At last Jerry was able to converse with Dr. Bounce. The boy’s voice trembled as he inquired about the man of the wreck. The others could only hear one side of the conversation, but they guessed the rest.
“You say he’s getting better, doctor? That’s good. Has he been able to give his name? He has? What is it? Tell me quick! A lot depends on it! Pack? Oh! Hardack! Are you sure? Walter Hardack!”
“It’s him! It’s him! That’s my brother’s name!” exclaimed the keeper, jumping up and down in his excitement. “Oh! Jess! Your father’s found! The boys did it! Oh! Jess! Praise the good Lord!”
Jess came running into the room, wondering what was up. She looked at her uncle. There were tears in the old man’s eyes.
“Your father’s found! Your father’s found!” was all he could say, as he hugged the now weeping girl to him.
“Come on,” said Ned softly. “We can return later.” And the chums withdrew.
Mr. Hardack soon called them back, and made them tell every detail of the wreck. They surmised that Jessica’s father had been on his way to the lighthouse when he was injured. His appeal to the boys to find his daughter had been no more than the raving of delirium, caused by the injury to his head, but it had worked itself out in an unexpected way.
The next day, with Ned as her guide, Jess started for Cresville, and a few hours later was clasped in her father’s arms. He had come successfully through a serious operation and was now on the road to recovery.
“Well,” remarked Jerry to Bob, when Ned had gone away, “we certainly had plenty of excitement the last few days. Ned is right in it to the last. Guess Jessica likes him. Well, she’s a mighty nice girl.”
“Right you are,” replied Bob. “Say, it wasn’t any mistake to come here for a vacation. I hope we will have as much fun next year.”