was he? How had he come there?
What was the meaning of those signals with that peculiar flag, and what
could be the reason of Solomon's joy?

They stood dumb with astonishment, confused, and almost afraid to think
of the one cause that each one felt to be the real explanation of all
this. Too long had they searched in vain for Tom,--too often had they
sunk from hope to despair,--too confident and sanguine had they been;
and now, at this unexpected sight, in spite of the assurance which it
must have given them that this could be no other than Tom, they scarce
dared to believe in such great happiness, and were afraid that even
this might end in a disappointment like the others.

But, though they stood motionless and mute, the two figures on board
the Antelope were neither one nor the other. Solomon danced more and
more madly, and brandished his arms more and more excitedly, and there
came forth from his fog horn wilder and still wilder peals, and the
flag rose and fell more and more quickly, until at last the spectators
on the shore could resist no longer.

"G-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-d ger-ra-a-a-cious!"

This cry burst from Captain Corbet.

It was enough. The spell was broken. A wild cry burst forth from the
boys, and with loud, long shouts of joy they rushed down the bank, and
over the beach, back to their boat. The captain was as quick as any of
them. In his enthusiasm he forgot his rheumatism. There was a race,
and though he was not even with Bruce and Bart, he kept ahead of Pat,
and Arthur, and Phil, and old Wade.

Hurrah!

And hurrah again!

Yes, and hurrah over and over; and many were the hurrahs that burst
from them as they raced over the rocky beach.

Then to tumble into the boat, one after another, to grasp the oars, to
push her off, to head her for the schooner, and to dash through the
water on their way back, was but the work of a few minutes.

The row to the schooner was a tedious one to those impatient young
hearts. But as they drew nearer, they feasted their eyes on the figure
of the new comer, and the last particle of doubt and fear died away.
First, they recognized the dress--the familiar red shirt. Tom had worn
a coat and waistcoat ashore at Hillsborough on that eventful day; but
on reaching the schooner, he had flung them off, and appeared now in
the costume of the "B. O. W. C." This they recognized first, and then
his face was revealed--a face that bore no particular indication of
suffe