"What do you mean?" asked Mr. Howard, startled.
"Then you haven't heard?"
"Heard—what?"
"That he sailed in the ship Nantucket, which was lost, with all on board, in the Southern Ocean?"
It so happened that Mr. Howard had received a letter from Harry after his arrival in Australia, and so knew that Harry was not lost. For a moment he thought Mr. Fox might have later information, but saw that it was not so. He decided to draw Mr. Fox on, and ascertain his object in calling.
"I hope that this is not so," he said gravely.
"There is not a doubt of it," answered Fox. "There's an account of the loss of the vessel in the New York Herald. I cut it out, and have it in my pocket-book. Would you like to see it?"
"If you please."
Mr. Fox produced the scrap, and asked triumphantly, "Doesn't that settle it?"
"Suppose that it does, what then?"