The three young fliers stood on the beach, waiting for the approaching boat in excited suspense. She was nearer now; there was no doubt that she was answering their signal.
It was a large, flat steamboat with wide decks, which were packed with passengers who were peering at the lonely little island, and waving cheerily at the three survivors. It approached rapidly; when it was within calling distance of the island it stopped and let down a life-boat, which two men rowed to the shore.
“Shall we all get aboard?” inquired Dot, turning to Linda.
“I think I’d rather not,” replied Linda. “If they can supply us with some food, I think I’d better stay here. You see, I don’t like to leave the Ladybug alone.”
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“What do you suggest, Linda?” asked Chase, as if he, too, considered her the guide in this situation.
“That you go to the mainland, Bert—or to the peninsula, whichever the boat happens to be headed for—and bring me back some gas.”
“You mean leave you two girls here alone?” he asked. “It’ll mean all night—before I can get back.”
“Yes. Why not? We’ll be safe, unless a shark comes to shore and bites us. But for goodness’ sake, don’t forget us!”
“I’ll never forget you,” replied the young man solemnly.
The life-boat had reached the island by this time, and two men jumped out and leaped to shore.
“This is wonderful of you!” cried Dot. “We certainly are grateful.”
“Glad to do it,” replied one of the men, a big, brawny sailor. “But do tell me what that thing is.” He pointed to the autogiro. “It looks like a plane, but I never seen a plane like that before.”
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“It’s an autogiro,” explained Chase. “And we ran out of gas—almost dropped down in the Gulf.... So, if you can take me to shore, I’d like to get some and bring it back here.”
“Sure,” replied the man. “But what about the ladies?”
“We’ve decided to stay here,” replied Dot. “At least, if you can supply us with some food to keep us till tomorrow morning. We’re nearly starved.”
“Sure,” repeated the man, “anything you say!”
Chase and the two sailors climbed into the rowboat and pushed off immediately. Inside of ten minutes they returned, bringing a box of food with them, and a tank of ice-water.
“How much do we owe you?” inquired Linda, taking a bill from her pocket.
“Nothin’!” answered the man. “The Captain says it’s a present, with his compliments.”
“I think that’s awfully good of him,” said Dot, lifting the lid of the box and peering hungrily inside. “And it looks like real American food, too. Biscuits—and ham—and eggs!”
“Mexican chickens lay the same kind of eggs that American chickens do,” observed Chase, dryly.
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“That’ll be enough out of you!” retorted Dot, trying to look scornful, but laughing in spite of herself.
“Be sure to get something to eat for yourself, right away, Bert,” put in Linda.
“We’ll take care of that,” the sailor assured her, as the men returned to the boat.
“And come back soon!” added Dot.
The rowboat went back to the steamer, and the girls remained on the beach watching it, all the while waving and smiling to their rescuers. At last the steamboat pulled off, and disappeared from view; then they returned to their fire and built it up again.
“This is going to be a meal worth eating!” exclaimed Dot, as she unpacked biscuits and butter, ham, eggs, and coffee. “Even oranges and bananas!” she added, hardly able to wait until they should begin to eat.
They sat about their fire talking until long after darkness came on, and the stars appeared in the sky. Both girls felt happy now—only anxious to be after their enemy again.
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“I’m so sorry for the delay,” remarked Linda. “More on Mr. Eckert’s account than my own. If I could only get his plane back, I shouldn’t worry so much about that forged check for five thousand dollars.”
“It’s the idea of what that girl got away with that exasperates me,” said Dot. “Making all that money on your name. It’s maddening.”
“But she’s sure to be caught sometime, by the police. And then she’ll have to pay up.”
“Yes, but I want her caught soon—and by us, if possible.”
“Well, tomorrow’s a new day,” said Linda hopefully. “And you never can tell what will happen. Now—let’s get some sleep.”
So, wrapping up in their blankets, they lay down in the sand, far inland, lest the tide should rise, and slept until the sun awakened them. A delightfully cool breeze was blowing from the ocean, reminding the girls of pleasant days at the seashore.
“Only it reminds me more of that island off the coast of Georgia,” returned Dot, when Linda made this observation.
“It does look something like it. But oh, such different circumstances now. We’re not Robinson Crusoes here. We’ve got everything we want—food, and the Ladybug, and Bert Chase to rescue us.”
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“Speaking of Bert,” put in Dot, “let’s get a good swim before he gets back.”
They acted upon the suggestion immediately, and enjoyed their dip immensely. What a thrill it gave them to bathe for the first time in the Gulf of California! Almost like going into the Pacific Ocean. But they did not venture out far, or stay long in the water. They wanted to be all ready for Chase when he returned, so that they could be on their pursuit again as quickly as possible.
“I like your boy-friend, Linda,” said Dot, taking up the conversation where they had left it when they went in to bathe. “But it’s nice to have him out of the way for a while.”
“I don’t see why you call him my boy-friend,” returned the other girl. “He’s just as much yours.”
“He is not! Haven’t you noticed how he’s always watching you? As if he couldn’t take his eyes from you. Pure devotion, I’d call it.”
Linda laughed and began to run a comb through her wet hair, arranging the ringlets in place. She had a lovely natural wave—a gift which saved her a great deal of time at hairdressers’. No matter where she was, or how she was dressed, she always looked pretty.
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“I think you’re exaggerating, Dot. He’s never said anything to make me think he especially likes me.”
“All the more credit to him! But just the same, I’ll bet Ralph Clavering wouldn’t feel any too easy about him.”
Suddenly Linda sighed.
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