o stay in Melbourne, I would give you a place in
my counting-room."

"Thank you, sir, but I prefer to live in America."

"Then I will give you a letter to my nephew and business correspondent
in New York. He will further any business views you may have."

"Thank you, sir."

"And I will do the same for your friend, if he desires."

"Thank you, sir," said Jack, "but I mean to keep on as a sailor; I hope
some day to be a captain."

"I will give you a place on one of our ships, and you shall be promoted
as rapidly as you are qualified to rise."

Jack looked gratified, for he knew the value of so powerful a friend.

Late in the evening the boys took leave of the hospitable merchant, and
three days afterward they embarked for New York.

CHAPTER XXXV.

SOME OLD ACQUAINTANCES.

We will now return to America, and for the benefit of those readers who
are not familiar with Harry's early adventures, as narrated in the story
of "Facing the World," I will give a brief account of his story before
setting out on the voyage to Australia.

Left an orphan, with a scanty patrimony amounting to three hundred
dollars, Harry left it all in the hands of his father's friend, Mr.
Benjamin Howard of Ferguson, and set out, not in quest of a fortune, but
of a livelihood. He had been recommended by his father to seek a cousin
of his, John Fox of Colebrook, and place himself under his guardianship.
He visited Mr. Fox, but found him so mean and grasping that he left him
after a brief stay, preparing to face the world without assistance. Mr.
Fox, who had two children, Joel and Sally, was greatly disappointed, as
he bad hoped to get control of the boy's slender property, and convert
it to his own use. He pursued Harry, but was unable to overtake and
capture him.

Months passed, and John Fox heard nothing of his wandering relative.

One day, however, he came home triumphant.

"Well, Maria," he said, addressing his wife, "I've heard of Harry
Vane."

"You don't say!" ejaculated Joel, his face screwed up into an expression
of curiosity. "What did you hear? Where is he?"

"Joel," answered his father, with an attempt at solemnity, "the
judgments of the Lord have fallen upon your unhappy cousin."

"What do you mean, Mr. Fox?" asked his wife, showing curiosity in turn.

"I mean that he is lying dead at the bottom of the sea."

"Don't be so tantalizing, Mr. Fox. If you know anything about the boy,
out with it!"

When Mrs. Fox spo