It will not be necessary to follow out the business in all its details. There were some unexpected delays; but at the end of a fortnight the whole matter was settled, and Harry found himself, not indeed rich, but richer than he ever anticipated.
The gold nugget was found to be worth five thousand four hundred and fifty dollars. The money in the banker’s hands, with accruing interest, amounted to seven thousand and seventy-five. The account was rendered in English currency, but for convenience’ sake I have reduced it to Federal money. This, then, was the final statement of Harry’s inheritance:—
| On deposit with Bird & Bolton, | $7,075.00 |
| Sum realized from gold nugget, | 5,450.00 |
| Total, | $12,525.00 |
From this amount must be deducted the thousand dollars which Harry agreed to pay to the three miners. When this was done, he was left with eleven thousand five hundred and twenty-five dollars, which, for a boy of his age, was certainly a very comfortable capital.
When this matter was settled, Harry began to bethink himself of home, and told Mr. Lindsay that he felt it his duty to go back to America as soon as possible, and gladden his mother’s heart with the news of his good fortune.
“You are right, Harry,” said Mr. Lindsay, promptly. “Your first duty is to your mother. I will not say a word to dissuade you from it.”
But if Mr. Lindsay forbore to dissuade Harry, Maud was not so forbearing. She was exceedingly dissatisfied at the idea of losing the society of our hero.
“Why can’t we all sail in the same steamer, papa?” she said.
“Because, Maud, I am not ready to go back yet. My business is not finished.”
“Then I shall never see Harry again.”