At daybreak she sailed, her crew watching, with a certain amount of
regret, the triple peaks of the island sinking lower and lower behind
the horizon. Not only had the arduous work been successful, but the
varied experiences had cemented a band of life-long comradeship
between the members of the expedition.
After an uneventful run the _Titania_ arrived at Sydney, where
Harborough put his plans into execution.
To him came Swaine.
"If you've no objection, sir," he began, "I'd like to make an offer
for the _Titania_ and the right to exploit the silver stunt."
"What!" exclaimed Harborough. "You're a sticker, Swaine. You haven't
had enough treasure-hunting, eh?"
"Must do something to keep me out of mischief," replied Swaine. "Even
with pots of money a fellow is at a loose end when he's got nothing
to occupy his mind. I reckon I've more than enough of my share of the
_Fusi Yama_ gold to pay for the yacht and float a company here for
the recovery of the silver."
"I'm quite agreeable," assented Harborough. "But I'll have to arrange
with the others concerning the value of the yacht and the other
matter."
When the idea was put before the now-dissolving syndicate, not only
did they agree to let Swaine have the _Titania_ at a reasonable sum,
but O'Loghlin and Fontayne offered to join in the new venture.
Claverhouse and Trevear expressed their intention of remaining at
Sydney, prior to taking up farming in New Zealand. To them Harborough
advanced a sum sufficient to carry them on, pending the realization
of the gold in London. Griffiths and Bell, inseparable chums, decided
to try their luck at fruit-growing in Tasmania.
Pete, with a pocketful of notes that represented to him a small
fortune, departed for the West Indies via Panama. He went with
genuine regret, followed by the good wishes of the erstwhile crew of
the _Titania_, who regarded him as a cheerful hard-working cook who
looked after their inward needs with the utmost fidelity.
The rest of the _Titania's_ party accompanied Harborough to England.
Villiers and Bobby Beverley, acting upon Swaine's principle, formed a
coastal shipping company, which not only kept them busy but gave a
good return for their outlay. Within six months of his return home
Dick Beverley gained tenth place in the entrance examination to
Sandhurst.
Sir Hugh Harborough, rich and contented both in mind and body, was
able to run Thalassa Towers in a manner that bid fair to make it one
of the choicest country seats in Hampshire. He entertained lavishly,
but of his numerous guests none were more welcome than his former
comrades of the good ship _Titania_.
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
_By Blackie & Son, Limited, Glasgow_
[Transcriber's Notes:
This book contains a number of misprints.
The following misprints have been corrected:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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