“I want to be able to tell your father that you are all right. He will naturally feel anxious when he thinks that you are alone in a distant country.”
“I don’t know about that. He always had considerable confidence in my ability to get along.”
“He didn’t know anything about your crazy idea of hunting for a pirate’s treasure, did he?”
“I never mentioned the matter to him, and I hope you will not. He gave me permission to search Uncle George’s sea chest, but I never told him what I found in it. You know, captain, he is a very absent-minded man. I presume he has never thought of the matter from that day to this.”
“I am glad you have given up the notion of hunting for a treasure which very likely does not exist.”
“Have I?” said Guy to himself; but he only smiled.
He had never said anything to Captain Grover about Mr. Saunders’ plans, or about the thousand pounds which the merchant had paid over to him. He knew that the captain would rejoice in his good fortune, but he wanted to bide his time and surprise his friends, at home with the story of his luck.
He felt that already he was worth enough money to help his father materially in case Deacon Crane should succeed in his efforts to have him ousted from his parish in favor of a younger man.
On the day that the Osprey was to weigh anchor Guy remained on board, with Mr. Saunders’ permission, till the good ship had fairly left her dock.
As he watched her gradually fading out of sight, and realized that he was perhaps eight thousand miles from home, with none of his old friends near him, he felt homesick for a short time, but soon the thought of his wonderful good fortune cheered him up, and he went back to the office full of exhilaration and hope.