At last Arne said hopefully, “I think she’s making progress out there, sir.”
“Yes, looks as if she’s making for the channel. Come on, Arne. We have to keep the fire high and bright now.”
When they returned the next time, Arne gave a great shout. “She’s coming in! She’s coming in! Oh, if she can just hold her course, she’ll be safe.”
“Yes, she’s making headway all right. Looks as if it could be the Stjerne, Arne.”
Arne fairly flew off to get more wood, his heart beating so hard he couldn’t even talk. This time, when they came back to the fire, there was no doubt about it. “She’s past the barrier now, and moving into the channel,” said Herr Professor.
“Oh, Herr Professor!” Arne shouted, and in his exuberance he snatched off his cap and threw it so high it almost came down in the fire. “It’s Gustav’s ship! It’s Gustav’s ship, safe and sound. I know it is.”
“How would you like to start down, Arne, and be there on the dock to greet your brother? Everybody will be there, and I know you’d like to be on hand with the others.”
“Oh, boy!” cried Arne joyfully. “Oh, boy!” But then he looked quickly at the teacher. “But we couldn’t leave the fire, could we? They still need it, don’t they? This is about as important a time as any, isn’t it?”
“Yes, we have to keep it going till we’re sure they’re safe. But I could manage to tend it alone now, if you’d like to get started down.”
Arne hesitated just a moment. He wanted dreadfully to be right down there on the dock when the Stjerne came in. But then he shook his head. “No,” he said. “One commando would never walk out on another. I’m going to help keep this fire going.”