“By the bearings the poor fellow mentioned,” replied Chris’s father.
“Right again, sir,” continued the American; “but the bearings—where are they?”
Every one looked hard at the speaker in silence.
“I don’t want to chuck cold water on what may mean a fortune for you, doctor,—but look here: I’m not a sailor, but I do know that when you go to find anything by the bearings you have a sort of map or chart with compass points on it, and arrows and dots and marks to guide you in the way you are to go. What about them? Had he a pocket-book anywhere?”
“Nothing of the kind,” replied the doctor, “and I was surprised to find his belt.”
“Then the poor chap died a bit too soon, and he’s taken his secret with him, I should say.”
“It seems so,” said the doctor. “I had forgotten all that,” and the boys drew a deep breath as they suffered each a sharp pang of disappointment.
“Well, I thought it just as well to speak out, doctor,” said Griggs.
“I wish you hadn’t, sir,” cried Wilton angrily. “You seem to have crushed out our hopes.”
“Better to know the truth and the worst at once, my dear Wilton,” said Bourne.