But he had started on his voyage with a purpose. He wanted to find and secure the treasure hinted at in his uncle’s letter, and make his father independent for life. Of this there seemed to be now no chance, or next to none.
There was nothing for him to do except to remain on board the Osprey till the vessel reached Bombay. Then there would be the return voyage, at the end of which he would have seen considerable of the world, but would have gained nothing to repay him for the year he had spent away from home.
But there was no help for it. The captain would not change his course, and Guy must be content to leave the island unvisited, and the great problem unsolved.
At last they reached Bombay.
Guy surveyed the place with curious interest. He was not prepared to find it so large.
A city which contains seven hundred thousand inhabitants is a great city in any part of the world.
Not having any duties on board the ship, Guy was allowed to go and come when he pleased.
He found that among the foreign residents the English were the most prominent and influential. His walks were chiefly in what is called the European town, but he frequently strolled through the more picturesque part occupied by the natives.
One evening he was sauntering through the Persian quarter when he was startled by seeing a brown-faced native, his head surmounted by a turban, dart from an alleyway and pursue a well-dressed man, apparently either English or American.
That his object was murder or robbery, perhaps both, seemed evident, for he held in his hand a long, narrow, dangerous-looking knife.