Captain Joe, who reached the shore at the landing near the mouth of the Pecos river just in time to be taken on board the boat, had many a race with the boys along the sands of the Gulf, and seemed to enjoy every minute of it.
Long before the Rambler returned to the North, Teddy Junior was playing with the dog, rolling over and over on the deck of the Rambler in many a mad frolic.
When at last the Rambler and Esmeralda returned northward, taking passage for both motor boats on a slow-sailing vessel, they were landed at New York, whence the boats were shipped to Chicago by rail.
When Chicago was reached, it was discovered that all the time of the two guardians would be required, so they reluctantly resigned their offices and devoted their time to the handling of Paul’s large estate.
“Say, Buck,” laughed Alex, after the boys were settled at school again, “what would we have done without the Esmeralda? We certainly should have lost the Rambler.”
“And without Rube’s bank roll we might have been obliged to walk back to Chicago!” put in Jule.
“But that is all past and gone,” said Buck, “so what’s the use of bringing it up?”
The newspapers, a few days later, contained the announcement that the counterfeiters and the band of river thieves who were working for the reward which had been offered by the old miser—now in his grave—had all been sentenced to long terms in prison.
When he read the announcement Alex only sighed.
“They deserved it all!” he declared.