“They’re not tied up,” answered Andy. “I didn’t have the heart to do it, so I cut them loose when we were leaving camp.”
The auxiliary cruiser was, of course, supplied with radio, and the lads lost no time in sending a message to their parents. A few hours later came a return message, relayed from New York City, stating that the fathers of the four boys were on the way to meet them as soon as they landed at Norfolk.
It can well be imagined how impatient the boys were to reach home. Yet every time they thought of joining their parents and Mary and Martha a tinge of sadness crept into their minds.
“Poor Ralph, Gif and Spouter!” murmured Jack. “How we shall miss them!”
When at last Norfolk was reached, the boys could hardly wait to get ashore. There were their fathers ready to greet them, and my readers can rest assured that all received the warmest kind of welcome.
“We were hoping against hope when your message came,” declared Dick Rover. “We thought the motor boat had been lost with all on board.”
“We’ve been watching all the shipping reports for days,” added Tom Rover. “We knew there had been some terrible storms, and the papers have reported half a dozen wrecks. We were sure no motor boat could live in such weather.”
“Well, we’ve got bad news,” said Randy, sorrowfully. “Spouter, Gif and Ralph——”
“Are all safe!” burst in Sam Rover.
“Safe!” came simultaneously from the four Rover boys.