Roy told him how they had been lost. Then he added, “Will you take me back to Galveston with you?”
“Surest thing you know,” exclaimed the captain.
So it happened that when the Rotarian, a few days later, tied up at her pier in Galveston, Roy Mercer was the first person ashore. A single glance told him that Galveston was unharmed. The captain had already told him, however, how the sea-wall had saved the city. Roy raced down the pier and up the gangplank to the Lycoming. The first person he met was the third mate. Roy stopped dead in astonishment, then sprang forward and grasped the mate’s hand.
“How did you get here?” he cried in astonishment.
The mate told him that after he, Roy, was washed away from the others on the overturned boat, the life-boat was driven straight toward the highest point on Mustang Island. A few sand-dunes remained above the flood, and on these the crew found refuge. Two of the sailors died from exposure, for they had to stay on their tiny refuge, exposed to wind and rain, for fully forty-eight hours. Then they got across Aransas Pass, found food and shelter, and later made their way along the railroad to San Patricio, where they got a train back to Galveston. Barring the sailors who died, all were back on the Lycoming safe and sound.
Roy pressed on to the captain’s quarters. He was very eager to see him. He felt sure that this time a warm welcome awaited him. He rapped on the captain’s door.
“Come in,” said a rough voice.
Roy entered and stood before his commander. “I report for duty again, sir,” he said.
The captain took his outstretched hand. “I’m glad you escaped,” he said, “but you had no business in that small boat. Your post of duty was in the wireless house. You left me in great difficulties. There was no way to communicate quickly with the Empress. But I’m very glad you escaped.”