest of the crew, partly perhaps because he -was not a good English scholar, and could not speak the language -fluently, though he understood sea terms. - -Guido was, as a rule, quiet and well behaved, and had not incurred any -rebukes from the officers. One morning, however, as Guy made his -appearance on deck, he beheld the captain, in a furious rage, -confronting the Italian, who in stature was greatly his inferior. - -What the trouble was about, Guy did not learn, but it ended in the -captain felling the Italian to the deck by a powerful blow. - -Guido rose slowly. His swarthy face was pale, and his eyes gleamed with -a fierce and baleful light; but he said nothing. - -“Now go to your work, you dog!” cried the captain. - -Only Guy noticed the terrible rage visible in the Italian’s face. - -He spoke of it to Abner Titcomb. - -“Captain Richmond has made a dangerous enemy,” he said. - -“Who is it?” - -“The Italian sailor.” - -Then Guy related what he had seen. - -“What can he have done?” - -Inquiry showed that there had been no cause for the captain’s violent -outbreak. He was in one of his fits of periodical irritation, and Guido, -unfortunately for him, chanced to be in his way, and received the -benefit of it. - -“I shouldn’t like to have an Italian for an enemy,” said Titcomb, -thoughtfully. “But it is Captain Richmond’s lookout. He may some day -repent his violence.” - -There were others who shared Mr. Titcomb’s views, but gradually the -affair faded out of remembrance. - -Guido Leporelli seemed himself to have forgotten his ill treatment. He -went about his duties in the same quiet way he had always done. - -As for Captain Richmond, he never troubled himself to think of the -Italian. If anyone had suggested that he stood in danger he would have -laughed at the idea. - -He was a tall, strong man, weighing not far from two hundred pounds, -while Leporelli would scarcely have tipped the scales at one hundred and -twenty. - -The weather was delightful; the temperature was warm and balmy, with no -signs of a storm, and day after day the Osprey glided along under -smiling skies. - -“How are you enjoying the voyage, Guy?” asked Abner Titcomb. - -“So much that I should like to see it prolonged but for one thing.” - -“What is that?” - -“I am anxious to reach the island so as to settle the question about the -treasure.” - -“You are anxious to become rich, then, Guy?” - -“It isn’t so much that, but Mr. Saunders, at my suggestion, has invested -a good deal of money in this expedition. I don’t want him to be a -loser.” - -“He would not blame you.” - -“Perhaps not; but I should blame myself. Besides, you know how the -captain has derided the scheme?” - -“Yes.” - -“I want to prove to him that he is in the wrong. He calls Mr. Saunders -‘a blooming idiot,’ and I have no doubt he applies that name to me, -also.” - -“Well, Guy, I hope you will succeed. I am not over and above sanguine -myself, as you know. I have heard and read of too many enterprises like -yours, and that makes me incredulous.” - -“Still, you won’t call me ‘a blooming idiot’ even if I do fail,” said -Guy, smiling. - -“No, Guy, I think you are very far from an idiot. I should be more -likely to apply that name to the captain.” - -“Why?” - -“On account of his treatment of the Italian sailor.” - -“Leporelli doesn’t seem to bear any grudge, so far as we can judge from -his conduct.” - -“Don’t judge too hastily. An Italian and an Indian have long memories -for injuries.” - -Since the conversation already reported between Guy and the captain, -nothing further had been said. Guy would have been glad to speak, but he -saw that Captain Richmond was quite incredulous, and it would be like -having cold water dashed in his face to talk it over with him again. - -Had Captain Grover been in command, Guy would have had daily conferences -with him, but the two men were altogether different. - -Though he did not know the ship’s reckoning, Guy was of opinion that -they must be very near the Agalegas Islands. He longed to ask the -captain, but did not venture to do so. - -It was Captain Richmond himself who broached the subject. - -He was pacing the deck one afternoon when he met Guy. - -“Come here, Fenwick,” he said. “I want to speak to you.” - -Guy joined him in his walk. His heart beat quickly, for he felt that the -captain was about to speak to him on the subject nearest to his heart. - -“We are close to the Agalegas Islands,” said the captain, abruptly. -“To-morrow we shall probably sight some of them.” - -“I am glad to hear it, captain,” responded Guy, joyfully. - -“I don’t know how many of them there are, but I judge there may be a -considerable number. Do you expect me to visit them all?” - -“No, Captain Richmond. If you remember, I read you a description of the -one in which I feel an interest. That description is so minute that I -don’t think we are likely to mistake it.” - -“You don’t know the relative position of the island, whether it is the -nearest to us, or the furthermost?” - -“No, sir.” - -“Humph! That is not very encouraging.” - -“If you will excuse my suggesting it, I think it is likely to be the -nearest.” - -“And why?” - -“The pirates would probably consider one island as good for their -purpose as another, and would select the first that presented itself.” - -“That’s all conjecture.” - -“That is all I claim for it.” - -“At any rate, I hope your conjecture is a correct one. I haven’t much -faith in your enterprise, and I am anxious to be detained as short a -time as possible.” - -Captain Richmond left Guy and went to his cabin. Guy understood that he -did not care to speak further on the subject. - -Early the next morning, as Guy lay in his bunk, there was a loud knock -at the door of his stateroom. - -“What’s the matter?” he called out, drowsily. - -“Matter enough!” cried Abner Titcomb, for it was he. “We are in sight of -land!” - -Guy sprang from his berth and ran up on deck. - -There, at the distance of half a mile, lay a beautiful island, a -delightful sight after the thousands of miles of ocean they had -traversed. - -But, best of all, Guy noted with wildly beating heart that _it was well -wooded to within a mile of the shore; and toward the center there was a -hill, or slight eminence, perhaps a hundred and fifty feet in altitude_! - -It was evidently the island of which he was in search. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -ON THE ISLAND - - -When Guy scanned the island, and saw that it answered the description -given in the papers bequeathed him by his uncle, his heart beat gladly. -His pride was interested in the reliability of the information given -him. - -It was on the faith of these that Mr. Saunders, his employer, had risked -a considerable sum of money, and now it looked as if he would be richly -repaid for his investment. - -As Guy stood on deck regarding the island, Captain Richmond walked up to -his side. - -“Well, captain,” said Guy, “we have been successful. This is the island -I wanted to find.” - -“Yes, it is the island; but what good will it do you?” - -Guy had not made a confidant of the captain except in a general way. He -distrusted the man, and feared that in some manner he would interfere -with his plans. - -“I can tell you better after a few days,” answered Guy, guardedly. - -“I suppose you expect to find an immense treasure?” said Captain -Richmond, with a sneer. - -“Perhaps so.” - -“Then all I can say is that you are probably doomed to disappointment.” - -“Why do you say that?” - -“All these stories of hidden treasures are old women’s tales.” - -“If I am disappointed,” said Guy, somewhat nettled, “you will not be a -loser.” - -“I wasn’t thinking of that; but I hate to see a man make a fool of -himself.” - -“Am I the man?” asked Guy, smiling. - -“No, but the man who has supplied you with money to make this -expedition.” - -“When you see Mr. Saunders you can tell him so.” - -“Now, how long do you propose to delay my voyage in keeping me in this -out-of-the-way place?” - -“As short a time as possible, Captain Richmond. I should like to go on -shore at once, if convenient, and commence my search. Mr. Titcomb and -Mr. Clark will go with me.” - -“Very well. I will send you ashore, as you desire. I have this to say, -however, that I shall not be willing to remain here more than three -days.” - -“I protest against this limit, Captain Richmond,” said Guy, indignantly. -“The contract which I made with your owners says nothing of any such -limitations. I am paying a handsome sum for any detention which my -business here may occasion.” - -“_You_ are paying----” began the captain, with a sneer. - -“Yes, as the agent of Mr. Saunders,” responded Guy, firmly. - -The captain turned upon his heel and left Guy, but he gave orders that -the long-boat should be lowered, and in five minutes Guy and his two -assistants were on their way to the island. - -The Osprey anchored about a hundred yards from the shore, in order not -to get into too shallow water. The boat trip was, therefore, a brief -one. - -It was a beautiful morning. The island smiled in the bright rays of a -tropical sun, and the luxuriant vegetation that covered the hills and -plains made it look very attractive. - -“This is a charming spot, Guy,” said Abner Titcomb. “The pirates knew -what they were about when they selected it.” - -“I imagine they cared very little for its appearance,” said Guy. “It -seems to be the nearest of the islands, and, therefore, the most -accessible.” - -“If I were well provided with comforts, I shouldn’t object to spending a -few months here,” said Luke Clark. - -“Nor I, if at the end of that time I could get off and sail for home.” - -They made for a little, sandy beach on the south shore, and one of the -sailors, leaping out of the boat, hauled it upon the beach. Guy and his -two assistants sprang out. - -“When do you want us to come back?” asked the boatswain. - -Guy took out his watch. - -“We shall spend the day on the island,” he said. “You can come for us at -six o’clock.” - -“But we shall get hungry before that,” objected Titcomb. - -“I thought of that, and asked the steward to put up some lunch for us,” -answered Guy, pointing to a square package wrapped in stout paper. - -“We shall want drink, also.” - -“It will be strange if we can’t find a spring on the island.” - -Guy and his two friends stood on the shore and watched the boat as it -was rowed back to the ship. - -“I can understand the feelings of Robinson Crusoe,” Guy said. “Here we -are many thousand miles from home, on an island which has not even a -name, so far as I know.” - -“True; but there’s our ship, ready to carry us away when we choose. That -makes the difference between us and Crusoe.” - -“I should prefer that there should be a difference. I don’t care to feel -myself a prisoner here.” - -“What are your plans for the day, Guy? You are the leader of our -expedition. Shall we begin our search for the treasure immediately?” - -“To-day let us simply be explorers. I should like to see something of -the island. Suppose we strike for the woods.” - -“Just as you say. We shall have a delightful walk.” - -The woods began about a mile from the beach, but there were scattered -trees on the way. - -On their branches were birds of strange plumage. They were singing, but -the songs were unlike any that the three explorers had heard in America. - -There were flowers, also, for on this far-away island it was the season -of blooming, and their fragrance perfumed the air. - -“I wonder if there are any inhabitants?” said Luke Clark. - -“Probably there are no white inhabitants, and I hope there are none of -a different race. They might prove dangerous, and interfere with our -plans.” - -“It almost seems a waste of productive power that such a delightful -island should be uninhabited,” said Abner Titcomb. “Suppose it were -within a few miles of Boston or New York, or near Portland, how it would -attract visitors.” - -“Like Peak’s Island,” suggested Luke Clark. - -“Where is that?” asked Guy. - -“Three miles from Portland. It is much smaller than this, but it -attracts many visitors in the summer.” - -“Unfortunately, we can’t move this island. Indeed, I shouldn’t want to -till I have found the treasure.” - -They reached the edge of the woods and plunged in. There was very little -underbrush, but the trees rose straight and erect, branching at a -considerable distance from the ground. - -“What a fine grove for a camp meeting,” said Luke Clark. “Do you know -how far the trees reach back, Guy?” - -“Three or four miles, according to my description.” - -“Shall we push through?” - -“Yes. Back of the woods rises the small hill indicated on my plan of -the island. I propose that we ascend that, and take a general view. It -may be high enough for us to see the shore on the other side.” - -It was not a work of difficulty to reach the hill and ascend it. - -The rise was gradual, and the hill was comparatively bare of trees. Thus -far they had discovered nothing that indicated any previous occupation -by white men; but now on the summit of the hill they saw a pole looking -somewhat like a telegraph pole. - -“Do you see that, Guy?” said Abner Titcomb. - -“Yes.” - -“That must have been placed there by white visitors.” - -“Probably by some of the pirates of whom my uncle speaks.” - -“Yes; and so far it is a confirmation of his story.” - -“You are right. It should be looked upon as encouraging.” - -There was something else that suggested former visits. On the top of the -hill, a hundred feet from the pole, was a rude seat made by a plank -resting upon supports at either end. - -“Let us sit down,” said Guy, “and take a general survey of the island.