“But, Chap,” said Helen, “that is just the kind of thing I am afraid of.”
“Now, Helen,” said Chap, “if I could tell you all about these affairs—which I can’t do, of course, without Phil’s permission—you’d see that I know what I’m about, and that I’m trying to do at least two most excellent things. You mustn’t talk, my dear sister, about matters you don’t understand.”
Then Chap kissed his sister, and hurried on to join Phil, who had started for home.
The previous day, while Phil was away, Chap had been down to the river, and had made as careful an examination as was possible, under the circumstances, of the position of the portion of the wreck which he could see,—which, at that time, happened to be very little,—and from this he endeavored to get an idea of the probable position of that part of the vessel which he couldn’t see at all.
He had pretty well satisfied himself in regard to the matter; and, on Monday morning, as he sat with Phil on the porch, after breakfast, he laid before his friend a plan he had mentally worked out for the recovery of the treasure.
“You see, Phil,” he said, “there’s no use fooling any more. The gold is there, and we ought to get it. From what you told me Mr. Welford said, I should think a little cash would be a pretty handy thing just now; though, of course, the great bulk of it should be kept in the bank vaults until your uncle comes back.”
Phil listened with a dull sort of interest. He had been wondering if Chap had entirely given up the endeavor to bring Susan to terms. The time he had allowed him had elapsed; but his lively friend was so engrossed with the wrecking business that he appeared to have forgotten all about his proposed domestic diplomacy.
Phil was sorry to see this, and intended to say something on the subject, for he felt, with a good deal of wounded pride, that it was now impossible for him to carry out his declared determination to discharge Susan.
He was about to change the subject from wrecks to housekeepers, when a carriage came slowly driving up the shaded road towards the house.
The boys immediately recognized the vehicle as one of the old rattle-trap concerns belonging to the livery-stable in the town.