“I will drop it in the letter box as I go out.”
“Well, you beat the bugs,” laughed Bob, passing the missive over to him; “now, what have you to tell me?”
It may be added that Bob Budd’s letter promptly reached the astounded Captain, who found it hard to keep the joyful news to himself, but he managed to do so, as did his wife, who went into hysterics when the news was first broken to her.
But, as a means of averting suspicion, the Captain immediately doubled the reward offered for the recovery of the body of his nephew. He smiled grimly as he did so, and looked upon the matter as a capital joke; but then some people do entertain peculiar ideas as to what constitutes a joke.
CHAPTER XXXIII—CONCLUSION
Jim McGovern now gave the particulars of his own escape through the help of Dick Halliard, and of their memorable interview on the border of the rushing flood, with the body of Tom Wagstaff lying at their feet. Bob listened with deep interest until he had finished, and then shook his head.
“It beats anything I ever knew or heard tell of; but I don’t feel safe now that Halliard has the grip on me.”
“Of course, he told me nothing about that affair; but, since he got so much the best of it, I’m sure he will be satisfied to let it go no further. I’ll guarantee it,” added McGovern, with a glowing face.
“I don’t see how you can do that; but I’m inclined to believe you can make it right with Dick.”
“Of course I can; such a fellow as he is will do anything in the world for you.”