CHAPTER XXIII
OFF TO THE ISLAND
Once the excitement over the rescue of himself and his companions wasover, Tom settled down to another task. And it was that of looking fora ship bound back to Australia, that he might once more set out insearch of his parents.
"And I sure do hope there won't be any more accidents," Tom mused."I've had my share of 'em this trip, that's certain."
The hardships and the privations suffered while on the derelict and inthe open boat soon passed away, and the refugees were made to feel athome on the _Alexandria_. Little Jackie soon became a general favorite,and Tom made many friends.
As for the two sailors, they were soon at home among the members ofthe crew, and, as Captain Buchanan was short-handed, he signed them asfirst class men, so they were well provided for.
Mr. Skeel kept much to himself. He seemed in fear that his conductaboard the boat and derelict would be told to those on board the rescueship, but Tom and his friends had no idea of exposing the scoundrel,as it would have done no good. So Mr. Skeel kept to himself, gladenough to be let alone.
"I suppose there is no telling when you will sight a ship bound in thedirection I was to travel in, is there?" asked Tom, a few days afterthe rescue.
"Hardly," replied the captain. "I have instructed the lookout to reportthe first vessel bound for Australia, though, and we may speak oneany day. If she cannot take you all the way there she may be able totransfer you to one that will."
"My!" exclaimed our hero. "I certainly will have my share of travel onthe sea! But I sha'n't mind, if I can only rescue dad and mother."
"And I certainly wish you all success," spoke Captain Buchanan. "Whatare your plans when you do reach Sydney or Melbourne, if I may ask?"
"I'm going to charter a steamer and sail for that island nearTongatabu," replied Tom.
"Charter a steamer!" exclaimed the captain. "That will be prettyexpensive."
"Well, I have considerable cash with me," answered our hero, showingthe money belt which had successfully resisted the efforts of Mr. Skeelto take away. "And my father's agent in Sydney will supply me withmore, I think."
"Then you will be well provided for," commented the commander. "Youcan do almost anything--up to a certain point--with money, and it'sgood you have enough. I can give you a note to a friend of mine inMelbourne who can fit you out with a proper vessel for such need as youhave. He is also an experienced navigator, and if you like I'm surehe would sail to this island for you. Of course I can't just say whatone it was, for there are several in the group near the large one ofTongatabu, and you may have to make a search."
"I'll do it!" cried Tom, "and I'll be much obliged to you for thatnote. I'll engage your friend if he'll come."
Tom and the captain talked for some time longer, and our hero was givenmany valuable pointers about what to do. So interested did he become,and so occupied was he in looking for a vessel to take him back toAustralia that he had no time to worry about his parents. Not that hedid not think of them, but his thoughts were hopeful ones.
"I'll rescue them!" he declared determinedly. "And, oh! if I could onlypick up some of those from the _Silver Star_ who may still be adrift inopen boats. And Jackie's father! If I could only find him!"
But Tom felt that this was too much to hope. Several days passed,and no Australian bound vessel was seen. Tom began to be a bitdiscouraged, but one morning there was a cry on deck when he was atbreakfast. He hurried up to find that the lookout had sighted a largesteamer approaching them.
"Oh, if it's only going to Australia!" cried Tom.
It was, as he learned a little later when the steamer hove to inanswer to a signal from the _Alexandria_. A small boat was sent fromthe sailing ship to the steamer, and Captain Buchanan requested thecourtesy of transferring one of his passengers to the _Monarch_, whichwas the name of the steamer spoken.
The word came back that Tom would be accepted.
"Good!" he cried. "I'm sorry to leave you, Captain Buchanan, but I mustrescue dad and mother!"
"That's right. Good luck to you!"
"What about Jackie?" asked Abe, who, with his mate, had come on deck tobid Tom good-by.
"He comes with me, of course," was our hero's answer. "I'm going toturn him over to his relatives," he added. "Mr. Case said he had asister in Melbourne."
"I'm going to my daddy!" Jackie proudly informed the friends he wasleaving behind on the _Alexandria_. "Tom is going to take me to mydaddy!"
"I only wish I was," murmured Tom with tears in his eyes.
He and his little charge were soon on the Australian bound vessel, andthe _Monarch_ getting under way again was once more steaming toward theland of the kangaroo and rabbit.
In due time Tom landed at Melbourne, and his first duty was to takelittle Jackie to his relatives. That they were shocked was to beexpected, over the news of the shipwreck, of which they had heardnothing, though they were beginning to be alarmed over the fact thatthe _Silver Star_ had not arrived, and had not been spoken.
Their grief and sorrow were concealed from Jackie as well as possible,and he bade Tom a tearful good-by, convinced that our hero was going tobring matters about so that everything would be all right.
Then Tom sought out Captain Mosher, to whom he had a letter ofintroduction.
"Humph!" exclaimed the seaman, when Tom had made known his mission, andhis desire to set out in search of his parents. "It's a slim chance,boy, and it's going to cost----"
"Never mind the cost!" cried Tom.
"All right, then. You're the doctor. If you want me to fit out a smallsteamer and go to some of the islands around Tongatabu I'm your man.Only--don't hope too much!"
"I've got to hope!" cried poor Tom. "I'm going to hope until the--thelast!"
"Well, maybe you're right after all," assented Captain Mosher. "Nowto business, ways and means, a steamer, a crew, fitting out andthen--well, I've got to get busy."
He did, to such good advantage that inside of a week all was inreadiness for the start. Tom had communicated with his father's agentin Sydney, and, as our hero had papers to prove his identity, there wasno lack of money from the inheritance Mr. Fairfield had come so far toclaim.
A steamer, the _Sea Queen_, was fitted out; a small but competent crewwas hired, stores and provisions for a month's cruise were put aboard,and one sunny day Tom took his place with the captain on the bridge.
"Well, Tom, shall we start?" asked Captain Mosher, a kindly light inhis eye, for he had taken a great liking to our hero.
"Start, and go at full speed as long as you can," came Tom's order."I want to get to that island as soon as possible, and find dad andmother."
The hoarse whistle of the _Sea Queen_ warned other craft that she wasabout to leave her berth. A little later her funnels belched blacksmoke, and from her pipe the white steam spurted. She was off for theisland.