“And here’s hoping we shall never see them back!” John Block added.
As yet no one would venture to prophesy such a happy contingency. Were not the canoes only waiting for the ebb to run strongly in order to make for the island?
Fritz and Jenny stood side by side, watching in silence, hardly daring to believe that the situation was drawing to so immediate an end.
It soon became apparent that the canoes were feeling the action of the outgoing tide. Their speed increased, although they did not cease to hug the coast, as if it were the natives’ intention to go round Cape East.
At half-past three the fleet was midway between Deliverance Bay and Cape East. At six o’clock there could be no further doubt on the matter. The last boat rounded the cape and disappeared behind the point.
Neither M. Zermatt nor anyone else had left the knoll for a moment.
What relief was theirs when not a single pirogue remained in sight! At last the island was freed from the savages’ presence! The whole party would be able to settle down in Rock Castle again. Perhaps there would be only trifling damage to make good. They would do nothing but watch for the arrival of the Unicorn! Their last fears were forgotten, and, after all, they were all together again after surviving so many dreadful trials!
“Shall we start for Rock Castle?” Jack exclaimed, eager to quit the island.
“Yes, yes!” said Dolly no less eagerly. Frank had just joined her.
“Would it not be better to wait until to-morrow?” Jenny suggested. “What do you think, Fritz dear?”