Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-10-11

covered I.aiu.
"And dress in velvet cloaks and
buokled shoesf"
And
"And say boo to naughty little girls
who won't let me complete my diary"
shouted Brand. "Be or, both OF you
Keep lookout for the next ten min
utcs. If you see any signals from the
mainland or catch sight Of the Lance
lot. call me-"
They climbed to the trimming stage
of the lantern, which was level with
the external gallery. Obcdicnt to In
structions. they searched the Land 5
End and the wide reach of Mounts
bay beyond earn du. Save scudding
sail or two beating in from the Lizard
and couple of big steamers hurrying
from the cast--one transatlantic
transport liner from London-therc
was nothing visible. In the far die
lance the sea looked smooth enough
though they needed no explanation Of
the reality when they saw the irregular
hull of q Penzance fishing smack.
"Oh, Connie, the reefw said Enid
suddenly In low voice.
They glanced ut the turbid retreat
of the tide over the submerged rocks
The sea was heavier. the noise louder
now that they listened to it, than when
they arrived In the Daisy, little more
than an hour earlier. Some giant force
seemed to be wrestling there. raging
aga inst its bonds. striving fevershl,
to tear, rend utterly destroy its invlsi
BILE letters. Sometimes, after an IN
usually impetuous surge. dark shape
trailing witch tresses of weed. showed
for an instant in the pit of the cal
dron. Then a mad whirl of water
would pounce on it with a fearsome
spring and the fang of rock would be
smothered ten feet deep.
For some reason they did not talk
They were fascinated by the power
the grandeur, the untamed energy Of
the spectacle. The voice OF the reef
held them spellbound. They listened
mutely.
Beneath Brand wrote with scholarly
ease:
therefore I decided that it would
best serve the interests of the board
if | sent Bates and Jackson to Pen
zance In the boat in which my daugh-
ter'-he paused an instant and added
an 49, to the Unfortunately hap
pened to visit me. As ] would be alone
on the rock, and the two girls might be
helpful until the relief came, 1 retained
them"
He glanced at the weather glass in
front of him and made a note:
Barometer falling. Temperature
higher"
In another book he entered the exact
rection and force" caused him to looD
up nt the wind vane. He whistled
softly.
as. w." he wrote, and after a set
onds thought inserted the figure
The sailors scale. We landsman. differs
from yours. What you term gale AT
sea he ioyfully halls az fresh breeze
No. is point above this limit, wheE
well conditioned clipper ship can car
~ single reefs and topgallant sails in
chase full and by. No. II Is hur-
ricane. Bare poles" says the scale.
Slowly mounting the iron ladder, he
stood beside tho silent watchers. The
bay was nearly deserted. No sturdy
tugboat was pouring smoke from her
funnel and staggering toward the rock.
Northwest and west the darkness was
spreading and lowering.
He did not trouble to examine the
reef. Its signs and tokens We're too
familiar to him. Its definite below or
muttered threat was part of the pre-
vaillng influence Of the hour or day.
He had heard its voice too often to find
an omen In il now
This time I must congratulate both
Of you," he said quietly.
"On what" they cried in unison.
shril with unacknowlclgcd excitement.
'LG1ies seldom If ever pass a night
on a rock lighthouse. You will have
that rare privilege"
Enid clapped her hands.
Il am delighted" she exclaimed.
"Will there be n storm, father?" ask
ed Constance
81 think so. At any rate only n
miracle will enable the tug TO reach lis
before tomorrow. and miracles are not
frequent occurrences ut sea-"
II know of one" was Ends com
ment. with great seriousness for her.
He read her thought
II was younger then" he smiled.
Nov I am Cftr. "NH :'o w"rlI IL
f~ -"
(TO BE CONTINUED