“Jacob, you’re a good fellow,” replied his master; “you shall be my servant, then, and we will go back to Old England together. I’ll tell you just how it is. My dear mother wants me home again—it seems she can’t be content without me; and as there really is no special reason why I should remain in the colony—and certainly I haven’t been much of an ornament to it, nor credit to my friends here—I think it better to meet her wishes and return.”
“And I’ll go with you, with all my heart,” said the other; “only then you mustn’t think, mayster, as it’s all on your own account as says so; it wouldn’t be honest to let you think so. Truth is, I’ve been having a talk wi’ a good minister as came a-preaching where we were on the Sabbath up at the diggings; and he’s opened my eyes a bit; or, rather, the Lord’s opened ’em through him. So you see, I’ve been asking him what’s my duty about them as I’ve left at home, and it seems to me, by what the good man says, as I haven’t dealt by ’em quite as I should. It’s a long story, and I needn’t trouble you with it; but it just comes to this: I came back from the diggings with my mind made up to go home again first opportunity. So, you see, mayster, as you’re going yourself, I can go with you all right now.”
“And do you know, Jacob—or rather, I’m pretty sure that you don’t know, that your old friend, Captain Merryweather, has been to Adelaide. He’s gone to Melbourne now, but he’ll be back in a month, and we can take our passage home in the dear old Sabrina.”
Chapter Nineteen.
Homeward Bound.
It was a month after the return of Jacob and his party from the diggings that Frank, Jacob, and Captain Merryweather met on board the Sabrina at Port Adelaide.
“So, Jacob, my boy,” cried the captain; “why, how you’re grown! Colonial life agrees with you. I should hardly have known you. And you’re coming home in the old ship. I’m heartily glad of it; that is, supposing you’re the same lad as when you sailed with me before. I mean, as stanch an abstainer.”
“Ay, that he is,” said Frank warmly.