How the boys wished they understood the mysterious clicking of dots and dashes that came over the wires, so they might interpret the message which meant so much to them! They watched the agent as he wrote down the words that he evolved from the sounds of the clicking instrument. Then, with what the boys thought was exasperating coolness, he clicked back something in answer, and slowly arose from his chair.
“Good news,” he said. “It wasn’t your boat that was smashed. It was some rowboats being sent to a steamship company on Lake Okeechobee. Your boat was in the wreck, but was only scratched a bit. It will be here this afternoon.”
“Hurrah!” yelled Jerry.
“That’s the kind of news we like to hear!” exploded Ned.
“What a relief!” ejaculated Bob.
“Well, yo’ uns seem quite pleased,” remarked the agent. “Can I do anything else for yo’?”
“You’ve done more than enough, in locating our boat,” said Jerry. “Is it on the way now?”
“The agent at Longwood says they’re making up a freight train now to send here. It’s due shortly after one o’clock. Queer how things will get mixed up sometimes when there’s a wreck. I’m glad it wasn’t yo’ boat. But yo’ Northerners are always in such a hurry! By the way, was that Noddy fellow any relation of yours?”
“We know him,” answered Jerry.