Poor Helen sank down on something, she knew not what it was, and covered her face with her hands, but in a few minutes afterward Mr. Godfrey stood before her, and put his hand on her head.
“Helen!” he cried, “look up. I have splendid news!”
Helen gave a start, and looking at Mr. Berkeley, she saw that his eyes were sparkling, and that his face was glowing with delight.
“Just think of it, Helen!” he cried. “The captain here tells me that the next morning after the tug-boat came out to meet him, he saw her, with his glass, tossing about on the waves a long way off. He knew she must have been blown out to sea by the storm, and he kept watch on her. She was so far away that the people on board of her could not have seen his vessel if they had not a good ship’s glass. He was sure she was disabled, and would have gone to her assistance if he had not been disabled himself. But now, hear this—this is the splendid part. Some time afterward, he saw a steamship come along, and as he kept his glass on the spot he saw the steamer lie-to and take people off the tug-boat. Of course, she took everybody. And then she started on her way South. He says he is quite sure she is a Savannah steamer.”
“Oh, Mr. Godfrey,” cried Helen, clapping her hands, “this is glorious! Let’s go straight to Savannah!”
“Why, you madcap girl,” laughed Mr. Berkeley, “I believe you would follow those fellows all round the world!”
“Indeed I would,” said Helen, “if I could only be sure of meeting dear Chap at last!”
When they went back to the hotel, Mr. Berkeley actually considered this plan of going to Savannah. He calculated that the steamer should have arrived at that port some days before, and if the boys were there, they were probably in trouble, for, otherwise, they certainly should have been heard from.
He could not imagine why they had not telegraphed or written. His joy, therefore, at the news given him by the captain of the Cygnet, was much dampened after this careful consideration of the case. At any rate, he determined to go to Savannah. If the steamer was really bound there, the boys ought to be looked after, and he felt, as well as Mrs. Webster, that something ought to be doing until they were found.
Of course, he had to take Helen with him, as he could not send her home alone, and having telegraphed the Cygnet’s news to Boontown, the two started for Savannah that afternoon.