“Our island’s floating away faster than before!”
It needed but a glance to show this. Because of the fury of the hurricane the floating forest had been torn loose from the temporary anchorage on the bottom of the lake and was being swept along like a boat.
“I wish it would take us somewhere so’s we could get off this lake,” remarked Bob, as he pulled the _Dartaway_ in and proceeded to get the clothes from the lockers.
In the morning they found themselves several miles from where they had been the night before. The day was a fine one after the storm, and the girls forgot their fright and the discomforts of wet clothes.
“Look!” cried Rose suddenly, pointing ahead. “There are the three dead trees that marked where we left the houseboat.”
“So they are,” added Olivia. “Maybe this island will float over there and we can see if the houseboat is waiting for us.”
“But you forget the blocked passage,” said Nellie.
The island, on which the party was, continued to move slower and slower as the wind died out. Jerry, who was aiding Ned in the task of getting breakfast, went down to the shore of the floating island for a pail of water. He saw the three dead trees, and noted the girls looking at them and talking about what has happened since they went fishing. He also saw something else.
What it was caused him to drop his pail and set up a shout. The professor and Ned, followed by Ottiby and his son, came running up to him.
“The passage!” cried Jerry. “See, it is clear now. The hurricane must have blown the mass of trees and vegetation away and we can get into Lake Okeechobee now!”
“Then we can get back to papa on the houseboat!” exclaimed Olivia. “Oh, girls, isn’t it fine! The very storm we were so afraid of has done us a favor!”
“I’ll make sure of it,” Jerry went on, as he and Ned got into the _Dartaway_. The girls insisted on going also, and soon the five were puffing toward where could be seen a narrow stream leading from Butterfly Lake. In a short time they were up to it and Jerry’s surmise was found to be correct. The hurricane had blown the small floating island clear through the passage into Lake Okeechobee and that big body of water was now accessible from Butterfly Lake.
“There’s the _Wanderer_!” exclaimed Olivia, pointing ahead, and the others, looking, saw the houseboat moored at the entrance to the passage. They also saw Mr. Seabury pacing the upper deck. At the sight of the motor boat he waved his hands and set up a shout of welcome.