NEW YORK.
Of the voyage to New York it is hardly necessary to speak, because
nothing of an exciting or an interesting nature occurred. The wind
favored the Lorlie to such an extent that not a rope was started from
the time of leaving Nassau until she crossed the bar at Sandy Hook. The
trip was as devoid of incident as the previous one in the Bonita had
been filled with dangers and sorrows; and two hours after the yacht
dropped anchor off Staten Island, Harry and Walter were clasped in their
mothers' arms.
The accidental cruise in a runaway brig was ended at last; and,
fortunately, no harm had come from what at one time seemed certain would
be attended with gravest dangers.
It only remains now to chronicle the events which immediately followed
their arrival; not because of any relation to the story already told,
but owing to the influence they may exercise upon the future movements
of the three boys.
First, and at present the most important, is, How much treasure did they
bring home?
Mr. Vandyne was forced to engage the services of an expert money-changer
in order to learn this fact himself; and, to the surprise of all, it was
found that the bags averaged a trifle more than eighteen thousand
dollars apiece, making a grand total of three hundred and forty-two
thousand six hundred dollars. This was divided equally among the five
who had been imprisoned on the key, and for the first time in his life
Bob Brace enjoyed the distinction of being what he called "a blooming
capitalist."
It was no longer necessary for either the old sailor or Joe to do any
very hard work; but as both preferred some kind of employment, and that
which Mr. Vandyne offered was exactly suited to their ideas of ease, if
not luxury, they concluded to hold to the agreement already made.
While the money was being divided, Bob insisted very strongly that
Harry's father should take a certain amount to repay him for the voyage
to the Bahamas; but this was refused in such a decided manner as to
leave no opportunity for discussion.
"The treasure belongs to those who found it!" the merchant said; "and as
I made the trip for the purpose of rescuing my son, there can be no
question of payment. Yet I did have a reasonably profitable cruise, in
addition to finding Harry. You were able to prove the loss of the
Bonita, thus giving me an opportunity of claiming the insurance many
months sooner than it could otherwise have been done; and, besides, I am
expecting to realize something from salvage on the cargo."
Bob and Joe decided to invest a portion of their share of the treasure
in a vessel, and Mr. Vandyne agreed to act as their agent in the
transaction.
Three days after the arrival of the Lorlie the rescued party were
engaged in their business, or pleasure, much as if they had never seen
an island on the Bahama shoal.
Jim was living at Harry's home, and Mr. Vandyne was to be his guardian
as soon as the necessary formalities could he complied with. Walter was
at home, within a block of his friend, while the other two members of
the party who had taken an accidental cruise were busily engaged in Mr.
Vandyne's service.
On the fourth day after the Lorlie cast anchor off Staten Island the
three boys went to the docks for the purpose of paying Bob and Joe a
visit, and then the old sailor proposed such a scheme as met with the
unqualified approval of all.
"I want you lads to look at a little steam yacht that's layin' at the
next pier," Bob said; and as a matter of course the boys were more than
willing to make such inspection, since, after their late experience,
anything in the way of boats or vessels had a new interest for them.
The craft to which Bob and Joe led the party fully merited the praise
which was bestowed so unstintedly. Her name was the Sea Foam, and she
lie so jauntily on the water that one could but say it was in every way
applicable to her.
"Fifty-five foot keel, nine foot beam, compound engines, sound as a
dollar, and guaranteed to make fourteen knots an hour," Joe said, as he
pointed to the little steamer. "She's the most perfect thing of her kind
I ever saw."
The boys were not satisfied with gazing at her from the pier, but
clambered on board, and a view of her interior arrangements only served
to strengthen the good opinion formed by a single glance at the graceful
lines of the hull.
The Sea Foam had a roomy after-cabin handsomely but not expensively
furnished, on either side of which were four bunks, separated from the
saloon by heavy draperies. Swinging lamps and trays, large mirrors, the
polished woods and the shining metal-work gave an air of beauty and
homeliness to this portion of the steamer such as the boys thought very
charming.
Then the engine-room was visited, and although the three younger members
of the party were not judges of machinery they could understand that
Joe's words of praise were merited.
The forward cabin, which also served as dining-room, contained four
bunks, and leading from it was as complete and convenient a galley and
pantry as the most fastidious cook could have desired.
"Well, what do you think of her?" Bob asked, when the inspection was
concluded.
"She's the handsomest craft I ever saw," Harry replied enthusiastically.
"Who owns her?"
"A gentleman whose office is near your father's, and he wants to sell
her. She's cheap at the price--three thousand--and my idea is that you
boys couldn't do better than buy her. Then, next summer when you want to
go off on a good time, Joe'll ship as engineer, I'll be crew, an' you'll
only need a cook. She looks like a first-class sea-boat fit for any
water."
It is needless to add that the boys were highly excited by this
proposition; but as it was impossible to say that the purchase could be
made until Mr. Vandyne and Mr. Morse had been consulted, Harry and
Walter started for the former's office at full speed, leaving the
remainder of the party on board until their return.
"Want to buy the Sea Foam, eh?" Mr. Vandyne said, when Harry pantingly
asked him to come and look at the little steamer. "I examined her
yesterday, and thought she would be a good pleasure-boat for you boys.
Considering the fact that you've got more than money enough to make the
purchase, I see no good reason why it shouldn't be done. I'll send a
note to the owner, and you had better run down the bay on a trial trip.
Tell Bob and Joe to stop work and go with you. Remember that while on
the yacht the old sailor is to be obeyed as he was at the island."
To get an order for the dock-master to deliver the Sea Foam to the
parties named in Mr. Vandyne's note it was only necessary to walk a
short distance, and in less than an hour after first seeing the yacht
all hands were on board, steaming down the bay at a trifle more than a
fifteen-knot rate.
One trip was sufficient to convince the boys that the little craft was
essential to their happiness, and even Bob and Joe were so pleased with
her that it is quite probable they might have been tempted to purchase
her themselves in case the young capitalists had not decided in favor of
the scheme.
"A two-weeks'-old baby might steer her if it knew enough," Bob said
approvingly, as he stood at the wheel in the snug little pilot-house;
"an' as for speed, why there's mighty few can touch her. We're gettin' a
decently heavy swell now, an' her deck is as dry as a bone."
"Would you dare to go from here to the Bahamas in her?" Walter asked.
"Dare? Why, lad, she'd live in weather that would swamp many a bigger
craft. You can cruise from here to South America in her, an' be a
blessed sight more comfortable than ever we were on the old Bonita."
Joe had even more to say in the Sea Foam's favor than Bob, and he
insisted stoutly that it was nothing more than play to act the part of
engineer.
All this praise was needless, however, for the intending purchasers were
more than pleased with the little craft, and their report to Mr. Vandyne
was coupled with such urgent entreaties for him to close the bargain
before any one else could take advantage of the offer that by noon of
the next day she was transferred to Messrs. Vandyne, Morse & Libby.
These young gentlemen are already making preparations to spend next
summer on board the Sea Foam, and when they start it is safe to say the
cruise will not be accidental.
THE END.