The boat was made fast to the dock, and the little party of mariners were escorted into the living rooms of the lighthouse, which were in a small apartment built around the base of the tower.
“Here Jessica!” called Mr. Hardack. “Jessica! Where are you?”
“Coming, uncle,” called a voice, and a tall pretty girl entered the room, stopping in confusion at the sight of the strangers.
“Here are some almost-shipwrecked people,” the keeper went on with a smile. “They want some hot coffee, and anything else you have.”
“Don’t go to any trouble,” said Ned, and Bob glared at his chum.
“Oh it’s no trouble. My niece will see to things. And take care of the cat, too.”
While breakfast was being prepared Jerry telephoned to a hotel near his mother’s house and asked that a message be sent to relieve her worry. Then, having borrowed some old clothes of the keeper, the boys and Sam dried their own.
After breakfast Jerry mended the leak in the gasolene tank, and, buying some of the fluid from the keeper, soon had the Dartaway in shape for another voyage. They bade their new friends good-bye, receiving an invitation to come again, and soon they were back at Harmon Beach. They took the cat with them and Mrs. Hopkins made a pet of it.
They found there was some excitement over their absence all night, but Mrs. Hopkins had come to regard the boys’ escapades with a sort of philosophy. She believed the lads would turn up all right somehow.