“If you were willing to stay in Melbourne, I would give you a place in my counting-house.”
“Thank you, sir, but I prefer to return home.”
“Then I will give you a letter to my nephew and business correspondent. He will further any business views you may have.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“And I will do the same for your friend, if he desires.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Jack, “but I mean to keep on as a sailor; I hope some day to be a captain.”
“Then I will give you a place on one of our ships, and you shall be promoted as rapidly as you are qualified to rise.”
Jack looked gratified, for he knew the value of so powerful a friend.
Late in the evening the boys took leave of the hospitable merchant, and three days afterward they embarked.
We will now return to America, and for the benefit of those readers who are not familiar with Harry’s early adventures, as narrated in the story of “Facing the World,” I will give a brief account of his story before setting out on the voyage to Australia.