"So you see," he turned to Vincent with a smile, "you went five hundred miles out to sea for the purpose of rediscovering America. Not much chance of success. Anyway that's what I thought, and that is why I dashed off on a wild race in the Kittlewake. And that's why we're here."
Silence followed the ending of Curlie's narrative. There seemed to be nothing more to say.
So they sat there staring at the sea for a long time.
The silence was at last broken by the skipper's announcement:
"Smoke on the larboard bow."
It was true. Their relief was at hand.
Almost immediately afterward Curlie received a second reassuring message from the captain of the liner. A short time after that he had the pleasure of escorting the dripping daughter of a millionaire up the gangway.
The next day as they were moving in toward the dock, Vincent Ardmore approached Curlie.
"My sister," there was a strange smile on his lips, "says you set out on this trip for the purpose of having me arrested?"