"I will, sir."

At this moment a carriage drew up in front of the inn.

"It is the carriage I ordered to take me to the lighter," said the
professor. "You and Jack must go with me to the ship and see the last of
me."

"With great pleasure, sir. Come along, Jack."

The hackman put the professor's trunk aboard the carriage, and they set
out for the banks of the river. It was a new trunk, bought in Melbourne,
for the professor's trunk and clothing had been lost at the time of the
shipwreck. His first care had been to get a complete outfit in
Melbourne, and he was now as well provided as when he left New York.

The two boys found the trip down the river a pleasant one. The trip by
land would have been considerably shorter, but the professor preferred
the river. The distance to the mouth is nine miles. Vessels would be
able to ascend the river but for two bars which obstruct its course. The
city of Melbourne is situated chiefly on the north bank, and is at
present a handsomely built and prosperous town of about five hundred
thousand inhabitants. At the time of Harry's arrival it had less than
half that number. The country bordering the river is not particularly
inviting, but it was new, and the two boys regarded it with interest.
The soil was barren and sandy, and the trees, which were numerous, were
eucalyptus or gum trees, which do not require a rich soil, but grow with
great rapidity on sterile soil.

"What peculiar leaves?" said Harry, "they look like leather."

"True," said the professor, "and you notice that instead of having one
surface toward the sky and the other toward the earth they are placed
edgewise."

Soon they reached the mouth of the river, and there, just beyond the
bar, rode the good ship _Arcturus_, on which the professor was to sail
for Boston. His baggage was hoisted on board, and then the professor
himself followed.

"Will you come on board, boys?" he asked.

"No, sir; we will go back by the lighter."

"Then good-by, and God bless you and bring you good luck."

Harry could not help feeling sober as he bade farewell to his good
friend, the professor.

"I have only you now, Jack," he said. "I don't know what lies before us,
but we must stick fast to each other in sunshine and in storm."

Jack's only answer was to seize Harry's hand and press it warmly.
Nothing more was needed.

CHAPTER II.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

The two boys returned to the Crown Hotel in time for dinn