“All ready! Let her go!” shouted the captain of the fishing boat.
A man on shore loosed the rope that held the craft to the mooring post. Several fishermen, taking hold of the gunwhale, or side of the boat, pushed it along the wooden rollers down toward the surf. As the bow of the boat entered the water, the waves splashing high up and over it, the men leaped in.
In an instant the gasoline engine was started and the boat began to move out into deeper water.
“Oh, wasn’t that great!” cried Janet, with excitement shining in her eyes. “Did you see that, Ted?” she called, thinking her brother must be close at hand.
But Ted did not answer—at least from shore. However, as the crowd grew silent, Janet heard Ted’s voice.
But it came from the fishing boat putting out to sea. And Ted shouted:
“Here I am, Janet! Here I am!”
Janet looked. Her ears caught the sound of her brother’s voice. She saw a small figure standing up in the departing fishing boat, waving a handkerchief to her.
It was Curlytop Ted.
“Oh! Oh!” cried Janet. “Oh, Teddy!”