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"Shove off!" cried Captain Mentor. At that instant a haze which had hung over the water, was blown to one side. The horizon suddenly cleared. Tom Swift looked up and gave a cry. "The steamer! The steamer! The CAMBARANIAN!" he shouted, pointing to it. The others joined in his exclamations of joy, for there, rushing toward Earthquake Island was a great steamer, crowding on all speed! "Saved!
The night passed without alarm, and in the morning, at the first blush of dawn, every one was astir, looking eagerly across the sea for a sight of the steamer. Tom had just come down from the wireless station, having received a message to the effect that a few hours more would bring the CAMBARANIAN within sight of the island.
"The steamer is stopping!" cried Mr. Damon. Surely enough the CAMBARANIAN had slowed up. Was she not going to complete the rescue she had begun? "She's going to launch her lifeboats," declared Captain Mentor. "Her commander dare not approach too close, not knowing the water. He might hit on a rock."
The agitation of the sea rocked even the mighty CAMBARANIAN and, had our friends been aboard the frail raft, they would surely have perished in the sea. As it was, they were safe saved by Tom Swift's wireless message. The steamer resumed her voyage, and the castaways told their story. Captain Valasquez refused to receive the large amount of money Mr. Hasbrook and Mr.
"No, don't waste any more power or energy than is needed," suggested Mr. Hosbrook. "You may need the gasolene before we are rescued. They are on their way, and that is enough for now." The others agreed with this, and so Tom, after a final message to the operator aboard the CAMBARANIAN stating that he would call him up in the morning, shut down the motor. Mr.
He gave the order for full speed, and, as the CAMBARANIAN got under way, Tom, and the others, standing on the deck, looked back at Earthquake Island. Suddenly there sounded a dull, rumbling report. The whole ocean about the island seemed to upheave. There was a gigantic shower of spray, a sound like an explosion, and when the waters subsided the island had sunk from sight.
"WE ARE ON EARTHQUAKE ISLAND." He gave the longitude and latitude. Came then this query: "WHAT'S THAT ABOUT AIRSHIP?" "NEVER MIND AIRSHIP," clicked Tom. The answer flashed to him through space: "STEAMSHIP 'CAMBARANIAN' FROM RIO DE JANEIRO TO NEW YORK. JUST CAUGHT YOUR MESSAGE. THOUGHT IT A FAKE." "NO FAKE," Tom sent back.
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