CHAPTER XX
A HAPPY MEETING
Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey and the friends who had gone with them in CaptainCraig's motor-boat to search for the runaway balloon, waited anxiouslyafter they had run on the rocks for what was to happen next.
"Is there any danger?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey.
"No, lady, there doesn't seem to be--that is, if you mean danger ofsinking," said Captain Craig. "As I remarked at first, we're plumb faston the rocks. But maybe if we were to get out and thus lighten the boat,she would float off the rocks and we could keep on."
"That's a good idea!" declared Mr. Bobbsey. "We must keep on, no matterwhat happens, and find those children!"
"I think we'll find them!" declared Mr. Trench, and he seemed so much inearnest that Mrs. Bobbsey asked:
"When?"
"Very soon now," answered the balloon man. "If my gas bag came down hereon Hemlock Island--that's where we are now--it won't take long to searchall over it and find your Flossie and Freddie. That's what I think."
"But first let me see how badly the boat is damaged," went on thecaptain. "I'm afraid it's in bad shape."
"Can't we get away from here?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey. "That is, I mean,after we find the children? I wouldn't go until we have found them!" sheexclaimed.
"It all depends on what shape my boat is in," went on the captain. "Assoon as you are all out I'll take a look."
The searching party stood about in the rain on the shore of HemlockIsland under the dripping trees, the drops splashing on their rubbercoats, while Captain Craig looked over his boat. He took some littletime to do this, and at last he shook his head in gloomy fashion.
"Well?" asked Mr. Bobbsey.
"Not well--bad!" answered the captain. "We can't go on until the boat ismended. She isn't as badly smashed as I thought, and it doesn't leakmuch, which is a good thing. But I can't use the engine to drive heralong until it's fixed. We'll have to stay on the island until I gethelp, I guess."
"How are we going to get help in all this rain and fog?" Mr. Bobbseywanted to know.
"There used to be some campers' huts here," said the captain. "Maybesome of those fellows left a rowboat. I could go over to the mainland inthat and get help. Some of you can come with me if you like."
"I'm not going to!" announced Mrs. Bobbsey. "I'm going to stay here andfind Flossie and Freddie!"
"So am I, my dear!" added Mr. Bobbsey.
"Well, then, let's look around for a boat. If I find one I'll go forhelp in it, and you can stay here," said Captain Craig.
He made his own damaged craft fast close to the shore, and then thesearching party set off through the woods to look for a cabin, arowboat, and for the missing children.
"It ought to be easy to see that balloon, it's so big," said CaptainCraig.
"I can spot that balloon of mine as soon as any one, I guess," said Mr.Trench. "This isn't the first time I've hunted for it. You never cantell exactly where a balloon will come down."
Through the underbrush, between trees, and in the dripping rain andswirling fog, the searching party tramped on. Suddenly one of the mengave a cry.
"I see something!" he shouted.
"Is it my children?" Mrs. Bobbsey asked, her voice trembling witheagerness.
"No, I think it's the balloon," was the answer.
And the balloon it was. Draped over bushes and trees was the big gasbag, now almost emptied of the vapor that had lifted it and carried itaway from the fair grounds with Flossie and Freddie in the basket.
"Oh, but where are my little ones--my Bobbsey twins?" cried the mother.
"They must be somewhere around here," said Captain Craig.
And then, thrilling the hearts of all, came two young voices, calling:
"Daddy! Mother! Here we are! Oh, we're so glad you came! Here we are!"
Out of the woods rushed Flossie and Freddie, to be caught up in the armsof Mother and Daddy Bobbsey.
"We--we were in the hut!" breathlessly explained Flossie. "And I heard anoise, and I said for Freddie to hark, and he harked, and then we heardtalking and we ran out and--and here we are!"
"Yes, darlings, here you are!" cried Mrs. Bobbsey, tears running downher cheeks. "But, oh, why did you ever do it? Why did you get into theballoon?"
"Oh, jest 'cause," answered Freddie. And they all laughed at hisanswer.