Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-10-04
"Vhdt do you make Of that2"


"Whot do you make Of that9"
Jones won't hear of It,"
"1'hat is precisely what he will do,
within the next minute. Now, don't
be vexed, Jim. Stand by and sing out
directions if needful when l am In the
water. Have no fear. l am more than
equal to Leander in sea like this"
jim, who trusted to the head keep
er's veto-awed, too, by the reference
TO Leander, whom he hazily associated
with Captain Webb-made no retoinder.
He focused the telescope again, gave
a moments scrutiny to the steamer
and then re-examined the boat. Tho
stiffness of the morning was solemn,
Beyond the lazy splash of the sea
against the Gulf Rock itself and an oc-
casional heavy surge as the swell re-
vealed and instantly smothered some
dark tooth of the reef he heard no
sound save the ring of Stephen Brands
boots on the iron stairs as he descend
ed through the oil room. the library and
office to the first bedroom. in the low
or bunk of which lag Mr.. Jones, keeper
tack of sciatica
During one fearful night in the
March equinox, when the fierce heat of
the lamp within and the icy blast Of
the gale without had temporarily de-
ranged the occulting machinery, Jones
experienced an anxious watch. Not for
an instant could he forego attendance
on The lamp. Owing to the sleet it wa.
necessary TO keep the light at full pres
sure. The surplus Oil driven up from
the tanks by weights weighing half
ton. must flow copiously over the brass
shaft of the burner or the metal might
Weld to the fervent power OF the col
umn of flame
The occuitlng hood. too. must be help
ed when the warning click came or il
would jam and fail to fall periodically,
thus changing the character of the
light, 10 the bewiderment and gray,
peril of any unhappy vessel striving
against the exterior turmoil Of wind
and wave.
50 Jones passed four hours with his
head and shoulders in the temperature
of Turkish bath and the lower part
Of his body chilled to the bone.
lie thought nothing of it at the time
This was duty. But at intervals
throughout the rest Of his life the sci
attic nerve would remind him of that
lonely watch. This morning he wac
convalcscent after painful immobillty
OF two days.
Watching the boat. Jim conferred hcl
in the telescope field and looked anX'
lousy for sharp arrow shaped ripple
on the surface of the sen. The breeze
which had vanquished the fog now
kissed the smiling water into dimples,
and his keen sight was perplexed by
the myriad wavelets.
Each minute the condition Of affairs
on board became more defined. Be.
meath some oars ranged along the star.
board side he could see several tins,
such rs contain biscuits and compress
ed beef. The shapeless mass in the
bows puzzled him. 1t was partly COW
cred with broken panks from the dam.
aged portion of the upper works, and
it might be jib sail fallen there when
the mast broke. The birds were busy
and excited. He did not like that.
Nearly half an hour passed. Ths
Princess Royal, a fine vessel of yacht
like proportions, sprinting for the aft
ernoon train, was about eight miles
away. sou'wcst by west. According to
present Indications, steamer and dere-
lict would be abreast of the Gulf Rock
light simultaneously but the big ship,
OF courSc would give wide berth Ia
Il rock strewn shoal.
At last the lighthouse keeper heard
ascending footsteps. This was not
stephen Brand, but Jones. Jim, whose
rare irrltated moods found safety in
stolid silence. neither spoke nor looked
around when his chief joined him, bin
oculars in hand.
Jones, man of whltewash, polish
and rigid adherence to framed rules
found the boat instantly and recapitu'
lated Jim's inventory, eliciting gruntA
of agreement as each item was licked
OF.
A clang Of metal beneath caught their
ears-the opening of the stout doors,
forty feet above high water mark, from
which a series Of iron rungs sunk in
the granite wall led to the rocky base.
Brands goin to swim out It's
hardly worth while signalin' to the
Lands End" commented Jones.
No answer. Jim leaned well over
and saw their associate, stripped ia
his underclothing, with leather belt
supporting sheath knife slung across
his shoulders, climbing down the lad-
der.
This taciturnity surprised Jones. for
Jim was the cheeriest nurse who ever