"I can't believe it!" she said at last. "Is it really, truly you, Linda darling?"
"What's left of us," replied Linda, laughing. "Did you ever see two such sights as we are?"
"I never saw anyone or anything in my life that looked half so good to me!" returned Louise, fervently. She stepped back and laid her hand on her husband's arm, for so far Ted had not had a chance to say anything, or be included in the welcome. "Tell me it's true, Ted—that I'm not dreaming!" she urged. "I simply can't believe it."
"It's the best, the truest thing in the world," the young man assured her.
"We were positive you were dead," Louise explained. "We had so much evidence to prove it—the empty island where you were marooned, the overturned motor-boat that Jim Valier spotted early this morning——"
"Jim Valier!" repeated Dot, in amazement. "Where would Jim see our old boat?"
"Jim and Ralph and your two fathers are on a yacht, searching for you. They broadcast by radio any news they get. And Ted and I have flown to every island anywhere near the coast. We finished searching them all, so we landed here this morning, just for a rest."
"Then you have a plane!" cried Linda, in delight. "You can take us back to Florida! I'd so hate to get into another boat—I simply loathe the sight of them."
"Do tell us what happened to you," urged Ted. "I don't understand how we missed you everywhere."