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXX - -LOOKING FOR TREASURE - - -Though not very high, the hill on which Guy and his friends were seated -was of sufficient altitude to command a general view of the entire -island. With the exception of this hill, the surface of the island was -flat, and it was possible to see its general contour. - -In front, at a comparatively short distance, the Osprey rode at anchor. - -“It is the sight of the ship that makes me feel comfortable,” said Abner -Titcomb, pointing to it. - -Through the clear atmosphere they could see distinctly all that passed -on board the vessel. - -“See,” said Luke Clark, “the captain is pacing the deck with an -impatient step. Ten to one he doesn’t enjoy being detained here.” - -“I know he doesn’t,” said Guy. “He loses no opportunity to ridicule my -search after the treasure, and thinks Mr. Saunders an idiot for the -expense he has incurred in chartering the vessel.” - -“I don’t see what business it is of his,” said Titcomb. “You, or rather -Mr. Saunders, are paying the owners well for the time consumed.” - -“True; but he is impatient to go on to Bombay. He asked me if I couldn’t -get through my search in three days.” - -“What did you say?” - -“That this time was entirely insufficient.” - -“It is a pity that Captain Grover is not in command.” - -“Yes. It would be a great deal more comfortable for me.” - -From time to time, as they could see, the captain looked toward the -island and then resumed his walk. - -“I wonder he doesn’t propose to come on shore and aid you in the search, -Guy.” - -“I don’t think he cares to have me succeed. For some reason which I -don’t understand he appears to have taken a dislike to me.” - -“It is partly because you are independent of him. He has authority over -all on board the Osprey except ourselves, and this chafes him.” - -“I shouldn’t like to be in the power of such a man.” - -“Nor I. But for your firmness, Luke and myself would have lost our cabin -privileges and been obliged to eat with the sailors.” - -“So far as pleasant society is concerned, I should be as willing to keep -company with them as with Captain Richmond.” - -“I feel the same way, but I was unwilling that the captain should impose -on me.” - -“Boys,” said Luke Clark, suddenly, “I think we made a mistake in not -bringing some water with us. I am beginning to feel thirsty.” - -“I shall feel so soon,” said Titcomb. “We may as well hunt for a spring. -Thirst is, if anything, harder to bear than hunger.” - -“Very well,” said Guy. “Let us make a search.” - -They descended the opposite slope of the hill, and in a covert near the -bottom found a clear, pellucid spring, from which they dipped water in -the hollow of their hands and drank. - -There was a slight mineral flavor which was not unpleasant, and all -three enjoyed the cooling draughts. - -“This is a very important discovery,” said Titcomb, “and would be even -more so if we were obliged to remain any length of time on the island. -Now, Guy, what shall we do next?” - -“Continue our exploration,” said Guy. “This is only the first day, -remember.” - -“But the captain wants to limit you to three days.” - -“Yes; but I have not accepted the limitation. After traveling so many -thousand miles, I don’t propose to be hurried.” - -“I applaud your pluck, Guy. You have an unusually strong will for a boy -of sixteen. From whom do you take it?” - -“Not from my father,” answered Guy. “He is altogether too gentle and -yielding, and allows himself to be bossed by one of his deacons. -Fortunately, I thwarted Deacon Crane in one of his schemes when I was at -home.” - -“Your father is a minister, isn’t he?” - -“Yes.” - -“That accounts for it.” - -“I don’t know. Some ministers are quite as fond of having their own way -as any of their congregation. However, that isn’t the case with my -father.” - -“I suppose, Guy, you have some clue to the place where the treasure is -concealed?” said Titcomb. “I have not inquired, hitherto, but it seems -to me that while we are exploring we may as well keep our eyes open, and -perhaps we may chance upon the spot.” - -“It is time I told you what I know,” answered Guy. “I am obliged to -confess that the directions are not as clear and explicit as I should -wish. Yet I think they may be sufficiently so for our purpose.” - -“Go ahead, Guy,” said Luke Clark. “I confess that my curiosity is -aroused.” - -“Then I will tell you all I know.” - -Guy took from his pocket a roll of paper, discolored by time, and -unfolding it, read this paragraph: - - “There is a place on the island where six trees are arranged (by - nature) in the shape of a cross, as this drawing will show. - - o - - o o o - - o - - o - - “Between the second and third of these trees, counting from the top - downward, the pirate’s treasure is concealed. A large cavity was - dug out, and in this was placed a sailor’s chest, in which are - stored gold, silver, and jewels, besides a considerable amount in - bank notes--some English, some French, and some American. As to - the value of these treasures, no one knew anything except the - captain, and possibly even he was uninformed.” - -“There is more,” added Guy, “but this is all that is of importance.” - -Abner Titcomb and Luke Clark listened thoughtfully. - -“That seems a pretty good clue,” said Abner, at length. “It is hardly -likely that there will be more than one group of trees arranged in the -shape of a cross.” - -“You are, no doubt, right.” - -“I move that we use our eyes as we go along. We may come upon this cross -this very day.” - -“I wish we might.” - -“If we do, we may conclude that we have succeeded in our quest, even if -we do not dig at once for the treasure.” - -“Yes.” - -“I shall feel more interest in our walk now, as we shall have an object -in view.” - -“It seems to me,” said Guy, “that the pirates might easily have selected -a place more difficult to find.” - -“I don’t know about that. Of course, now that we have the clue, it seems -simple, but otherwise how could we be led to suppose that the treasure -would be hidden there rather than in any other place? All puzzles are -easy when you have found out the key to them.” - -After this the party naturally confined their explorations to the wooded -part of the island. Somewhere among this multitude of trees were to be -found the six trees arranged in the shape of a cross. - -“It seems as if it ought to be easy to find,” said Guy. - -“Yes; but you must remember that the woods, besides running back for -perhaps three or four miles, reach nearly across the island in breadth. -It may be a long and tedious search, after all.” - -“But I don’t think we can fail to succeed at last.” - -“Yet it may be a matter of weeks before we find the cross.” - -“At any rate we have the clue. It does not require sharpness, only -patience.” - -When midday came all felt hungry, and they sat down to eat the -provisions they had brought with them. - -As they had discovered water nowhere else, they were obliged to work -their way back to the spring which they had originally chanced upon. - -“It is a pity that we didn’t bring a pail with us to hold water, so that -we need not have been obliged to retrace our footsteps.” - -“We shall know better how to manage to-morrow.” - -The three explorers wandered about till they were very tired, and a full -hour before the time set they were on the beach waiting for the boat to -carry them back to the Osprey. They were seen from the vessel, and in a -few minutes they were on board again. - -“Well,” said Captain Richmond, addressing Guy, “what have you -accomplished?” - -“We have discovered a spring and explored a part of the island.” - -“Have you found the treasure?” - -“Not yet,” answered Guy. - -“So I supposed,” returned the captain, with a sneer. - -He said nothing more, but he had succeeded in making Guy feel -uncomfortable. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI - -A STARTLING SUGGESTION - - -The program for the next day was like that of the first, except that no -time was spent on a general exploration of the island. - -The impatience shown by Captain Richmond made Guy fear that unless the -treasure were speedily found he would object to staying longer. Of -course, this would be in violation of the agreement he had made with the -owners, but there was no court to enforce that agreement, and if the -captain should, in his obstinacy, decide to sail away, the whole object -of the expedition would be lost, or, at any rate, indefinitely deferred. - -Therefore, on reaching the island in the morning, Guy and his two -friends immediately set about searching for the six trees arranged in -the shape of a cross. It did not seem that it would be difficult to find -them, but nevertheless three more days slipped away, and at the end of -that time they were no nearer success than before. - -Even Guy began to feel anxious. He knew that in the event of the failure -of the expedition Mr. Saunders might blame him for the loss of the -considerable sum which had been spent in fitting it out, and, moreover, -he would feel in duty bound to return the five thousand dollars which -the merchant had advanced to him. - -A part of this sum had been spent, some of it in paying the mortgage on -his father’s house, and he would be left hopelessly in debt. - -“Don’t feel blue, Guy,” said Abner Titcomb. “It took us months to come -here, and surely we can spare a month for the search.” - -“Yes, Abner; but will the captain wait for us that long?” - -“There is the rub?” said Titcomb. “For some reason he is very impatient, -and very averse to staying here.” - -“Probably he is naturally impatient,” suggested Luke Clark. - -“That does not explain it. He is evidently unfriendly to Guy, and does -not want him to succeed.” - -“And for that reason I am all the more determined to succeed,” said Guy, -firmly. - -For two hours after this they searched vigorously and earnestly. Not a -clump of trees but was scanned critically, in the hope that it might be -the lucky cross of which they were in quest. - -The time most dreaded by Guy was the evening and the return to the ship -unsuccessful and empty-handed. - -Captain Richmond was always on hand, and always put the question: - -“Well, have you succeeded?” - -“Not yet,” answered Guy, reluctantly. - -“Of course not,” retorted the captain, contemptuously. - -“But I mean to do so,” said Guy, pluckily. - -“And how many years do you expect me to ride at anchor here waiting for -you?” - -“We have been here but five days, so far,” said Guy. - -“And have accomplished nothing. You might as well make up your mind, -first as last, that there is nothing to be found here. I don’t believe, -for my part, that any pirates ever visited the island.” - -“Why, then, should a dying man tell my uncle so, Captain Richmond?” - -“It was a sailor’s yarn. There are some men who can’t help lying, even -upon their deathbed.” - -“Don’t you believe any pirates ever concealed their booty?” - -“Nine out of ten of the stories about pirates and hidden treasure are -fabrications.” - -“Be that as it may, Captain Richmond,” said Guy, with dignity, “you -will lose nothing by waiting.” - -“I shall lose my patience, for one thing.” - -“I don’t think you have much.” - -“No impertinence, young man!” said Captain Richmond, angrily. - -“I don’t mean to be impertinent, but I want you to carry out in good -faith the terms of the agreement I made with your owners.” - -The captain walked away without a word, but there was a look upon his -face which Guy did not like. He knew that if the captain chose to put an -end to his stay upon the island he would have no alternative but to -submit, and would be obliged to keep on to Bombay in the humiliation of -failure. - -Guy’s fears were increased by a few words he had with Frank Low, the -young sailor already referred to as an object of dislike to the captain. - -It was one evening, when the captain had retired early. - -“Guy--Mr. Fenwick,” said Frank, “let me speak a few words to you.” - -“By all means, Frank. You need not call me Mr. Fenwick. I am only a boy -like yourself--younger, indeed.” - -“But you are a passenger, while I am only a poor sailor.” - -“You are my friend, all the same. Now what have you to tell me?” - -“Captain Richmond is in a great funk at being obliged to stay here while -you are on shore.” - -“I know that very well, Frank, but he has no right to be. I made a -special agreement with the owners of the Osprey for which they will be -handsomely paid.” - -Frank shook