"To the best of my knowledge it is," was the laughing reply. "Are you all well?"
"In first-class condition. Where is father?"
"On board the schooner. I will give the signal to let him know the crew of the yacht have all been saved."
As he spoke he discharged a revolver, and the waving of the flag told that the good news was understood.
"Not all, Mr. Walters, the three sailors in our boat were drowned while trying to land on this coast."
"It is too late now to rectify the mistake. I hoped when I saw so many that there had been no disaster."
By this time the little craft had been rowed around the point of the lagoon where it was possible to effect a landing without danger of being swamped, and the sailing master leaped ashore to welcome by hearty handshakes those whom he had feared were dead.
Cummings and Poyor were introduced, and then Neal asked:
"Chartered her to hunt for you; but Mr. Emery shall tell the story. Will you come aboard now?"
"You are to go with us," Neal said, turning quickly toward Cummings.
"I hardly know what to do. It would probably be wisest for Poyor and I to begin the homeward march since there is no longer any necessity of going to Progresso."
"But you must see my father. Time is not so precious just now but that you can afford to spend another day in our company."
"It shall be as you say," Cummings replied laughingly. "I hesitated only because the sooner our long tramp comes to an end the more comfortable I shall feel in mind."
Jake and Teddy had already clambered into the boat; the others followed, and the little craft, loaded down nearly to the water's edge, was rowed out toward the schooner.
It is not necessary to make any attempt at trying to describe the reception the castaways met with from the remainder of the yacht's crew, nor the manner in which Poyor and Cummings were welcomed.
After the heartiest greetings had been exchanged Mr. Emery and the sailing master asked for an account of the landing and subsequent wanderings, and it is safe to say that they were treated to a wilder story than they had ever dreamed of hearing.
Mr. Walters was at first disposed to look upon it as a "yarn;" but the souvenir which Jake carried on his face was evidence that could not be doubted, and Cummings soon convinced the skeptical sailing master that the Chan Santa Cruz really had an existence.