“That’s right,” agreed the other. “But I guess Captain Ward will be careful. We wouldn’t have gone on at first if it hadn’t been for the fog at night.”
A few minutes later loud whistles broke out from the ship to let the castaways know she was coming to rescue them.
“That’s the Beacon all right!” cried Sam. “I know her tooting. First I thought it might be some other steamer she was sending after us. But she’s the Beacon!”
So it proved. A little later a boat put off from the anchored ship which came to a stop a safe distance away from the island and the sand-bar. Those on the Beacon did not wait for the castaways on the island to launch the boat they had.
In the craft that put off from the ship was Captain Ward and some of his sailors. Running up the beach to where Mr. and Mrs. Brown stood with the children and the others and holding out his hands, the commander cried:
“Oh, I’m so sorry this happened and that you were left behind! It was all due to an accident and because I was hurt. We never would have gone away and left you except for that!”
“We knew it was an accident,” said Mr. Brown. “And, really, we have had a very good time here. We have an extra passenger for you to take back if you will,” and he motioned to Harry Pott.
“A regular castaway, I take it,” said the captain.
“Yes, I’ve been here nearly a year,” said Harry Pott.
“But what happened to the Beacon?” asked Mrs. Brown.