his head. - -“That’s all very well, Master Guy, but the captain will play you a trick -if he can.” - -“What trick can he play me?” - -“He can forbid your going on shore again.” - -“He wouldn’t do that. He knows that in that case, the contract being -broken, I should have an excuse for refusing to pay the sum agreed -upon.” - -“Is it after hidden gold you are searching, Master Guy?” - -“Yes; after treasure concealed on this island by pirates.” - -“Do you believe it is there?” - -“Yes. I have very good reason to believe it.” - -“Then why don’t you get the captain on your side by offering him -something--say a thousand dollars--in case you find it.” - -“It wouldn’t do much good. The captain doesn’t believe in the -treasure.” - -Frank Low looked uneasy. - -“I’ll tell you what I am afraid of, Master Guy,” he said. - -“Go on, Frank.” - -“I am afraid some day when you are on the island he will set sail -without you.” - -Guy looked startled, as he well might, at this suggestion. - -“He wouldn’t dare do that,” he replied. - -“I don’t know. I believe he would dare to do anything. Besides----” - -“Well, Frank,” said Guy, seeing that he hesitated. - -“Besides, I don’t think the captain is wholly responsible for what he -does.” - -“Why do you think that?” asked Guy, quickly. - -“From the way he behaves. Sometimes he paces up and down the deck, -muttering to himself. I shouldn’t be surprised if he were off his base.” - -“You mean that he is crazy?” - -“It looks to me like that. I had an uncle who was affected in the same -way. He used to go up and down through the village, muttering, and took -very little notice of anyone he met when he had the fit on him. After a -while he got worse, and at last had to be carried to an asylum.” - -“Then you think that with the fit upon him, the captain might sail away -and leave me and my two friends on the island?” - -“That is what I am afraid of.” - -“Thank you for putting me on my guard, Frank. I will think over what you -have said and try to prepare for it.” - -“I don’t see how you can.” - -“I must still continue my visits to the island, whatever risk I run; -that is due to my employer. But, should the worst happen, you can do -something for me.” - -“I will do anything for you, Master Guy,” said the young sailor, -earnestly. - -“Then, Frank, if the captain treacherously deserts us, and keeps on his -course to Bombay, as soon as the Osprey arrives there I want you to call -on Mr. Saunders, my employer, and let him know where I am. He will -probably have the captain arrested, and will send the Osprey or some -other vessel to our help.” - -“But you will be left to starve!” - -“I don’t fear that. There are natural fruits on the island, and animals -that we can kill for food. I think that we can get along as Robinson -Crusoe did.” - -“I will remember what you have told me, Master Guy, but I hope there -will be no need to do it.” - -“I trust, too, that the necessity will not arise.” - -“Don’t you think you had better give up your search, Master Guy, -considering how much opposition there is to it?” - -“No, Frank,” said Guy, firmly. “You must remember that I am in the -employ of Mr. Saunders, and represent his interests. I will prove -faithful to him, whatever happens.” - -Frank Low looked perplexed and uneasy. He had become anxious, and being -warmly attached to Guy, who treated him as a friend and an equal, -thought chiefly of his safety. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII - -LUKE CLARK MAKES A DISCOVERY - - -The fear excited by Frank Low’s communication made Guy more anxious than -ever to complete his work upon the island as soon as possible. Captain -Richmond’s evident hostility and desire to get away excited daily -apprehension. - -Guy had no desire to repeat the experience of Robinson Crusoe. It would -doubtless be romantic, but he preferred to read romances rather than -enact them. - -Guy’s feelings were shared by his two companions. - -“Whenever I come to the island I pray that it may be for the last time,” -said Abner Titcomb. “With such a man as Captain Richmond in command of -the Osprey I never feel safe.” - -“I feel so, too,” added Luke Clark. - -A new alarm seized Guy. Would his companions refuse to persevere in the -quest? - -He had no doubt of their general loyalty, but both had families in -far-away Maine, and their affections made them timid. - -Guy himself had a father and friends in America, and he, too, shrank -from the fate which would be his if the captain should take a fancy to -sail away and leave them on the island. - -It was certainly a strange and momentous responsibility that rested upon -this American boy of but seventeen years. Here were two men of middle -age under his direction. He had hired them for a special service, but he -could not command them to remain faithful in the face of the danger -which they all dreaded. - -“Don’t you think, Mr. Titcomb,” said Guy, on the second morning after -his conversation with Frank Low, “that we had better work more -systematically?” - -“What do you mean, Guy?” - -“I will tell you. Hitherto we have kept together. Would it not be well -to separate and go in different directions, meeting, say, at four -o’clock? It would not be so pleasant, but I think it would multiply our -chances of success.” - -“I am ready for any plan that will have that result. Do you know, I -dreamed of my wife and children last night?” - -“That must have been pleasant.” - -“No; for in my dream one of the children seemed to be very sick with a -fever. I could not help thinking of what might happen during our -protracted absence.” - -Abner Titcomb spoke gravely, and it was easy to see that the dream had -made a deep impression upon him. Not only upon him, but upon Luke Clark, -to whom the same thought seemed to have come. - -“If Captain Grover were in command of the Osprey, we wouldn’t feel so -anxious or hurried,” he said. - -“No; but we have a very different man in command.” - -“True; but he would not have the courage to sail away and leave us in -the lurch.” - -“Suppose, however, that Frank Low’s conjecture is correct, and the man -is insane?” - -“Then, of course, he would be capable of anything,” said Luke Clark. - -“Don’t let us brood over a danger which perhaps does not exist,” -interrupted Guy. “Rather let us consult together how to succeed.” - -It was decided to adopt Guy’s suggestion and separate, each of the three -taking a different route, and meeting again at four o’clock. It was felt -by all that there was no time to be lost. - -It may be as well to explain here that each of the three was provided -with a watch, so that there would be no difficulty about meeting at any -hour agreed upon. - -The first day on which this arrangement was carried out proved to be a -long one for each member of the party. Previously they were able to -converse together, and this made the time slip by more rapidly. - -They met on the hill, at the place where they had found the seat already -referred to. - -Guy and Titcomb were the first to arrive. - -“Well, Abner, what success?” asked Guy. - -“None at all. I presume you have no better news to report.” - -“No.” - -“I wonder whether your clue--about the trees in the shape of a -cross--can be depended upon?” - -“If not, I shall have absolutely nothing to guide me.” - -“Then let us trust that it is reliable. Well, I scanned closely every -clump of trees in my wanderings, and saw nothing that answered the -description.” - -“Let us hope that Luke was more fortunate.” - -Five minutes later Luke Clark made his appearance, coming from the west. -There was an unusual expression upon his face that made Guy hopeful. - -“Well, Luke,” he said, “have you discovered anything?” - -“Yes,” answered Clark. - -“What is it?” asked Guy, eagerly. “Not the cross?” - -“No, not the cross. This is what I found.” - -He drew from his pocket a small volume, looking like an account book. -The cover bore the marks of exposure. It had evidently been out in the -rain, but the inside pages were full of writing which was still legible. - -“The book must have been left here by one of the pirates,” said Guy. - -“No; not by one of the pirates, but by an unfortunate man who met the -fate that we have all been dreading.” - -“What do you mean, Luke?” - -“I mean that the man who wrote the account which you will find in this -book was left here purposely by a ship captain who had a grudge against -him. So much I have gathered from the pages that I have read.” - -“Sit down and read it to us. It is nearly two hours before we shall have -to be on the beach to meet the boat.” - -The handwriting was plain and legible, though a lead pencil had been -employed. It looked very much like a schoolboy’s hand, the letters being -round and well formed. The writer had evidently written slowly and -deliberately. - -The reading was listened to with deep interest. The story ran thus: - - “I wonder whether anyone will ever read these lines which I pen in - my despair. I hope so, though when they are read I shall be beyond - human help. Not that I am sick. I am well in body, but so unhappy - that I have made up my mind when this record is completed to throw - myself into the sea and end my captivity in the only way that seems - practicable. - - “Four years I have lived on this island in the completest solitude. - Every day I have made a notch on a tree, which I selected for the - purpose, as it was the only way of keeping tally of the time. The - seasons are so much alike that the changes are not sufficient to be - a guide to me. - - “I have just been counting the notches I have made, and I find them - to number fourteen hundred and sixty. That makes exactly four - years, not making account of the extra day for leap year. - - “But I must not make my preface too long. Let me say, then, that - in the year 187--I set sail from Liverpool for Bombay, rating as an - ordinary seaman. I had made other voyages, for I have been a - sailor, man and boy, for twenty years, but I had no presentiment - that this was to be the last and most disastrous. - - “We had a good captain, a man who understood his business, strict, - and yet kind. I always liked him, and got on well with him. I may - say that I never sailed under a captain whom I more highly - respected. His name was Clark----” - -“Your name, Luke,” suggested Guy. “I don’t understand how, under such a -captain, the poor fellow could have come to grief.” - -“You will see further on.” - -Luke Clark continued reading: - - “The mate, however, was a different man, arrogant, rough, and - domineering. None of us liked him. He would have misused the - sailors had the captain allowed, but Captain Clark, though a mild - and good-tempered man, was one who did not permit his authority to - be questioned or disputed. More than once, when the mate was on the - point of abusing one of us sailors, the captain interfered and - sternly reprimanded him. - - “Of course, under these circumstances, the mate could not do the - harm or indulge in the brutality to which his nature impelled him. - This was fortunate for me, for by ill luck I had managed to incur - his special ill will. Once he was on the point of striking me to - the deck when Captain Clark interfered. - - “The mate never forgot this. He was humiliated, for the captain had - reproved him sharply in the presence of some of the crew. He often - looked at me in a manner which boded me no good. Still I did not - feel anxious, for I knew that Captain Clark was just and humane, - and would not tolerate any abuse on the part of the mate. - - “But I could not foresee the future. I did not dream what - misfortune was in store for us. We were nearing Madagascar, when - the captain fell sick of some mysterious disorder, and in the space - of two days was dead. - - “So it chanced that we sailors lost our best friend, and John - Richmond became captain in his place.