The weary search was over.
[CHAPTER XXX]
ALL’S WELL—CONCLUSION
“What happened to you?”
“And what happened to you? Did the Sherman sink?”
It was Ned who asked the first question, Jerry who propounded the second. And then he and Ned and Bob clasped hands while about them stood a circle of cheering sailors and soldiers on board the war vessel.
A boat had been sent to bring the refugees from the Altaire, and when Jerry and his chums were safe on board and the cruiser had moved sufficiently far away to be out of danger, the derelict was blown up. Afloat she would be a constant menace to navigation, and it was impossible to salvage her.
It was following this necessary destruction of what had once been a fine vessel that Ned and Jerry questioned one another.
Then came explanations. Jerry told how he had managed to get aboard the derelict, and how he had been joined by Bob, the professor, and Judd. And, in his turn, Ned described the life aboard the transport, his talk with Dr. Hallet, and their transfer to the warship.