CHAPTER XLI.
CONCLUSION.
Will stared curiously at his brother as he pronounced the mystical word “ambergris.”
“I won’t keep you in the dark speculating over what I mean,” said Alan. “Ambergris is a substance found in whales in very rare instances and only under certain conditions. It is used in the manufacture of cologne as the base to hold the perfume, and is almost worth its weight in gold.”
“And how did you find it?” asked the interested Mr. Bertram.
“It was during the cruise of the Albatross. We had came to anchor, and I was strolling down the shore with two members of the crew, when we came across a dead whale. To make a long story short, we examined it and suspected the presence of ambergris. We found enough to fill a cask.”
“And it was valuable, you say?” inquired Mrs. Bertram.
“Yes, indeed. We obtained a cask and brought it on board the ship. We did not tell the crew of it. In all our wanderings I clung to that ambergris, and on our way to Watertown left it at Portland.”
“You sold it?” asked Will.
“Yes, for many thousands of dollars. I divided the money with the crew of the Albatross. The remainder is mine.”