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII - -THE END OF JOHN WOLF’S NARRATIVE - - -The three looked at each other in amazement. - -“John Richmond!” repeated Guy. “It is very strange. But read on. I think -I can guess how he acted.” - -Luke Clark proceeded with the manuscript. - - “After the mate became captain, things changed for the sailors. - Before, we had a strict disciplinarian, but a kindly one. No sailor - who did his duty had anything to complain of. After that we were in - charge of a tyrant. Captain Richmond, for this was his title now, - did not forget his experiences or animosities as mate. There were - several whom he disliked, but I think he hated me the most. He - would have abused me, but I knew his feelings, and did not give him - a chance. - - “I think he disliked me all the more on that account. I could see, - by the way he looked at me at times, what hatred for me there was - in his heart. I think he disliked me the more because, though only - a common seaman, I had had a fine education, and he knew it. In - that respect I was his superior. - - “Well, about this time there came a storm. It was a very violent - storm, unusual in that latitude, and it drove us out of our course - very considerably. Instead of trying to get into the regular route - for vessels bound to Bombay, Captain Richmond kept the ship in a - northeasterly course till we struck the Agalegas Islands. - - “What could be his reason I did not comprehend, but I soon - understood only too well. He went on shore, taking myself and - another of the crew with him. We kept on till we reached the woods. - Then the captain took my companion with him, and bade me remain - where I was on some pretext. He was to come for me later on. - - “I waited unsuspectingly till I got tired. Then I ascended the - hill, and to my dismay saw the Miranda--that was the name of our - vessel--under full sail, bearing out to sea. In an instant the - terrible truth flashed upon me. I had been left, helpless and - alone, on this unknown island, with very little chance of ever - leaving it, for it was not in the path of trading vessels. - - “I was almost frantic when I realized what a fearful fate was - reserved for me. I shrieked, I shook my fist at the receding - vessel. I called down curses on the head of the fiend who had taken - upon me this terrible revenge, or rather had inflicted upon me this - unprovoked punishment, for I had done nothing to incur his - hostility. - - “But do what I would I could not recall the Miranda. What excuse - the captain made for my absence I do not know; but though I had - friends on board, there was no one who would dare take my part, or - call him to account for his action. - - “Four years have passed since then. They have been like forty. I - have not starved, for the berries and fruits which the island - affords, together with the fish I have been able to catch, have - sustained me. But there was no one with whom I could hold - converse--no one to whom I could speak, so it is a wonder I have - not forgotten my native tongue. - - “For a time I bore up, sustained by the hope that some vessel would - touch at the island and carry me back to England. In the four years - I have seen two ships, but I was unable to attract the attention of - anyone on board. - - “So hope died at last, and I have come to the conclusion that for - me there is no release, no way of escape. I am forty-two years of - age. Under ordinary circumstances I might hope to live thirty - years longer. But what would life be on this island, cut off from - human companionship? I would rather end it all, and have decided to - do so. When I have completed this record I shall go to a cliff on - the northern shore of the island, and fling myself into the sea. - Whether any eye will read these lines, I cannot tell. I hope so. I - hope that someone will learn the perfidious and cruel conduct of - John Richmond, and pity his poor victim. - -JOHN WOLF.” - - - -When the story had been read the three looked at one another in -stupefaction. - -“It is terrible,” said Guy. “Why is it that such things are permitted?” - -“Don’t you think, Guy, that this partly explains Captain Richmond’s -reluctance to stay here?” asked Abner Titcomb. - -“Yes,” answered Guy, quickly. “I had not thought of that, but it is -probably the case.” - -“A man who would be capable of wronging a poor sailor like John Wolf, -and dooming him to a hopeless captivity, is quite capable of repeating -the atrocious act,” observed Luke Clark, significantly. - -“Yes,” said Titcomb, gravely. “I agree with you. It will be well for us -to find that treasure as soon as possible. We run a risk every time we -come here.” - -Luke Clark had been turning over the leaves of the memorandum book from -which he had read the sailor’s story. - -“There is something more,” he said; “a post-script. It may be important. -I will read it.” - -This was what he read: - - “I may as well record here an important discovery I chanced to make - one day. It is of no use to me, but it may benefit the persons into - whose hands this book may fall. At the north end of the island, - about two hundred feet from the edge of the bluff, there is a group - of trees arranged singularly in the shape of a cross. Between the - second and third trees, at about eighteen inches from the surface, - is a sailor’s chest, full of gold, silver, and jewels. I cannot - estimate the value, but it must be large. I fancy it was hidden - here by pirates. It must have been forgotten, however, for no one - has visited it since I have been on this island. - - If I could only get away, this treasure would make me rich. It is a - tantalizing thought. As I am situated it is of no earthly use to - me. Some time--it may be years hence--it will be found by some - lucky person, perhaps by the one who reads this account, and it - will make him rich. Such good fortune is not for me. If I could - only escape from this island, which, charming as it is, I have - learned to detest, I would be willing to live in abject poverty for - the rest of my life. Wealth is far from my thoughts----” - -“Is that all?” asked Guy, when Luke Clark stopped reading. - -“Yes.” - -“It is indeed strange. I thought the group of trees must be in the wood -somewhere. We have been on the wrong scent.” - -“But we have succeeded at last. Let us be thankful for that. We can -probably finish up our work in a day or two, and then--we can go home.” - -“We must go to Bombay first.” - -“Yes. We can stand that, since the delay will be brief.” - -“Shall we tell Captain Richmond that we have succeeded?” asked Luke. - -“Perhaps it will be well to drop a hint that we are on the point of -making a discovery. That will encourage him, and insure his waiting. It -is not well to tell him too much.” - -“It is time to go down to the beach. Only one day more!” - -The three descended the hill, and reached the beach about five o’clock. - -They were seen from the ship, and the boat was sent for them. - -“Well,” said the captain, with his usual sneer, as they climbed on deck, -“have you discovered the mare’s nest?” - -The remark was addressed to Guy. - -“I have reason to think we shall locate the treasure to-morrow, Captain -Richmond.” - -“What ground have you for that assertion?” asked the captain, quickly. - -“Excuse my explaining now, but I have good reasons for my belief.” - -Captain Richmond scanned Guy closely, being surprised by his confident -tone. - -Guy’s face was bright and cheerful, and confirmed his words. He thought -that the captain would question him further, but the commander only -looked thoughtful, and turning on his heel without a word went down to -his cabin. - -“I wish I could read his thoughts,” Guy said to himself. “He doesn’t -seem glad that I am likely to succeed. He even looks as if he were -disappointed.” - -“Very likely. He’s a strange man, and a disagreeable one.” - -Later in the evening, say about nine o’clock, Abner Titcomb and Luke -Clark were leaning over the side, talking, as was natural, of the -stirring events of the day, when the captain passed, neither of them -being aware of his nearness. - -There was one word which caught his attention. It was the name Miranda. - -He stopped short, and there was a startled look on his face. - -“Did I hear the name Miranda?” he asked, quickly. - -“Yes,” answered Titcomb, conscious of his imprudence. - -The captain turned away, but he looked suspicious and agitated, and -began to mutter to himself, looking darkly from time to time at the two -men. - -“Does he suspect anything, do you think?” asked Titcomb. - -“No; I don’t think so.” - -“All the same, I wish that I had kept my tongue between my teeth.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV - -HOW SUCCESS BECAME FAILURE - - -The next morning, when Guy and his two companions started for the -island, their faces were bright with hope and expectation. They felt -that success was at hand. - -They never doubted the truth of the statement which they had read in -John Wolf’s memorandum book. There had been times when they had been -despondent, but all fear of failure was now removed. - -They were too much absorbed in their own thoughts to notice the rather -remarkable demeanor of the captain, who stood on the deck, silent and -watchful, while his three passengers were taking their places in the -boat. - -They were provided with a pickaxe and a shovel. These Guy had brought -with him from home, in the hope that they would be required in -unearthing the treasure of which he was in search. - -Hitherto they had not carried these implements on their daily trips to -the island, but the time had now come when they would be of use. - -Captain John Richmond smiled cynically as he watched the boat lowered -and the three explorers entering it. Probably no one of the sailors -noticed his expression except Frank Low, on whom it produced a feeling -of uneasiness. - -“I wonder what the captain’s thinking about,” he said to himself. - -Captain Richmond stood silent and thoughtful till he saw the party land -on the island beach. Then he waited quietly till the boat returned. - -He waited longer, and through the glass saw Guy and his companions -plunge into the forest. - -Then he called the mate, and gave him an order which was received with -intense astonishment. - -“Surely, Captain Richmond,” he said, “you are not in earnest!” - -“Mr. Forbush,” said the captain, sternly, “I’ll thank you not to -question my orders.” - -“But, Captain Richmond, you are surely not going to put out to sea, -leaving your three passengers on the island!” - -“That is just what I am going to do,” said the captain, with an oath. - -“But, sir----” - -“Do you understand, Mr. Forbush, that I am the captain of this vessel?” - -“Yes, sir.” - -“I understand my business, and I don’t choose to have my orders -questioned.” - -“But, sir, this is monstrous!” protested the mate. - -“Another word, sir, and I will put you in irons!” - -The mate looked at the captain, and saw that he was almost beside -himself with rage. Evidently he was in no condition to be expostulated -with. - -It seemed necessary to give in to him for the present, and the mate -called the boatswain to pipe the crew to duty. - -There was more than one perplexed and wondering face as the sailors -prepared the ship for setting sail. They all asked themselves what it -meant, and whether the three men on the island were to be left behind. - -But no one dared to ask the captain, who, stern and resolute, kept his -place on deck, and personally saw that his orders were carried out. -Perhaps the one who felt the deepest grief and dismay was Frank Low, who -saw that what he had most feared was about to take place. - -He knew, too--for Guy had got a chance to tell him--that the scheme was -all but discovered, and that this would be the last day upon the island. - -Poor Frank! Unwillingly enough he was compelled to take his part in -getting the ship ready for a start. - -Had he dared, he would have made a personal protest to the captain, but -he knew that while this would bring swift punishment to him it would do -his friends no good. So with a perplexed brow and sinking heart he bore -his part, and kept silence till the mate chanced to be standing near -him. Then he felt he must speak. - -“Mr. Forbush,” he said, “what does this mean? Are we going to desert Guy -Fenwick and his men?” - -It was a breach of discipline to say as much as this, but he knew that -the mate felt kindly toward him and toward Guy. - -“Heaven only knows,” replied the mate, in a low voice. “I have done the -best I could to prevent him, but the captain won’t hear a word.” - -“They will die!” said Frank, in a faltering voice. - -“Not a word more now; the captain is coming!” - -Captain Richmond came up, looking stern and forbidding, and watched with -a lynx-like glance all that was going on. - -The mate determined to make one more remonstrance. - -“Captain Richmond,” he said, “does Guy Fenwick know of your intention of -putting to sea?” - -The captain looked as if he were about to indulge in a burst of furious -anger, but he restrained himself, with a sudden thought. - -“Yes,” he said, “he understands. We are coming back for him,” he added, -after a pause. - -Mr. Forbush looked skeptical. He did not believe a word of this. - -He was about to speak again when the captain added, peremptorily: “I -wish to hear no more on this subject, Mr. Forbush. I know what I am -about.” - -After this it would not do even for the mate to say more. - -Still, the latter regarded the captain fixedly, which appeared to anger -him. - -“Don’t look at me in that way, Mr. Forbush!” roared the captain. “I -repeat that I know what I am about!” - -“I am glad you do, sir,” said the mate, coolly. - -Captain Richmond glared at him, but did not reply. - -Within an hour the Osprey, under full sail, for there was a good breeze, -was speeding away from the island. - -We must now follow Guy and his two friends, who had gone ashore in high -spirits, feeling that success was within their grasp. They did not -loiter on their way, but made all haste to reach that part of the -island indicated as the repository of the treasure. - -As they walked they talked cheerfully and hopefully of the future. - -“Guy,” said Abner, “you are