you shovin' to, eh?" grumbled Tom; and there was a
scuffle, and the muttering of a score of Spanish oaths, with, I must
say, a couple of English ones, that sounded to be in Tom's voice, when
Garcia shouted, in a voice that we could all hear:

"Tell him there is another debt to pay yet, and it shall be paid in
another coin!"

The door closed then, and it was evident that Tom was enjoying the act
of seeing Garcia off the premises, while the next minute my uncle was
holding me tightly by both hands and my aunt sobbing on my neck.

"And I was saying you were like the rest of the world--like the rest of
the world, Harry, my dear boy," was all my uncle could say, in a choking
voice, and there were tears in his eyes as he spoke.

"Say no more, Uncle--say no more," I exclaimed, shaking him warmly by
the hands.

Then he took his wife to his heart, telling her in broken words that
there was to be peace at the old place after all.

It must have been from joy at the happiness I was the means of bringing
into that home, or else from the example that was set me, for the next
moment I had Lilla in my arms, kissing her for response to the thanks
looking from her bright eyes; and even when my uncle turned to me I
could only get one hand at liberty to give him, the other would still
clasp the little form that did not for an instant shrink.

"Too bad--too bad, Harry--too bad!" said my uncle, with a smile and a
shake of the head. "I am no sooner free of one obligation than I am
under another; and so now, on the strength of that money, you put in
your claims."

"To be sure, Uncle," I said laughing; "and you see how poor Lilla
suffers."

I repented saying those words the next moment, for Lilla shrank hastily
away, blushing deeply.

My uncle and I were soon left alone, when, holding out his hand to me,
he said, in a voice whose deep tones told how he was moved:

"Harry, my boy, I can never repay you the service you have done me; but
if I live I will repay you the money."

"Look here, Uncle," I said, "once and for all--let that be buried.
There, light your cigar; and I can talk to you." Then, taking our
places in a recess by one of the shaded windows, I spoke to him in a low
tone. "You know how I have spent my time lately?"

He nodded.

"Treasure-seeking?"

He nodded again.

"Uncle, at times it almost seemed to me a madness; but I persevered and
succeeded. Look here!"

I tore open the case and showed him the sixteen