"Guess you're right," agreed his chum.
They kept on through the town, making a few purchases in stores where women were the only clerks, the men being down at the levee.
"There they are!" exclaimed Joe, as he and Blake turned into the main street, from a side one, and caught sight of Mr. Ringold and C. C.
"They look as though something had happened," observed Blake, as he noticed their friends hurrying toward them.
"Maybe they heard about you falling overboard, but didn't hear of your rescue," suggested his companion. But it was not that, as the boys learned a moment later.
Waving a slip of paper over his head, Mr. Ringold cried:
"I've got news, boys! News of our missing friends!"
"Really!" cried Joe.
"Yes, they heard from them in the New York office. I just received a telegram. It's quite a story."
"Where are they?" Blake wanted to know.
"Somewhere down the river," answered Mr. Ringold. "A message came from them in a bottle."
"A bottle!" cried Joe.
"Yes. They must have been carried down on
