It gave him a shock, with which, however, came a gleam of consolation. Mr. Hatville, then, had not returned home.
I will do Olly the justice to say that he could not under any circumstances have rejoiced at such a disaster as the wreck of the yacht; yet it was some comfort to think that the loss of the watch had not yet been discovered.
"I haven't heard of it!" Olly said in a shaky voice.
"Then how in the world did you get where you are?" inquired Perce, and as Olly was too much overcome by his feelings to answer at once, he continued: "We concluded you must have been aboard of the Susette. Where's the best place to take you on?"
"Right here," said Olly. "But I've a boat, too, around on the other side. I'd like to save that."
"A boat!" Moke exclaimed. "Then why in the name of common sense——"
"Why didn't you go ashore?" cried Poke.
"It leaks, and I haven't any oars nor anything to bail with. It was all I could do to get over here in it, without sinking. I was on the "Calf's" back till the waves began to break over it this morning."
Here a sob caught poor Olly's voice, at the recollection of all he had gone through.
"On the 'Calf'!" said Perce. "How did it happen? But never mind about that till we get you out of your scrape."