Well, there
is money left. You shall take it and endow a hospital if you choose,
and that no doubt will increase your happiness and make it thrive.
But the root of the plant lies within you. Pardon me, ma'am"--he
looked towards Miss Belcher--"the question sounds an impudent one, I
know, but are you not, even for England, a well-to-do lady?"
"I have a trifle more than my neighbours," owned Miss Belcher.
"But it's almost more plague than blessing; at least I call it so,
sometimes, which is a different thing from being ready to give it
up."
"And you, ma'am?" He turned to Plinny.
"I have enough for my needs, I thank God," she answered. "But I have
known what it is to be poor."
"Quite so," he nodded. "And yet you have come thousands of miles,
you two, in search of treasure!"
At the entrance of Gow's Gulf we downed sail and took to our paddles
again. The tide helped us against the breeze and within half an hour
we came in sight of the schooner lying peacefully at anchor as we had
left her.
So, at least, and at first glance, it seemed; but as we drew near,
Captain Branscome stood up suddenly, the tiller-lines in his hands.
"Hallo! Where's the dinghy?"
It was gone; and--what was worse--our repeated hails fetched no
answering hail from the ship.
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