“I don’t know, I am sure. The captain keeps money enough with him to pay all expenses, but whether or not he has any more on hand, I don’t know. I have never inquired into the matter.”
“I was told that the safe was full of gold,” said Fowler. “I should think that Walter would be afraid to carry the key about with him.”
“I don’t know that he does,” returned Frank. “But even if he did, why should he be afraid?”
“Oh, because there are plenty of men here who would knock him over for one-tenth of the sum he is known to control. Money is everything in this world, isn’t it?”
“Some people seem to think so,” replied Frank.
“Well, good-by,” said the clerk, jumping up. “I may not be able to see you again before you go out to Wilbur’s, but I shall surely see you while you are there.”
Fowler went away, and Frank was glad to see him go. He did not resume his reading immediately, but sat for a long time looking down at the floor in a brown study. He recalled every word that had passed between himself and the consul’s clerk, and somehow he could not rid himself of the impression that the latter had some reasons for questioning him so closely, other than those he had given. Frank remembered what Barton had told him about the inquiries Waters had made in regard to the contents of Uncle Dick’s strong box, and he could not help connecting that circumstance with the interview he had just had with the consul’s clerk. But when he had done so he laughed at himself.
“What nonsense,” he said mentally. “My short acquaintance with Waters and his friends has made me suspicious. Since his attempt to take possession of our vessel, I think that every one who makes inquiries about her has some designs upon her. I’ll try to be a little more reasonable.”
With this, Frank resumed his reading, and dismissed all thoughts of the consul’s clerk and the conversation he had had with him.
On the morning of the next day but one Mr. Wilbur and his big wagon arrived and took Uncle Dick, the Club, and the trappers out to his station. Two days after that the schooner came up the river, and dropped anchor at a short distance from the house. The boys were delighted to see her looking like her old self once more, and as soon as the first boat came off, they went on board in a body to take a good look at her. Uncle Dick’s instructions to the workmen had been faithfully obeyed, and the Club could hardly believe that she was the same vessel that had been driven, waterlogged and helpless, upon the shores of that inhospitable island away off in the Pacific. She looked just as she did on the day she came from the hands of the men who built her.