"Oh dear, I was afraid she would be," said Tom. "But, never mind, we're all safe, Daddy—at least, I hope the girls are safe!"
"They will be, very soon," said the boy's father in a grim voice. "We shall rescue them—and clean up those submarines and seaplanes in no time! How clever of the enemy to have a base just under our noses—but it won't last long now! You've done a marvellous thing, Tom and Andy!"
"I hope my father won't be very angry with me for losing his boat," said Andy. "Though we might perhaps be able to get it back from the enemy now."
"Your father won't be angry with you for anything once he sees you are safe, and hears the tale you have just told me!" said Tom's father. "Settle down now—we're going up."
"Back to the island to rescue the girls?" asked Tom eagerly. His father shook his head.
"No," he said. "They must wait, I'm afraid, till I get this news through. I'll wireless home that we've got you safe, and have got great news—but that's all. This is too important to be told to anyone but the chief himself."
With a great noise of engines, the seaplane skimmed over the water, and then rose gracefully in the air. She shot away southwards, and the boys looked out over the sea, which was now far below.
"Well, what luck to be rescued like this!" said Andy. "And oh, Tom—what a shock the enemy are going to get!"