hem.

We landed at the flight of steps at the pier-end, and made the best of
our way at once to my aunt's house. My sister was there, eagerly
expecting us; for it appeared that she had been on the Esplanade
listening to the strains of the regimental band, and had recognised the
_Water Lily_ as we drew in towards the anchorage.

I will pass over in silence the rapturous meeting which ensued, for the
feelings of all were of too deep and sacred a character for so
inexperienced a pen as mine to deal with. Suffice it to say that we all
enjoyed on that evening one of those short seasons of perfect, unalloyed
happiness which are occasionally permitted even here on earth.

Little now remains to be told. We succeeded, after a vast amount of
hard work and difficulty, in turning our gold into cash: and the
proceeds were equally divided among us five whites; the result being, as
I suppose, I need hardly say, a magnificent fortune to each. Winter,
like the honest fellow that he was, immediately married the girl who had
consented to share his uncertain fortune as a seaman: and the two blacks
attached themselves, as a matter of course, to my father's
establishment. As for Bob, he asserted roundly that his gold would be
of no use or value to him if I "turned him adrift," so he became, I need
scarcely say with my hearty good-will, a fixture in my establishment;
and his whole thoughts are now set on being made sailing-master of a
fine schooner yacht which is building for me.

I found out Ella's relations, and communicated the fact of her rescue
from the wreck, and of her having become my wife; but I said nothing
respecting our immense wealth, merely stating that I was possessed of a
comfortable independency, as I wished to ascertain whether they were
willing to receive her as a relative, on her own and her mother's
account. I regret, for the sake of human nature, to say that the
interview was eminently unsatisfactory; and I left their house with a
mental resolve that my wife should never, with my consent, enter the
doors of such unnatural relatives.

THE END.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of For Treasure Bound, by Harry Collingwood

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOR TREASURE BOUND ***

***** This file should be named 21069.txt or 21069.zip *****
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/0/6/21069/

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, En