It was nearly two hours before he returned.
"The ship is the cruiser _Jefferson_," he said. "She is bound for
Honolulu, to await orders. The captain says he will take us on board
willingly, and he will do what he can to help us bring those other
fellows to justice."
"Hurrah!" cried Tom. "If that is so, then our troubles as castaways
are over."
"And we are not sorry," said Grace. "Not a bit sorry."
And all of the others agreed with her.
A few words more and I will bring to a close this story of the Rover
boys' adventures on land and sea.
The captain of the warship was true to his word, and before nightfall
all who had been in the cave were safe on board of the Jefferson.
Those who were wounded or hurt were given the best of medical attention,
and everybody was made comfortable.
"What attracted me to the islands was the bright reflection in the
sky when the wreck was burnt," said the captain of the cruiser. "I
thought perhaps that a volcano had become active. But at daybreak we
saw nothing unusual, and were about to turn away when the lookout
discovered your flag of distress."
"What will you do about the mutineers and Dan Baxter?" asked Dick.
"We'll bring them to justice, if we can, lad."
When a visit was paid to the burnt house nobody was in sight. But
in the woods nearby a wounded sailor was discovered. He was badly
hurt, and, though given every care, died two days later while on
shipboard.
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