"There are not many things you go into that do not pan out well. You
made a big haul out of the Great Tom mine, did you not?"
"Fair," replied Barry cautiously, and inwardly thinking what a welcome
surprise he had in store for Jack Redland.
"Here's Barry," said Jacob, as he saw a boat shoot out and make for the
schooner. "I'll keep out of the way a bit and give him a surprise later
on. Don't let on you have me on board, boys."
"We'll keep it dark as long as we can," replied Phil, smiling. "But if
Barry asks questions about you he'll soon smell a rat."
There were hearty greetings when Barry Tuxford stepped on board the
"Heron."
"Your friends at home would hardly recognise you," he said to Jack, who
was as brown as a berry, "but you look in splendid condition, and
pearling evidently agrees with you. Where's your pal? In the 'Wild
Cat?'"
"Yes," replied Jack, "and she'll be in the bay to-night, I expect, she
is never far behind."
"What sort of a trip have you had?" he asked. "I think you'll be quite
satisfied," said Jack. "We have some very good pearls on board, and many
tons of valuable shell."
"It's the best pearl fishery I ever was on," said Phil, "and next time,
with more divers, it will turn out a big thing." He then proceeded to
give Barry a brief account of the trip and of the result.
"Then Jacob Rank was right, after all, and those scoundrels were wrong.
Did you see any signs of him?"
"Of Jacob?" asked Phil.
"Yes; the crew said he was drowned, but I did not believe the story."
"And you were right," said a voice behind him, and turning round, he saw
Jacob alive and well.