f his head."
"That's what they say here. Wilkins was telling me about him."
"You think there's gold there?"
"Possibly. The formation of the ledge looks promising. He may have
run into a deposit washed out by the sea, merely a pocket, but
significant. You see, if the ledge in the picture is a continuation
of a crest from the mainland, I might follow up the lead on Luzon.
There is gold out here but the country hasn't been properly
prospected, owing to the troubles with the natives. I'd like to
look things over on my own hook. Of course the company would go in
on it with me. I've always wanted to come here but my chief never
thought much of it. So I'm on a vacation, and what I find for
myself I'll be able to swing. If Dinshaw would split----"
"You'd get yourself into a tangle with him," said Locke. "He'd most
likely go around telling folks you wanted to steal his island if
you talked with him about it."
"I'll go slowly and I may get his confidence after awhile."
"Well, I wish you luck," said Locke. "I'm going to make the
Thursday boat."
"I wasn't thinking of going on this trip for a couple of weeks,"
Trask hastened to say.
"Hong Kong for mine," said Locke.
"Dad! Come here, please," called Marjorie. "Captain Dinshaw wants
to go to his island. It seems to me that you men who are looking
for something to do might help him out."
"I'll give him ten _pesos_ for one of those pictures," said Locke.
"The other for me at the same price," said Trask.
"Stingies!" cried Marjorie. "If I were a man, I'd go find his
island."
"Perhaps I will," said Trask.
"None of this Count of Monte Cristo stuff for me," said Locke, as
he laid down a bill before Dinshaw. "Say, captain, I'll tell you
what I'll do, I'll pay your passage home first class if you'll go
so that you can get back to your relatives. Now you can't say I'm
a piker, Marge."
"Ten _pesos_!" whispered Dinshaw, staring at the bill. "Thank ye
kindly, sir. I'll make ye all rich."
"But how about going home?" said Locke. "I'll fix you up with some
clothes. This is no place for an old man like you."
"Home!" said Dinshaw. "I'm at the Sailors' Home."
"But you ought to be back in the States."
"I'm goin' back to my island, that's what," insisted Dinshaw.
"Jarrow said he'd take me."
"Dad, you said I could go anywhere I wanted on this trip," pouted
Marjorie.
"Where do you want to go, Miss Trinkets?"
"I think it would be gorgeous fun to find this
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