In the days that followed an excavating crew came down from San Francisco and went to work on the wreck of the galleon. In a remarkably short time it was unearthed and systematically cleaned out. A treasure estimated in value at something like fifty thousand dollars was found in the wreck, a treasure that consisted of gold and silver plate, gold coins, silver coins and several gold chains. There was also some silk, but it had been spoiled. The wreck itself, when uncovered, showed that it had been burned to the water’s edge before being covered with the sands of the plains.
“Well, when that is all divided, up, we’ll have plenty, each one of us,” said the professor.
“At last my mother will get a few of the things in life that she has really needed,” said Terry, to whom the fortune meant most.
Not long after that there was a simple wedding in the Scott ranch. A minister came to the ranch from Quito and Ned and the senorita were married in the living room of the ranch which was now to be her home. Ned was quietly happy and the senorita brilliantly so. All the lonely years of living alone were now over, and she looked forward to a life of happiness with the American boy whose simple manliness had always appealed to her. Don was Ned’s best man.
“By golly,” said Terry, when it was all over. “If getting married makes you feel as happy as Ned and his lady friend looked, I think I’ll try it!”
“That’ll be fine, Terry,” responded Jim. “By the way, who is the lady?”
“What?” asked the red-headed boy, blankly.
“Who is the lady that will look so happy when you marry her?” Jim answered.
“Gee, I don’t know!” was the reply. “You have to have a lady friend, don’t you? I hadn’t thought of that!”
“You had better give it some thought,” retorted Don. “Most people have one when they get married.”