The news that an expedition was being got together to go to the relief of Jack Meredith never reached him in his retreat.

But after a fortnight spent in idleness in the neighbouring interior, he could stand the suspense no longer, and came down into the town, to be pounced upon at once by Guy Oscard.
As he stood on the beach near to Oscard, watching the embarkation of the men, his feelings were decidedly mixed.

There was an immense relief from the anxiety of the last few weeks.

He had stood on the verge of many crimes, and had been forcibly dragged back therefrom by the strong arm of Guy Oscard.

It had been Victor Durnovo's intention not only to abandon Jack Meredith to his certain fate, but to appropriate to his own use the consignment of Simiacine, valued at sixty thousand pounds, which he had brought down to the coast.