That night Bob and his chums were home again.
By turns the boys told their story.
"Oh, but we were so worried!" exclaimed Mrs. Bouncer. "Of course it wasn't your fault, though. Silas kept telling us that his boat would ride out the storm, but your father has hired a large motor boat and is off searching for you."
But the good news soon reached Mr. Bouncer, for it was telegraphed all along the coast, and he heard it when he put in at a port to get gasolene. Then he hurried back to Barnacle Cottage.
"But what made the schooner abandoned?" asked Bob's father, when he had heard the story. The boys did not know, but a day or so later that mystery was cleared.
It seemed that, just before the storm that sent Bob and his chums to sea, the schooner had put in at a small port for a supply of fresh water, hers having leaked away because of faulty casks. All the crew was given shore leave, and the captain, too, went off to attend to some business. A watchman alone was left in charge, while the Mary Ellen was docked.
Then came a small hurricane. A neighboring vessel broke her mooring rope and crowded down on the schooner. The latter parted her cable and swung out into the channel. Then the wind caught her and sent her to sea, much as the boys had been blown. In the confusion that followed no one thought of trying to save the Mary Ellen and away she went without a soul aboard, for the watchman had fallen overboard while trying to lower the sails. He was not, however, drowned.
So, after all, there was not much of a mystery about the schooner. She was claimed by her captain and crew, and her' owners gladly paid the salvage money, of which our young heroes received their proper share. Their parents put it in the bank for them.
A few days later Silas Warner got back his motor boat, which had been only slightly damaged.