entitled to credit for your enterprise and -pluck. It isn’t many boys of your age that would have done so much.” - -“I don’t know about that, Abner,” said Guy, modestly; “but I have done -the best I could.” - -“And you will be well paid.” - -“I hope so. Not so much for my own sake as my father’s. I want to make -his latter days comfortable.” - -“Why, he isn’t so old! He’s only about ten years older than I am.” - -“True; but you know as soon as a minister has passed middle life some -are anxious to turn him off and put a younger man in his place.” - -“Is that the case in Bayport?” - -“Yes. There is one of the congregation--Deacon Crane--who is anxious to -get rid of him. I don’t think there are many who agree with him, but I -know he will do all he can to bring about a change.” - -“It’s a lucky thing Luke came across that memorandum book. I don’t -believe we should any of us have thought of going to the other end of -the island.” - -“It would have been a good while, probably, before we did.” - -“And Captain Richmond would have got tired of waiting. Did you drop him -a hint that we were on the right track?” - -“Yes; but I don’t believe he put any faith in my words.” - -“He will have to believe it when we carry the treasure on board.” - -At length, following the directions of Wolf, the unfortunate sailor, -they reached the locality specified. - -There stood the six trees, arranged in the shape of a cross. There were -no other trees within two hundred feet, and this made them conspicuous. - -“If we had ever come this way we could not have failed to discover -them,” said Titcomb; “and after all, the pirates were wise to select -this place, rather than one in the heart of the woods.” - -They lost no time in digging between the second and third trees, -according to directions. - -“I hope no one has been here before,” said Luke Clark, between the -strokes of his pickaxe. - -“There was no one to come here except John Wolf, and he would have had -no object in it.” - -In a very short time Abner Titcomb’s pickaxe struck something hard. - -“That’s the chest, I surmise,” he said. - -The three redoubled their efforts, and, sure enough, they soon laid bare -the chest which for so many years had been buried in its secret hiding -place. - -It proved to be locked, but by good luck Guy, who had with him the key -of his uncle’s chest in the attic of his home in Bayport, was able to -open it. - -The sight dazzled them. There were vases filled with gold and silver -coin, and three or four wallets stuffed with bank bills, besides -watches--there looked to be fifty or sixty of these--and jewelry. - -“Well! well! This is a find!” said Abner Titcomb. “You are rich for -life, Guy!” - -Guy’s face flushed with pride and joy. - -“Mr. Saunders will be satisfied, I think,” he said, simply. “The -question is now, how shall we get the chest to the beach?” - -“I think we shall have to wait till to-morrow. I doubt if we can carry -it so far. We can bring some of the sailors with us to help.” - -“Won’t there be a risk in leaving it?” - -“There is no one on the island. Still, we had better cover it up and -get back to the beach, although it is yet early.” - -It was at least four miles to the beach. When they arrived there their -hearts were filled with dismay, _for looking out to sea, they could see -nothing of the Osprey_! She had mysteriously disappeared. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXV - -THE CRUISE OF THE OSPREY - - -Guy and his two companions looked at one another, with pale faces and -sinking hearts. - -“What does it mean?” Guy faltered. - -“It means,” said Abner, hoarsely, “that that fiend, Captain Richmond, -has served us as he did the poor sailor, John Wolf.” - -“But he can’t have gone away for good! He will come back!” - -Guy spoke hopefully, but he did not himself believe what he said. - -“Just as we had succeeded, too!” - -“If we had only made the discovery yesterday; but now it is too late!” - -“Boys,” said Abner Titcomb, “let us sit down and discuss our position as -calmly as we can. If there is any favorable side to it let us try to -find it.” - -“But is there any?” sighed Luke Clark. - -“Yes; to begin with, we sha’n’t starve. The products of the island will -sustain us, as they did John Wolf.” - -“But life won’t be worth sustaining if we have to live as he did. We may -be driven, like him, to throw ourselves into the sea.” - -“He was alone, and there are three of us. Besides, our fate will be -known to the whole ship’s crew.” - -“I don’t understand why the mate permitted it.” - -“No doubt he protested, but what could he do? In a conflict of authority -between the captain and the mate the latter must go to the wall.” - -“Then what hope is there?” - -“As soon as the ship reaches Bombay someone on board will notify Mr. -Saunders of what has happened.” - -“Frank Low would do that, if there were no one else,” said Guy, -beginning to be hopeful. - -“Yes; and he would send for us.” - -“But weeks must pass before help can arrive.” - -“True; and they will seem more like months; but I am sure all will come -right in the end.” - -“Meanwhile,” said Guy, recovering in a measure from his depression, “we -must adapt ourselves to circumstances, and make ourselves as comfortable -as we can.” - -“Let us begin, then, by taking lunch. We have been so occupied with the -treasure that we have forgotten to eat.” - -Meanwhile the Osprey was speeding from the island, and was already fifty -miles away. Everyone on board, even to the humblest sailor, looked -grave. Everyone was thinking of poor Guy and his companions on their -island prison. - -Guy was a general favorite, partly on account of his good looks, partly -on account of his bright, kindly ways, and indignation against the -captain on account of his cruel and inhuman course was general and -intense. - -When the time came for dinner, the captain sat down to it alone. Mr. -Forbush, the mate, excused himself on the plea that he had no appetite. - -Captain Richmond was angry, for he penetrated the mate’s objection to -sitting down with him. - -“Just as you please, Mr. Forbush,” he said, in a tone of irritation, -“but you are acting very foolishly.” - -“You may regard it in that light, if you choose, Captain Richmond,” -returned the mate, coldly. - -“Have you anything to say to me?” asked the captain, defiantly. - -“I have already expressed my opinion of your course,” said Forbush, -frigidly. - -“I know what I am about,” blustered the captain. - -“You have said that before. I can only repeat that I am glad of it.” - -“Perhaps you mean to dispute my authority,” said the captain, in a -quarrelsome tone. - -“Wait till I do, sir.” - -Captain Richmond swore softly to himself, and eyed the mate with a -glance far from friendly. - -So the day passed, and another dawned. - -Captain Richmond was unusually irritable. He saw that all on board -looked at him askance. The sailors obeyed him, so that he had no excuse -for complaint, but there was an utter absence of cordiality, and he was -in the position of a social outcast who is “sent to Coventry.” - -This is not a pleasant position for anyone, least of all for an arrogant -and ill-tempered man like Captain Richmond. While it cannot be said that -he regretted his inhuman conduct, he was angry at the unpopularity he -had acquired through it. - -Besides, he could not doubt that it would be reported at Bombay, and the -matter perhaps brought to the attention of the American consul. Whenever -he thought of this he felt vaguely uncomfortable, but he was too -self-willed to retrace his course and thus admit himself to be in the -wrong. - -“Where is all this going to end, Mr. Forbush?” asked the boatswain one -day. “Are those poor fellows to be left to their fate?” - -“No,” answered the mate, firmly. “I shall report the matter when we -reach Bombay, and I will agree to head an expedition for their relief.” - -“But how will they get along meanwhile? Won’t they starve?” - -“No. Titcomb told me that the island produced enough to sustain life.” - -“Will not Captain Richmond be punished?” - -“I earnestly hope so. If my representations will effect it, he will lose -his command.” - -“The man must be a fiend.” - -“He is getting worse and worse. He does not treat me with ordinary -civility, and he is beginning to abuse the men. He has not a pleasant -word for anyone.” - -It was indeed true that Captain Richmond was becoming more despotic and -tyrannical than ever. On the least provocation he would fell a seaman to -the deck or launch a volley of curses at him. - -As a consequence, there were more angry looks than ever directed toward -him as he paced the deck with hasty strides, shaking his head, and -muttering words that could not be understood. - -One day he treated with unusual brutality the Italian sailor already -referred to, Guido Leporelli. - -Guido was a short man, not much over five feet in height, and the -captain probably regarded him with contempt, as one whom it would be -safe to bully. In personal strength, Leporelli was as a mere child -compared to the robust captain, but he had his share of the fiery and -revengeful spirit that characterizes a large number of his countrymen. - -On this day the mate caught the glance with which he regarded the -captain. It made him shudder. - -“I should not like to make an enemy of Leporelli,” he said to himself. -“I think he means mischief.” - -It was in his mind to warn Captain Richmond of his danger, but he -reflected that, should he do so, it would bring upon the Italian worse -treatment than ever, and he was not willing to run this risk. - -“The captain must take his chances,” he decided. - -It was on the morning of the ninth day after leaving the island that -Captain Richmond, in pacing the deck, came upon Leporelli. The Italian -was moving at a slow pace, for he had a rheumatic affection in his left -leg. - -“Move faster, you lazy hound!” said the captain, roughly, and he dealt -the little Italian a cruel blow in the face. - -The eyes of Guido Leporelli blazed with wrath. With a smothered -ejaculation in his native tongue he pulled out a murderous-looking -knife, which he had been carrying for several days, and in a flash it -was buried in the breast of the burly captain. - -Captain Richmond fell forward, dying almost instantly, for the knife had -penetrated his heart. - -A smile of supreme satisfaction overspread the Italian’s face as he saw -his brutal tormentor dead at his feet. - -“I am avenged!” he cried. “Now I am ready to die!” - -With the blood-stained knife still in his hand he ran to the edge of the -vessel and sprang into the sea. - -No one tried to prevent him, and no one tried to rescue him. His life -was forfeited by his act, and the mate, who was now bending over the -captain, felt that his self-punishment was the speediest settlement of a -troublesome complication. - -The captain was raised and carried to his cabin. Restoratives were -applied, but in vain. It soon became evident that the Italian’s thrust -was fatal. Death had been instantaneous. - -There was a frown on the captain’s face that made it repellent, yet -natural, for his countenance in life had been seldom without it. - -Mr. Forbush assumed command, as his position required. The captain’s -body was sewed up in sailcloth and committed to the deep, the ex-mate -reading the burial service. - -Then the crew were summoned to meet the new captain. - -“Men,” said Captain Forbush, “the captain’s death has made me your -commander.” - -There was an attempt at applause, but with a wave of his hand Mr. -Forbush stopped it. - -“I shall try to deserve your confidence and good will,” he continued. -“Of the dead let us think and speak only in pity. He had his faults, but -he has been terribly punished. It is proper for me to state, as I take -command, that I shall immediately reverse the ship’s course and return -to the island for Guy Fenwick and his two companions.” - -Then there was a burst of approving cheers which Captain Forbush did not -check. