“For years?” asked Bert, who, with the other Bobbsey twins, was much interested in Cousin Jasper’s strange story. “That was just like Robinson Crusoe!” Bert went on. “Why didn’t they stay there always?”
“They did not have enough to eat,” said Mr. Bobbsey, “and it was too lonesome for them there. They were the only people on the island, as far as they knew. So they made a smudge of smoke, and on a pole they put up some pieces of canvas that had washed ashore from their motor boat. They hoped these signals would be seen by some ship or small boat that might come to take them off.”
“Did they get rescued?” asked Bert.
Mr. Bobbsey was about to answer when the telephone, which was in the room, gave a loud ring.
“Some one for us!” exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey.
[CHAPTER XI—THE MOTOR BOAT]
Mr. Bobbsey arose to answer the telephone, which big hotels put in the rooms of their guests nowadays instead of sending a bellboy to knock and say that the traveler is wanted.
“I wonder who wants us?” murmured Mr. Bobbsey.
The children looked disappointed that the telling of the story had to be stopped.
“Hello!” said their father into the telephone.