“And that message was all a fake,” said the keeper. “My sister wasn’t sick at all. I couldn’t find out who sent it, but I thought something was wrong, and I hurried back. On the way I was stopped by two men who wanted to pick a quarrel with me. They tried to take me off to a lonely hut, but I broke away and came on through the storm. You can imagine my feelings when I got here and saw the light flashing wrong.”
Then the boys told the rest of the tale, including the successful efforts of Jess to burn the lock from the door.
“But we haven’t heard how she happened to arrive at just the right time,” said Bob. “Call her.”
The girl came into the kitchen where they all were, the two prisoners having been placed in the storeroom.
“What happened to you, Jess?” asked her uncle.
“I jumped overboard and swam ashore,” said the girl.
“You jumped overboard?”
“Yes, that Nixon fellow took me for a ride in his boat. Then the engine got out of order, or he pretended it did, and we couldn’t get back. I wanted him to signal to some other boat but he wouldn’t. Then I got mad. He kept me out there quite a way from shore, saying all the while the engine would soon be fixed. But when I saw him taking some screws out I knew he wasn’t trying to fix the machinery, but was playing a trick to detain me. Then I jumped into the water and swam. I didn’t have much trouble. I’m a good swimmer, and it wasn’t so very far.”
“You’re a brave girl!” exclaimed Sam warmly, and Jess tried to run away again, but they would not let her.
The police whom Bob had telephoned for soon arrived, and took charge of the two men. They were eventually sent to prison for long terms.