CHAPTER X.
THE STORM OFF CAPE HATTERAS.
For the moment Oliver could not believe his eyesight. He stared at his chum without saying a word.
“Yes, it is I,” said Gus Gregory finally. “Do you think it is my ghost?”
“Gus!” gasped Oliver. “Where in the world did you come from?”
“Where did you suppose? From Rockvale.”
“And what—what are you doing here?”
“I’m bound for California; going to accompany you.”
“You are! Why—why”—Oliver could not finish the question.
“Don’t try to ask too many questions at once, and perhaps I’ll answer some of them,” laughed the stout boy. “In the first place, I left Rockvale yesterday morning about eleven o’clock. I came at once to New York, and after getting a good bath, so as not to look quite like a tramp, I bought a ticket for this steamer, and here I am.”
“Yes, but do your folks know of all this?”