“That is true,” said the young man, thoughtfully.
“Perhaps,” he said, after a little thought, fixing his eyes seriously upon Harry, “he does not expect you to come back at all.”
“What do you mean, Mr. Weldon?”
“I mean this; he has already shown himself capable of one crime—he may be capable of another. Evidently he has some secret understanding with the captain, and he may have given him secret instructions, of which we are not aware.”
“You don’t think he would take my life?” said Harry, his brown cheek turning a little pale at the thought.
“I hope not. He might, however, leave you by design on some lonely island in the sea. At any rate, it will be necessary to be on your guard. I am very glad you have told me what you have found out. I will also be on the lookout, and if I find any danger menacing you I will let you know.”
“Thank you, Mr. Weldon,” said Harry, gratefully; “I am very glad to have so good a friend.”
“You may depend on my friendship with confidence,” said the supercargo, taking the boy’s hand kindly. “I feel an interest in you, and no harm shall come to you if I can help it.”
The suggestion of Mr. Weldon that possibly Squire Turner did not expect him to return was a startling one to our hero. He had lamented his necessary absence for a year or more from home, and oftentimes pictured to himself with pain the grief of his mother when she learned of his mysterious disappearance. He was afraid that she would suffer from narrow means while he was away. Still he knew that she could raise money on the house by a further mortgage, enough probably to carry her through two years, even if she did not earn anything during this period. It would be a great pity to have her little property so sacrificed; but Harry was hopeful, and meant when he returned to make up to her for her losses. He would be home in eighteen months, as he judged from inquiries made of the sailors; at any rate in less than two years, and this thought had sustained him in his temporary separation. But now for the first time the thought came to him that he might be prevented from returning at all. Suppose it should prove true, as the supercargo suggested, that Captain Brandon should leave him on some lonely island in the ocean, there to starve, or to drag out a solitary and wretched existence, perhaps for years? This was terrible to think of, yet he had heard and read of such cases. He resolved not to be persuaded to land anywhere, except at the termination of the voyage, and thus avoid danger.