“Food!” he shouted; and Mark saw that he was making for a tall cocoa-nut tree; but before he had gone many steps the report of a gun rang out on the morning air, and this brought both to a stand-still.
“Ahoy!” they shouted as nearly as they could together, and a faintly-heard shout answered their call.
“Hurrah!” shouted Mark, and he hailed again and went in the direction of the response, closely followed by Billy, who cast longing eyes on the cocoa-nuts.
The rest was but a matter of time, and was achieved by keeping up the calls and answers. Sometimes they found they were going wrong, but this was soon rectified, and in half an hour Mark’s eyes were gladdened by the sight of his father’s face, as he forced his way out of a cane-brake.
“Oh, father,” the lad exclaimed, “I am so sorry!”
“Oh, Mark, my boy, I am so glad!” cried the captain, catching him by the shoulders, and then pressing him tightly to his breast.
“You young dog! Here, Strong, give me leave to thrash him, and I’m yours truly for ever. Why, Mark, my dear boy, what a stew you put us in! There, if you’ll go and look where I lay down to sleep for half an hour you’ll find some tears on the leaves.”
“I’m so sorry, Major O’Halloran.”
“Bedad, and it don’t matter, for we’ve found you again. Ugh! you ugly young ruffian! to go frightening your father into fits.”
“It was an accident, sir.”