"So you all escaped and are here," he said. "I am downright glad to
know it. What of the others?"
"We don't know what became of the other boats," answered Dick.
"Saw nothing at all?"
"Not a thing."
The captain shook his head sorrowfully.
"But how did you escape?" asked Dick again.
"That is a short story, lad. When I went overboard from the rowboat,
I caught hold of some of the wreckage from the schooner. This was
still fast to the deck, and by hauling myself in I soon got on board
again. As I had no boat, I remained on board, for I soon saw that
the schooner would not go down immediately. At daylight the ship left
the rocks and drifted around on the ocean until the wind came up last
night, when we struck this island and got beached, as you see. I was
worn out with watching, and as soon as I found the boat was safe from
sinking I went to bed, and slept soundly until I heard you three
tramping around the deck."
"We are stopping over on yonder island," said Tom, when all went on
deck, and he pointed in the direction. "See, Sam and the girls are
waving to us. Let us wave in return, and stand apart, so they can
see that there are four of us."
They did as the youngest Rover advised and soon saw that they were
seen. Then Captain Blossom held up his spyglass.
"I reckon they will know who I am by that," he said, and he was right,
for Sam told the girls that the fourth man was Captain Blossom beyond
a doubt.
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