“What?” asked Jack in surprise.
“I say I’m not going to wait for news. That’s the worst thing in the world—waiting.”
“But what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to the rescue!” exclaimed Tom. “I’m going to quit school, go to San Francisco, catch the first steamer I can for Australia, and hunt up dad and my mother.”
“Great!” cried Jack. “By Jove, I wish I could go with you! When are you going to start?”
“To-day, if I can get packed up. I’m off for Australia!”
[CHAPTER III]
A MYSTERIOUS PASSENGER
Tom’s sudden resolve came rather as a shock to his chum, Jack, and the latter, after his first expression of approval, began to wonder if the plan would prove practical.