CHAPTER XXXIII
A HAPPY MEETING—CONCLUSION
The letter from Hockley read, they waited patiently until some mail matter which had just come in should be sorted out. This took the best part of an hour—a wait which to Mark and Frank seemed an age.
But at last the little window was opened once more and the crowd surged forward. Professor Strong was well to the front and presently they saw him turn from the window with half a dozen communications held aloft.
“Letters!” cried Frank. “Oh, if only they bring good news!”
The professor was soon beside them. There were letters for all, but just then the interest was concentrated on a communication addressed to Mark and another addressed to Frank. Both bore the postmark of Kingstown, St. Vincent.
“My father’s handwriting!” cried Mark, in a trembling voice.
“And this is in my father’s hand!” came from Frank, falteringly. His hand shook so he could not open the envelope. “Yo—you read it, professor.”
Professor Strong did so. The communication had been written the day before and ran in this wise:
“My dear son Frank:
“I am writing this in the hope that you are safe despite the fearful volcano eruptions which have taken place in this quarter of the globe. I know you were bound for St. Pierre, but I have learned that by the goodness of an all-wise Providence the Vendee escaped the eruption that destroyed St. Pierre and all the shipping in that harbor.