The captain’s plan was to sail at once, secure a couple of men at each settlement, carry them across the river, and start them north and south along the ocean in search of a possible wreck of the Pelican. At the next town this would be repeated. By the following evening he hoped to cover a good part of the wild country in this manner.
Beyond this, there was nothing that could be done. In the house of desolation Andy’s parents waited sorrowfully for some word. At nine o’clock the captain had sailed, Ba, as usual, showing up in time to join him. Through the night there was no news. Captain Anderson reported about nine o’clock the next morning from far down the river. There was no sign of wreck or trace of the missing boy.
The steamer arrived that day at Lake Worth with a report of nothing seen. Wednesday and Thursday went by with no word. Thursday morning Captain Anderson returned up river by train, Ba bringing the boat later. Thursday evening at six o’clock came a telephone call from Melbourne—a cable message from New York. It read:
“Andros Island, via Nassau, New Providence, by boat. Safe. Record Grande Banks. Here noon to-day. O.K. Leave few days steamer. Andy.”
The enigmatic message was hard to read, but the last word was enough.
“Anyway,” sobbed Mrs. Leighton, “he’s coming back by boat.”
But the next boat and the next arrived at Lake Worth from Nassau without Andy, and then in desperation his parents took farewell of Captain and Mrs. Anderson and journeyed to that resort to await their son.