"All's right!" said Toney, in a whisper, to Tom. "The anchor is the emblem of hope." "Do you think he will now get out of Doubting Castle?" asked Tom. "I know it," said Toney. "Let us move on. Yonder is Cruces." They stopped at the public house, where Wiggins and his companions found the unfortunate M. T. Pate washing a bottle. In about an hour the Professor arrived, leading Dora's little mule by the bridle. The Professor's face was radiant with happiness; and Dora's cheeks were covered with a multitude of the most beautiful blushes. Toney and Tom exchanged looks of peculiar significance. The young lady rested at the public house; while the Professor walked with Toney and his companions to the river, where they hired canoes to convey them to Chagres. While they were bargaining with the negroes who were to row them down the river, the Professor uttered a number of jokes, which satisfied Tom that he was going to be an agreeable fellow again. As they were returning to the public house, the Professor took Toney aside, and informed him that, while seated on the anchor in the wood, he had again earnestly entreated Dora to assist him in his search for domestic bliss and connubial felicity. "Well," said Toney; "and what was the result?" "The proposition was decided in the affirmative," said the Professor. Toney grasped the Professor's hand, and shook it violently. "Shall I tell Tom?" asked Toney. "You may, but with the injunction of secrecy," said the Professor. Tom was informed of the event which had occurred on Pizarro's anchor in the wood, and he laid hold on the Professor and hugged him. "Confound it, Tom!" said the Professor. "You hug like a cinnamon bear." "I can't help it!" said Tom. "I am so glad! And Toney has a hundred thousand dollars. Hurrah! hurrah!" "When we get home, let no one know that I have a hundred thousand dollars," said Toney. "Why not?" asked Tom. "I wish the Widow Wild to suppose that I have come home as poor as I was when I left," said Toney. "I will explain my reasons hereafter, and may need your assistance." "Can't I tell Ida?" asked Tom. "Rosabel and Ida must be informed; but with the injunction of secrecy. Do you promise to conceal my good fortune?" "I do; I will say nothing, except by your permission." On the following day they arrived at Chagres, and took passage for New York, which city they reached after a pleasant voyage, and on the next day were in Baltimore. Here the Professor left them, and accompanied Dora to her home in Virginia. Toney and his friends arrived in Mapleton at night. They urged Clarence and Harry to remain here until morning; but the two young men were impatient to reach Bella Vista, and, taking leave of Toney and Tom, were wafted away in the direction of the homes from which they had been absent during five long years. When Clarence Hastings and Harry Vincent approached Bella Vista it was midnight. In their impatience, each young man had put his head out the window of a car.