“I am certain you know Harvey better than that,” Mrs. Dartmoor had replied. “You see if his very first act is not to insist that his interest be transferred to you.”
“Nor should I wish you to. But he will have it arranged in some manner, that I know.”
Although Captain Saunders was not in financial distress, for he was paid in gold by the American Board of Marine Underwriters, for whom he was agent on the West Coast, yet the letter from the interior had made him none the less happy than it had the others, for John Dartmoor was not only a close friend of his Peruvian life, but they had been chums in boyhood, even as their sons were at this time; and for Don Isaac he had the same regard.
None of them in Chucuito permitted the news to alter their mode of living. Mr. Dartmoor remained at the desk in a ship chandler’s, and with his wife and Rosita lived in the little cottage, waiting until the adventurers should return from the interior. The good news had been noised about in Callao and Lima, and several offers had been made Mr. Dartmoor by persons anxious to advance money and secure a promise of an interest in the wonderful mine. But all these the American refused, saying that the property was not his, but his son’s, and he did not wish to make any arrangements until the lad should return.
It will be noticed that Harvey in writing had refrained from making mention of the encounter with the Majeronas. He had done this so that his parents might not be alarmed. And he had said nothing concerning Señor Cisneros. So that all they knew was that the mine had been located, that it was rich in gold, and that the boy was well.
“Let’s see, it’s a little over two weeks since the letter came, is it not?” asked Captain Saunders on the occasion of this birthday entertainment.
“He said that they expected to leave within a fortnight?”
“I hardly expect him so soon,” said Mr. Dartmoor. “The Indian runner, accustomed to the country, and having nothing to carry, would be able to make much better time through the mountains than Hope-Jones, Ferguson, and my son, burdened with their camp utensils, and with the samples of ore. So I would not be surprised should another week elapse before their arrival.”