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVI - -RESCUED - - -Meanwhile, the three prisoners on the island were passing their time -dismally enough. There was actually nothing for them to do except to -seek enough of the produce of the island to sustain life. - -This they were able to do, but they soon tired of their monotonous bill -of fare. - -“I would give something for a good New England breakfast,” said Abner -Titcomb, one morning. - -“Baked beans and brown bread?” suggested Guy, with a smile. - -“Yes; or fishcakes, rolls, and coffee--anything substantial, instead of -these sweet, cloying fruits.” - -“I think I agree with you, Abner,” said Guy. - -“I am sure I do,” added Luke Clark. - -It may seem strange that they had never made a second visit to the place -where the treasure was concealed; but it had lost its attractions for -them. - -They did not even speculate as to its value. It was absolutely worthless -to them in their present condition. - -They spent most of their time on the summit of the hill, looking out to -sea in search of a ship. They felt that the Osprey would be sent back -for them, but it was long to wait. If they could get off sooner, so much -the better. - -Abner Titcomb had a marine glass with him, and this helped them. - -Once with his glass he espied a ship, a mere speck in the distance, and -there was hope that it would come nearer the island. - -They tried to signal it, but it was too far away, and no heed was paid -to the white sailcloth that they hoisted above the hill on a branch of a -tree. This was a severe disappointment. - -“John Wolf was here four years without signaling a sail,” said Luke -Clark, in a tone of discouragement. “There seems to be little hope for -us.” - -So day followed day, and each one seemed longer than the last. - -They liked to sit and talk of their New England homes, and all that made -them attractive. They tried to fancy how those who were dear to them -were occupied. - -“My father is writing his sermon for Sunday,” Guy would say on a -Saturday morning. “What would he think if he could know where I am?” - -“It is well he doesn’t know, since he could do you no good,” rejoined -Titcomb. - -“Yes; it would only make the dear old man unhappy. I don’t want him to -know it till he also knows that I am safe.” - -“How long is it since we were left here?” asked Luke Clark. “Have you -kept the record?” - -“Yes, this is the seventeenth day.” - -“And we are still alive! Well that’s a comfort, any way.” - -Abner Titcomb had been using his glass. - -“Boys!” he said, suddenly, in a tone of excitement, “I see a sail!” - -“Where?” exclaimed Guy and Luke Clark together. - -Titcomb pointed in a direction east by south. - -“Look again! Notice if it seems to be approaching the island.” - -There was silence for five minutes. - -“Yes,” he said, “it seems to be coming toward us. Here, Guy, your eyes -are better than mine; take the glass, and see whether I am right.” - -Guy took the glass and turned it in the direction of the ship. - -“Abner! Luke!” he said, in a tremulous voice. “I think it looks like the -Osprey.” - -“Give me the glass--quick!” said Luke. - -He took a long look seaward. - -“Well, well! What do you make out?” asked Abner. - -“I think Guy is right. It does look like the Osprey.” - -“But it can’t be! There has not been time for her to go to Bombay and -return.” - -This was evident, and they felt that they could not be correct. - -But half an hour later it was clear that the ship was steering for the -island. An hour later all were sure that it was the Osprey. - -“Let us raise our signal and then go down to the beach,” said Guy. - -His suggestion was followed. Leaving the signal on the summit of the -hill, they made their way downward, through the belt of woods, to the -shore. - -Still one or another looked through the glass until doubt became -certainty, and the familiar form of the Osprey was clearly to be seen. - -“Thank God!” said Titcomb, fervently. - -No sooner was the Osprey near enough than a boat was lowered. Among -those it bore were Forbush and Frank Low. - -As they landed, the three prisoners rushed joyfully to greet them. - -“Then Captain Richmond relented?” said Guy. “He repented of his inhuman -course?” - -“Captain Richmond is dead,” said Frank Low, gravely. “Mr. Forbush is now -captain.” - -“But how did he die? Was he stricken with disease?” - -“He fell a victim to his brutality. He was stabbed to the heart by -Leporelli, whom he had abused.” - -It was Captain Forbush who said this. - -“As soon as I took command I ordered the ship’s course to be reversed, -and I came here in search of you. I will give you a reasonable time to -find the treasure.” - -“Captain Forbush, _the treasure is found_!” said Guy. “To-morrow I will -ask you to lend me the assistance of two of your sailors to carry it on -board the Osprey.” - -“You shall have it,” said the captain, promptly. “I congratulate you, -Guy, on your success.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVII - -DIVIDING THE TREASURE - - -John Saunders sat in his office in Bombay. Before him lay a letter from -his New York correspondent, Gilbert Frazer. - -It ran thus: - - I have had a call from a boy of sixteen, Guy Fenwick, who showed - credentials from you, and appears to have been intrusted with an - extraordinary commission. I complied with your instructions and - supplied him with the money he called for, as per account inclosed. - I hope I have done right. It seemed singular to me that you should - have employed as your confidential agent a boy so young. I hope you - will excuse the liberty I take in referring to this. - -There was more of the same tenor. - -Mr. Saunders read the note with a complacent smile. - -“I have no doubt Frazer was very much surprised,” he said to himself. -“Indeed, I should myself have been surprised had anyone told me a year -since that I would have so far trusted so young an agent. But Guy -Fenwick is an extraordinary boy, and I still feel that I have made no -mistake. - -“To be sure,” he added, after a pause, “this expedition in search of the -pirates’ treasure may be foolish, but even on that I reserve my -decision. I shall be interested to hear how Guy makes out.” - -He was interrupted by the opening of the office door and the sudden -entrance of the boy who had been occupying his thoughts. - -“Guy Fenwick!” he exclaimed, in a tone of evident pleasure. - -“Yes, Mr. Saunders,” said Guy, with a smile. “Didn’t you expect to see -me again?” - -“Not so soon. What have you to report? Did you find the island?” - -“Yes, sir; and that was not all.” - -“You don’t mean to say that you have found the treasure?” - -“Yes, I do. It is at the door, in charge of three men, and with your -permission I will have it brought in.” - -Without waiting for an answer Guy gave a signal, and three strong men -carried in the sailor’s chest which had been unearthed at the island. -Guy dismissed the men, and then, unlocking the chest, threw it open, -disclosing the treasure. - -The merchant was dazzled. - -“This is wonderful!” he ejaculated. - -“Now, Mr. Saunders,” said Guy, “I have fulfilled my part of the -contract. I will leave the treasure with you.” - -“I will have it appraised and render an account to you, Guy. You will -dine with me?” - -“Thank you, sir; but in the meantime, as I have been confined so long on -shipboard, I will go out and take a walk.” - -It was three days before the examination and appraisal were completed. -Then Mr. Saunders announced to his young agent that the value of the -treasure was fifty thousand pounds, or two hundred and fifty thousand -dollars. - -“Of this,” he said, “your share is one-half, or one hundred and -twenty-five thousand dollars.” - -“But, sir, you advanced me a thousand pounds!” - -“I shall make no account of that. You deserve a full half as a reward -for your energy and enterprise.” - -“And I am really worth over a hundred thousand dollars?” said Guy, -hardly able to realize his good fortune. - -“Yes; and if you choose to stay with me I will employ you at a liberal -salary.” - -“Thank you, Mr. Saunders; but I would like a year’s vacation. I want to -go home and gladden my father with the good news.” - -“Certainly. That is only reasonable.” - -The Osprey, on its return voyage, carried Guy and his two assistants as -passengers. - -He divided ten thousand dollars between Abner Titcomb, Luke Clark, and -Captain Forbush, feeling that he was under special obligations to all -three, and that he would still be left as rich as he could reasonably -desire. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVIII - -BACK IN BAYPORT - - -In Bayport, things were moving on as usual. From week to week the Rev. -Mr. Fenwick appeared in the pulpit of the village church, and officiated -to the satisfaction of all but a small minority of the parish. - -For there were a few malcontents, headed by Deacon Crane, who had not -yet lost the hope of seeing the pulpit filled by his cousin, who, not -being popular, had been unemployed more than half the time during the -past year. - -The deacon went about and dropped disparaging remarks about Mr. Fenwick, -but they did not bear fruit. To his chagrin, he found that very few -cared for a change. - -He was perplexed, but none the less determined to bring about his -desires. - -To facilitate his purpose, he informed the treasurer of the parish that -he should reduce by one-half his subscription to the parish expenses. - -“Why is this, Deacon Crane?” asked the treasurer. “Are you getting -poor?” - -“No, Brother Jones; but I ain’t exactly satisfied with our pastor.” - -“Why not?” - -“I don’t seem to get much spiritooal refreshment from his sermons.” - -“The rest of the congregation do, and they are to be considered.” - -The deacon had nothing to say in reply, but he stayed at home the next -Sunday. - -One reason for his dissatisfaction came from a letter he had received -from his clerical relative, asking for the loan of one hundred dollars. - -“I can’t lend you the money,” he replied; “but if I can get the parish -to dismiss Mr. Fenwick, I will try to get you in his place.” - -It was while the deacon was exercised in this way that his son Noah ran -into the store one afternoon and exclaimed: “Who do you think has just -gone past the store?” - -“You had better tell me, Noah. I can’t waste my time in guessing.” - -“It was the minister’s son, Guy.” - -Deacon Crane pricked up his ears. - -“How did he look?” - -“Pretty fair.” - -“He’s probably lost his place, and come home to live on his father.” - -“Shouldn’t be a bit surprised, dad.” - -“Noah,” said the deacon, much shocked, “never call me dad again! It -isn’t respectful!” - -“All right, father. You’d better call at the minister’s and find out -what brings Guy home this time.” - -“I think I may have occasion to call this evening,” replied the deacon. - -Meanwhile we will follow Guy home. - -His father was overjoyed to see his son back again, for he was deeply -attached to his only child. - -After the first greetings were over, Guy said: “You don’t ask me whether -I am still at work for Mr. Saunders.” - -“I thought you would tell me in due time, Guy. Now I can only think with -joy of your return.” - -“Well, father, I mean to stay at home, or at least near home, for a -year. Mr. Saunders has given me a vacation of twelve months.” - -“Doubtless, my son, you can find some employment here, since he will not -need you for a year.” - -Guy smiled. - -“There is no reason to worry about that, father,” he said. “How are you -getting on with Deacon Crane?” - -“I think, Guy, he would prefer to have a younger man in my place. It -makes me feel that I am growing old.” - -“Pooh, father! You are only fifty-two. But, tell me, did you not at one -time think of writing a commentary on the Gospels?” - -“Yes, Guy; but my sermon writing takes all my time.” - -“Then why not apply to the parish to give you a young man as a -colleague?” - -“The parish cannot afford to pay two salaries.” - -“Then you might offer to serve as senior pastor without salary.” - -“But, Guy, how am I to live?” - -“What salary does the parish pay you now?” - -“A thousand dollars.” - -“Very well, father, ask for an assistant, and I will pay you twelve -hundred dollars a year.” - -“I suppose you are joking, Guy.” - -“Not at all. I am in earnest.” - -“But where are you to get the money?” asked Mr. Fenwick, looking at his -son in bewilderment. - -“I must tell you, father, that I am worth over a hundred thousand -dollars.” - -“If you had not always been truthful, Guy, I should think that you were -trying to deceive me.” - -Then Guy explained. The explanation was, to his father, a marvelous -one, and he had many questions to ask. - -“Now, father,” Guy concluded, “I will alter the terms of my proposal. I -will make over to you outright the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, -and you can invest it so as to produce a good income.” - -Finally, Mr. Fenwick accepted his son’s proposal, and agreed to -communicate with the parish. - -That same evening Deacon Crane tapped at the door and was admitted. Guy -was at home, and sat demurely in his father’s study. - -“So you’ve got home, have you, Guy?” was his greeting, preceded by a -cough. “Noah told me he saw you go by the store.” - -“Yes; Noah is a great friend of mine,” returned Guy, with a smile. “I -hope he is well.” - -“Yes; I am thankful to say he is. He’s a good stiddy boy, Noah is; he -don’t go gadding about all over the world.” - -“Like me?” suggested Guy, with a smile. - -The deacon coughed, but did not disclaim the amendment. - -“Have you lost your place?” he asked. - -“Mr. Saunders has given me a year’s vacation,” answered Guy. - -“Humph!” said the deacon. “That’s rather hard on you. You may find it -difficult to get a place round here.” - -“I shall not try for one. I am going to stay at home with father part of -the time.” - -“You’re pretty young to retire from business,” sneered the deacon. - -“I shall be glad to have Noah call on me.” - -“I don’t approve of Noah bein’ idle. He’s helpin’ me in the store, out -of school.” - -“By the way, Deacon Crane,” said the minister, who was enjoying in his -quiet way the deacon’s misunderstanding, “I am glad you called in. I -want to consult you about church matters. Guy wants me to ask for a -younger man to share with me the responsibilities of parish work, as a -colleague.” - -“Mr. Fenwick,” said the deacon, greatly surprised, “you must be aware -that the parish cannot afford to pay two ministers. As it is, we are -cramped by our agreement to pay you a thousand dollars.” - -“For that reason I propose to relinquish my own salary. There will be -but one salary to pay.” - -“But,” said the deacon, inexpressibly surprised, “how are you going to -live?” - -“Perhaps I ought to mention that a relative has given me twenty-five -thousand dollars. I can live on the income arising from that.” - -Deacon Crane looked at the minister with greatly increased respect, for -he set high value on worldly prosperity. - -“Why, that makes you a rich man, Mr. Fenwick,” he said. - -“Indeed, I feel so.” - -“But I didn’t know you had any rich relatives.” - -“Nor I, till to-day.” - -“Do you mind telling me who has given you this handsome fortune?” - -“Guy,” answered the minister, briefly. - -“I didn’t come here to be made a fool of!” said the deacon, angrily, -half rising in his chair. - -“No one has tried to make a fool of you,” returned Guy, quickly. “I have -been very fortunate, and can well afford to give my father twenty-five -thousand dollars. He is anxious to get time to write a commentary on the -Gospels, and so I have induced him to ask for a colleague.” - -“Is this really true, Guy?” - -“You can rely upon it, Deacon Crane. Father may have occasion to consult -you about the investment of his money.” - -“I’ll be very glad to oblige him,” said the deacon, generously. “When -will he come into possession of the amount?” - -“Next week.” - -“I congratulate you heartily, Guy,” said the deacon, very cordially. “I -always thought you were a smart boy.” - -“I am sorry you don’t want Noah to come to see me. I have brought him a -gold watch from New York.” - -“I’ll send him right over,” said the deacon, briskly. “He thinks a sight -of you.” - -“I am glad to hear that. I shall always be glad to do him a good turn.” - -“I guess I must be goin’,” said the deacon, who was anxious to spread -the wonderful news. - -“Well, father, did you see Guy?” asked Noah, when his father entered the -store. - -“Yes, I did.” - -“Is he out of work?” - -“He needn’t work any more as long as he lives,” said the deacon, -solemnly. “Guy’s come home with a fortune. He’s just given his father -twenty-five thousand dollars.” - -Noah listened with eyes and mouth wide open. - -“Do tell, pa!” he said. - -“Yes. Guy’s an awfully smart boy. He’s brought home a gold watch for -you, Noah, and he’ll give it to you when you go over.” - -“I’ll go right over, pa.” - -“And I am willin’ you should be with him as much as he wishes. Take my -advice, Noah, and make him your intimate friend.” - -“You bet I will, pa!” - -“Don’t use that expression, Noah! Remember you are a deacon’s son.” - - * * * * * - -In a few weeks the changes already hinted at were effected. Mr. Fenwick -was provided with a colleague, but not the deacon’s relative, and had -begun work on his commentary. - -At the end of a year Guy entered the office of the New York -correspondent of John Saunders, whom he will eventually succeed. He -makes a good business man, and Mr. Saunders has never had occasion to -regret the interest he has taken in the young American. - -THE END - - * * * * * - -BOY AVIATORS’ SERIES - -By Captain Wilbur Lawton - -Absolutely Modern Stories for Boys - -Cloth Bound Price, 50c per volume - - -The Boy Aviators in Nicaragua - -Or, Leagued With Insurgents - -The launching of this Twentieth Century series marks the inauguration of -a new era in boys’ books--the “wonders of modern science” epoch. Frank -and Harry Chester, the BOY AVIATORS, are the heroes of this exciting, -red-blooded tale of adventure by air and land in the turbulent Central -American republic. The two brothers with their $10,000 prize aeroplane, -the GOLDEN EAGLE, rescue a chum from death in the clutches of the -Nicaraguans, discover a lost treasure valley of the ancient Toltec race, -and in so doing almost lose their own lives in the Abyss of the White -Serpents, and have many other exciting experiences, including being -blown far out to sea in their air-skimmer in a tropical storm. It would -be unfair to divulge the part that wireless plays in rescuing them from -their predicament. In a brand new field of fiction for boys the Chester -brothers and their aeroplane seem destined to fill a top-notch place. -These books are technically correct, wholesomely thrilling and geared up -to third speed. - -Sold by Booksellers Everywhere - -HURST & CO. Publishers NEW YORK - - * * * * * - -BOY AVIATORS’ SERIES - -By Captain Wilbur Lawton - -Absolutely Modern Stories for Boys - -Cloth Bound Price, 50c per volume - - -The Boy Aviators on Secret Service - -Or, Working With Wireless - -In this live-wire narrative of peril and adventure, laid in the -Everglades of Florida, the spunky Chester Boys and their interesting -chums, including Ben Stubbs, the maroon, encounter exciting experiences -on Uncle Sam’s service in a novel field. One must read this vivid, -enthralling story of incident, hardship and pluck to get an idea of the -almost limitless possibilities of the two greatest inventions of modern -times--the aeroplane and wireless telegraphy. While gripping and holding -the reader’s breathless attention from the opening words to the finish, -this swift-moving story is at the same time instructive and uplifting. -As those readers who have already made friends with Frank and Harry -Chester and their “bunch” know, there are few difficulties, no matter -how insurmountable they may seem at first blush, that these up-to-date -gritty youths cannot overcome with flying colors. A clean-cut, real -boys’ book of high voltage. - - -Sold by Booksellers Everywhere - -HURST & CO. Publishers NEW YORK - - * * * * * - -BOY AVIATORS’ SERIES - -BY CAPTAIN WILBUR LAWTON - -Absolutely Modern Stories for Boys - -Cloth Bound Price 50c per volume - - -The Boy Aviators in Africa - -Or, An Aerial Ivory Trail - -In this absorbing book we meet, on a Continent made famous by the -American explorer Stanley, and ex-President Roosevelt, our old friends, -the Chester Boys and their stalwart chums. In Africa--the Dark -Continent--the author follows in exciting detail his young heroes, their -voyage in the first aeroplane to fly above the mysterious forests and -unexplored ranges of the mystic land. In this book, too, for the first -time, we entertain Luther Barr, the old New York millionaire, who proved -later such an implacable enemy of the boys. The story of his defeated -schemes, of the astonishing things the boys discovered in the Mountains -of the Moon, of the pathetic fate of George Desmond, the emulator of -Stanley, the adventure of the Flying Men and the discovery of the -Arabian Ivory cache,--this is not the place to speak. It would be -spoiling the zest of an exciting tale to reveal the outcome of all these -episodes here. It may be said, however, without “giving away” any of the -thrilling chapters of this narrative, that Captain Wilbur Lawton, the -author, is in it in his best vein, and from his personal experiences in -Africa has been able to supply a striking background for the adventures -of his young heroes. As one newspaper says of this book: “Here is -adventure in good measure, pressed down and running over.” - - -Sold by Booksellers Everywhere - -HURST & CO. Publishers NEW YORK - - * * * * * - -BOY AVIATORS’ SERIES - -BY CAPTAIN WILBUR LAWTON - -Absolutely Modern Stories for Boys - -Cloth Bound Price 50c per volume - - -The Boy Aviators Treasure Quest - -Or, The Golden Galleon - -Everybody is a boy once more when it comes to the question of hidden -treasure. In this book, Captain Lawton has set forth a hunt for gold -that is concealed neither under the sea nor beneath the earth, but is -well hidden for all that. A garrulous old sailor, who holds the key to -the mystery of the Golden Galleon, plays a large part in the development -of the plot of this fascinating narrative of treasure hunting in the -region of the Gulf Stream and the Sagasso Sea. An aeroplane fitted with -efficient pontoons--enabling her to skim the water successfully--has -long been a dream of aviators. The Chester Boys seem to have solved the -problem. The Sagasso, that strange drifting ocean within an ocean, -holding ships of a dozen nations and a score of ages, in its relentless -grip, has been the subject of many books of adventure and mystery, but -in none has the secret of the ever shifting mass of treacherous currents -been penetrated as it has in the BOY AVIATORS TREASURE QUEST. Luther -Barr, whom it seemed the boys had shaken off, is still on their trail, -in this absorbing book and with a dirigible balloon, essays to beat them -out in their search for the Golden Galleon. Every boy, every man--and -woman and girl--who has ever felt the stirring summons of adventure in -their souls, had better get hold of this book. Once obtained, it will be -read and re-read till it falls to rags. - - -Sold by Booksellers Everywhere - -HURST & CO. Publishers NEW YORK - - * * * * * - -BOY AVIATORS’ SERIES - -BY CAPTAIN WILBUR LAWTON - -Absolutely Modern Stories for Boys - -Cloth Bound Price 50c per volume - - -The Boy Aviators in Record Flight - -Or, The Rival Aeroplane - -The Chester Boys in new field of endeavor--an attempt to capture a -newspaper prize for a trans-continental flight. By the time these lines -are read, exactly such an offer will have been spread broadcast by one -of the foremost newspapers of the country. In the Golden Eagle, the -boys, accompanied by a trail-blazing party in an automobile, make the -dash. But they are not alone in their aspirations. Their rivals for the -rich prize at stake try in every way that they can to circumvent the -lads and gain the valuable trophy and monetary award. In this they stop -short at nothing, and it takes all the wits and resources of the Boy -Aviators to defeat their devices. Among the adventures encountered in -their cross-country flight, the boys fall in with a band of rollicking -cow-boys--who momentarily threaten serious trouble--are attacked by -Indians, strike the most remarkable town of the desert--the “dry” town -of “Gow Wells,” encounter a sandstorm which blows them into strange -lands far to the south of their course, and meet with several amusing -mishaps beside. A thoroughly readable book. The sort to take out behind -the barn on the sunny side of the haystack, and, with a pocketful of -juicy apples and your heels kicking the air, pass happy hours with -Captain Lawton’s young heroes. - - -Sold by Booksellers Everywhere - -HURST & CO. Publishers NEW YORK - - * * * * * - -BOY AVIATORS’ SERIES - -BY CAPTAIN WILBUR LAWTON - -Absolutely Modern Stories for Boys - -Cloth Bound Price 50c per volume - - -The Boy Aviators Polar Dash - -Or, Facing Death in the Antarctic - -If you were to hear that two boys, accompanying a South Polar expedition -in charge of the aeronautic department, were to penetrate the Antarctic -regions--hitherto only attained by a few daring explorers--you would -feel interested, wouldn’t you? Well, in Captain Lawton’s latest book, -concerning his Boy Aviators, you can not only read absorbing adventure -in the regions south of the eightieth parallel, but absorb much useful -information as well. Captain Lawton introduces--besides the original -characters of the heroes--a new creation in the person of Professor -Simeon Sandburr, a patient seeker for polar insects. The professor’s -adventures in his quest are the cause of much merriment, and lead once -or twice to serious predicaments. In a volume so packed with incident -and peril from cover to cover--relieved with laughable mishaps to the -professor--it is difficult to single out any one feature; still, a -recent reader of it wrote the publishers an enthusiastic letter the -other day, saying: “The episodes above the Great Barrier are thrilling, -the attack of the condors in Patagonia made me hold my breath, the--but -what’s the use? The Polar Dash, to my mind, is an even more entrancing -book than Captain Lawton’s previous efforts, and that’s saying a good -deal. The aviation features and their technical correctness are by no -means the least attractive features of this up-to-date creditable -volume.” - - -Sold by Booksellers Everywhere - -HURST & CO. Publishers NEW YORK - - * * * * * - -OAKDALE ACADEMY SERIES - -Stories of Modern School Sports - -By MORGAN SCOTT. - -Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 60c. per vol., postpaid - - -BEN STONE AT OAKDALE. - -[Illustration] - -Under peculiarly trying circumstances Ben Stone wins his way at Oakdale -Academy, and at the same time enlists our sympathy, interest and -respect. Through the enmity of Bern Hayden, the loyalty of Roger Eliot -and the clever work of the “Sleuth.” Ben is falsely accused, championed -and vindicated. - - -BOYS OF