The Isobel was therefore backed around and headed out of the little harbor once more. There was nothing much on the island that they would need. And, in any case, Mr. Howbridge considered it quite as well to get away without coming into contact with the turtle catchers.
Everything that had happened to the little girls had to be told over and over again, right down to the excitement of the grampus—which Dot insisted upon calling a grandpa.
“But he wasn’t anything like Margaret and Holly Pease’s grandpa—for he’s real nice,” added the littlest Corner House girl with her usual loose association of ideas. “He’s got the nicest white hair and a gold-headed cane——”
“Not the grampus, Dot,” groaned Tess, in despair.
“No; of course not that grandpa. Margaret and Holly Pease’s. You’ve seen his gold-headed cane yourself, Tess Kenway. I wish you wouldn’t always interrupt me. Now—now,” and she yawned, “I forget—forget what I was going to say.”
She proceeded almost instantly to go fast asleep with her head in Ruth’s lap.
CHAPTER XXV—TYING ALL THE THREADS
The evening following, the Isobel poked her nose into the passage past the fort and ran into the harbor of St. Sergius. It was true that her appearance was not noted by the whole city and the welcome of the lost ones acclaimed by naval broadsides and the city factory whistles. Nevertheless, the cause of their absence had been suspected and the boat of the harbor police ran alongside the Isobel before she reached her usual mooring-buoy.
It seemed that Señor Benno had been to the other side of the island and had returned only that day and made inquiries about his friend, Mr. Howbridge, and his boat. Some inquiries had been addressed to the authorities by people at the hotel, too, and the authorities were very glad indeed to learn of the safe return of the Americanos.
“They needn’t fret,” sighed Agnes. “They are not half as glad to have us back as we are to get back. What say, Ruthie?”