OAKDALE -ACADEMY. - -“One thing I will claim, and that is that all Grants fight open and -square and there never was a sneak among them.” It was Rodney Grant, of -Texas, who made the claim to his friend, Ben Stone, and this story shows -how he proved the truth of this statement in the face of apparent -evidence to the contrary. - - -RIVAL PITCHERS OF OAKDALE. - -Baseball is the main theme of this interesting narrative, and that means -not only clear and clever descriptions of thrilling games, but an -intimate acquaintance with the members of the teams who played them. The -Oakdale Boys were ambitious and loyal, and some were even disgruntled -and jealous, but earnest, persistent work won out. - - -OAKDALE BOYS IN CAMP. - -The typical vacation is the one that means much freedom, little -restriction, and immediate contact with “all outdoors.” These conditions -prevailed in the summer camp of the Oakdale Boys and made it a scene of -lively interest. - - -THE GREAT OAKDALE MYSTERY. - -The “Sleuth” scents a mystery! He “follows his nose.” The plot thickens! -He makes deductions. There are surprises for the reader--and for the -“Sleuth,” as well. - - -NEW BOYS AT OAKDALE. - -A new element creeps into Oakdale with another year’s registration of -students. The old and the new standards of conduct in and out of school -meet, battle, and cause sweeping changes in the lives of several of the -boys. - - -Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price. - -HURST & COMPANY - Publishers - NEW YORK - - * * * * * - -BORDER BOYS SERIES - -Mexican and Canadian Frontier Series - -By FREMONT B. DEERING. - -Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid - - -THE BORDER BOYS -ON THE TRAIL - -[Illustration] - -What it meant to make an enemy of Black Ramon De Barios--that is the -problem that Jack Merrill and his friends, including Coyote Pete, face -in this exciting tale. - - -THE BORDER BOYS -ACROSS THE FRONTIER. - -Read of the Haunted Mesa and its mysteries, of the Subterranean River -and its strange uses, of the value of gasolene and steam “in running the -gauntlet,” and you will feel that not even the ancient splendors of the -Old World can furnish a better setting for romantic action than the -Border of the New. - - - THE BORDER BOYS WITH THE MEXICAN RANGERS. - -As every day is making history--faster, it is said, than ever before--so -books that keep pace with the changes are full of rapid action and -accurate facts. This book deals with lively times on the Mexican border. - - - THE BORDER BOYS WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS. - -The Border Boys have already had much excitement and adventure in their -lives, but all this has served to prepare them for the experiences -related in this volume. They are stronger, braver and more resourceful -than ever, and the exigencies of their life in connection with the Texas -Rangers demand all their trained ability. - - -Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price. - -HURST & COMPANY - Publishers - NEW YORK - - * * * * * - -BOY INVENTORS SERIES - -Stories of Skill and Ingenuity - -By RICHARD BONNER - -Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid - - -THE BOY INVENTORS’ -WIRELESS TELEGRAPH. - -Blest with natural curiosity,--sometimes called the instinct of -investigation,--favored with golden opportunity, and gifted with -creative ability, the Boy Inventors meet emergencies and contrive -mechanical wonders that interest and convince the reader because they -always “work” when put to the test. - - -THE BOY INVENTORS’ VANISHING GUN. - -A thought, a belief, an experiment; discouragement, hope, effort and -final success--this is the history of many an invention; a history in -which excitement, competition, danger, despair and persistence figure. -This merely suggests the circumstances which draw the daring Boy -Inventors into strange experiences and startling adventures, and which -demonstrate the practical use of their vanishing gun. - - -THE BOY INVENTORS’ DIVING TORPEDO BOAT. - -As in the previous stories of the Boy Inventors, new and interesting -triumphs of mechanism are produced which become immediately valuable, -and the stage for their proving and testing is again the water. On the -surface and below it, the boys have jolly, contagious fun, and the story -of their serious, purposeful inventions challenge the reader’s deepest -attention. - - -Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price. - -HURST & COMPANY - Publishers - NEW YORK - - * * * * * - -BUNGALOW BOYS SERIES - -LIVE STORIES OF OUTDOOR LIFE - -By DEXTER J. FORRESTER. - -Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid - - -[Illustration] - -THE BUNGALOW BOYS. - -How the Bungalow Boys received their title and how they retained the -right to it in spite of much opposition makes a lively narrative for -lively boys. - - THE BUNGALOW BOYS MAROONED IN THE TROPICS. - -A real treasure hunt of the most thrilling kind, with a sunken Spanish -galleon as its object, makes a subject of intense interest at any time, -but add to that a band of desperate men, a dark plot and a devil fish, -and you have the combination that brings strange adventures into the -lives of the Bungalow Boys. - - THE BUNGALOW BOYS IN THE GREAT NORTH WEST. - -The clever assistance of a young detective saves the boys from the -clutches of Chinese smugglers, of whose nefarious trade they know too -much. How the Professor’s invention relieves a critical situation is -also an exciting incident of this book. - -THE BUNGALOW BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES. - -The Bungalow Boys start out for a quiet cruise on the Great Lakes and a -visit to an island. A storm and a band of wreckers interfere with the -serenity of their trip, and a submarine adds zest and adventure to it. - -Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price. - -HURST & COMPANY-Publishers-NEW YORK - - * * * * * - -DREADNOUGHT BOYS SERIES - -Tales of the New Navy - -By CAPT. WILBUR LAWTON - -Author of “BOY AVIATORS SERIES.” - -Cloth Bound. Illustrated. Price, 50c. per vol., postpaid - - - THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS ON BATTLE PRACTICE. - -[Illustration] - -Especially interesting and timely is this book which introduces the -reader with its heroes, Ned and Herc, to the great ships of modern -warfare and to the intimate life and surprising adventures of Uncle -Sam’s sailors. - - - THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS ABOARD A DESTROYER. - -In this story real dangers threaten and the boys’ patriotism is tested -in a peculiar international tangle. The scene is laid on the South -American coast. - - -THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS ON A SUBMARINE. - -To the inventive genius--trade-school boy or mechanic--this story has -special charm, perhaps, but to every reader its mystery and clever -action are fascinating. - - -THE DREADNOUGHT BOYS ON AERO SERVICE. - -Among the volunteers accepted for Aero Service are Ned and Herc. 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Price, 60c. per vol., postpaid - -[Illustration] - - -=FRANK ARMSTRONG’S -VACATION.= - -How Frank’s summer experience with his boy friends make him into a -sturdy young athlete through swimming, boating, and baseball contests, -and a tramp through the Everglades, is the subject of this splendid -story. - - -=FRANK ARMSTRONG -AT QUEENS.= - -We find among the jolly boys at Queen’s School, Frank, the -student-athlete, Jimmy, the baseball enthusiast, and Lewis, the -unconsciously-funny youth who furnishes comedy for every page that bears -is name. Fall and winter sports between intensely rival school teams are -expertly described. - - -=FRANK ARMSTRONG’S SECOND TERM.= - -The gymnasium, the track and the field make the background for the -stirring events of this volume, in which David, Jimmy, Lewis, the “Wee -One” and the “Codfish” figure, while Frank “saves the day.” - - -=FRANK ARMSTRONG, DROP KICKER.= - -With the same persistent determination that won him success in swimming, -running and baseball playing, Frank Armstrong acquired the art of “drop -kicking,” and the Queen’s football team profits thereby. - -Any volume sent postpaid upon receipt of price. - -=HURST & COMPANY - Publishers - NEW YORK= - - * * * * * - -BOY SCOUT SERIES - -BY - -LIEUT. HOWARD PAYSON - -MODERN BOY SCOUT STORIES FOR BOYS - -Cloth Bound Price, 50¢ per volume. - - -The Boy Scouts of the Eagle Patrol. - -A fascinating narrative of the doings of some bright boys who become -part of the great Boy Scout movement. 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A swift-moving narrative of convincing interest and -breathless incident. - -Sold by Booksellers Everywhere. - -=Hurst & Co., Publishers New York= - - * * * * * - -BOY SCOUT SERIES - -BY - -LIEUT. HOWARD PAYSON - -MODERN BOY SCOUT STORIES FOR BOYS - -Cloth Bound, Price 50¢ per volume. - - -The Boy Scouts on the Range. - -Connected with the dwellings of the vanished race of cliff-dwellers was -a mystery. Who so fit to solve it as a band of adventurous Boy Scouts? -The solving of the secret and the routing of a bold band of cattle -thieves involved Rob Blake and his chums, including “Tubby” Hopkins, in -grave difficulties. - -There are few boys who have not read of the weird snake dance and other -tribal rites of Moquis. In this volume, the habits of these fast -vanishing Indians are explained in interesting detail. Few boys’ books -hold more thrilling chapters than those concerning Rob’s captivity among -the Moquis. - -Through the fascinating pages of the narrative also stalks, like a grim -figure of impending tragedy, the shaggy form of Silver Tip, the giant -grizzly. In modern juvenile writing, there is little to be found as -gripping as the scene in which Rob and Silver Tip meet face to face. The -boy is weaponless and,--but it would not be fair to divulge the -termination of the battle. A book which all Boy Scouts should secure and -place upon their shelves to be read and re-read. - -Sold by Booksellers Everywhere. - -=Hurst & Co., Publishers New York= - - * * * * * - -Log Cabin to White House Series - - -[Illustration] - -A famous series of books, formerly sold at $2.00 per copy, are now -popularized by reducing the price less than half. The lives of these -famous Americans are worthy of a place in any library. A new book by -Edward S. Ellis--“From Ranch to White House”--is a life of Theodore -Roosevelt, while the author of the others, William M. Thayer, is a -celebrated biographer. - - FROM RANCH TO WHITE HOUSE; Life of Theodore Roosevelt. - - FROM BOYHOOD TO MANHOOD; Life of Benjamin Franklin. - - FROM FARM HOUSE TO WHITE HOUSE; Life of George Washington. - - FROM LOG CABIN TO WHITE HOUSE; Life of James A. Garfield. - - FROM PIONEER HOME TO WHITE HOUSE; Life of Abraham Lincoln. - - FROM TANNERY TO WHITE HOUSE; Life of Ulysses S. Grant. - - SUCCESS AND ITS ACHIEVERS. - - TACT, PUSH AND PRINCIPLE. - -These titles, though by different authors, also belong to this series of -books: - - FROM COTTAGE TO CASTLE; The Story of Gutenberg, Inventor of - Printing. By Mrs. E. C. Pearson. - - CAPITAL FOR WORKING BOYS. By Mrs. Julia E. M’Conaughy. - -Price, postpaid, for any of the above ten books, =75c.= - -A complete catalogue sent for the asking. - -=HURST & CO. 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Oliver Optic has the faculty of writing books full of dash and -energy, such as healthy boys want and need. - - - - ALL ABOARD; or, Life on the Lake. - BOAT CLUB; or, The Bunkers of Rippleton. - BRAVE OLD SALT; or, Life on the Quarter Deck. - DO SOMETHINGS; a Story for Little Folks. - FIGHTING JOE; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer. - IN SCHOOL AND OUT; or, The Conquest of Richard Grant. - LITTLE BY LITTLE; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway. - LITTLE MERCHANT; a Story for Little Folks. - NOW OR NEVER: or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright. - POOR AND PROUD; or, The Fortunes of Katie Redburn. - PROUD AND LAZY; a Story for Little Folks. - RICH AND HUMBLE; or The Mission of Bertha Grant. - SAILOR BOY; or, Jack Somers in the Navy. - SOLDIER BOY; or, Tom Somers in the Army. - TRY AGAIN; or, The Trials and Triumphs of Harry West. - WATCH AND WAIT; or, The Young Fugitives. - WORK AND WIN; or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise. - THE YANKEE MIDDY; or, The Adventures of a Naval Officer. - YOUNG LIEUTENANT; or, The Adventures of an Army Officer. - -=Any of these books will be mailed, postpaid, upon receipt of 50c.= - -Get our complete catalogue--sent anywhere. - -=HURST & CO., Publishers, NEW YORK= - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's In Search of Treasure, by Horatio Alger Jr. - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN SEARCH OF TREASURE *** - -***** This file should be named 54016-0.txt or 54016-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/0/1/54016/ - -Produced by David Edwards, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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