The Republican journal., 1915-08-12
Bug Light.

the water left the strand at flve O'Clock.
But an unreasonable snowsquall blew
in from seward, rising to bitter hail
storm by half-past four, so Aunt Cressy
and Uncle Jake told the children they
must pass another night in the light
house. Gwen was disappointed. She
loved her bookkeeping relatives, but
Gus was coming home tonight, and sne
longed to be home to welcome him. Gus
had been away, at Bass Harbor, two
months, and the Osprey" was bearing
him home this very hour.
81 hope the Osprey won't try to
make harbor in this sect" Uncle Jake
spoke his thoughts aloud, when the fro
zen rain blew in thickest. eff know
Captain Bartlett, he'll put into Mill
Cove, and ride there till daylight. It'll
be rough night outside. !"
"But Gusv' breathed Gwen, her heart
in her catching voice. ''He's on-the-
Osprey" ;,
'tThere, there" Uncle Jake stroked
her hair. "The Osprey has weathered
many sitter gale than this. -
Both children climbed the narrow
stairs to watch Uncle Jake light the big
revolving light. SIS that thurder?"
Joe suddenly asked.
Thunder in hailstorm! exclaimed
Gwen, fattening her nose against the
glass, though all without was blackness
shot with white hailstones.
"That screw is getting out OF order,
muttered Uncle Jake, twisting at the
lamp. eth hardly turn." When he
at last settled the globe on the light,
and came down the steps to the landing
he listened for the next boom. IA boat
IN Distress he counted, zone, two,
three"
Even while he counted, he was jump
ing down the steps. "It's the 'Osprey's'
count. She must we passed Mill Cove
fore the storm struck her. Bet she's
struck Bad Mans Reef. Fe got out
mis- oil-skins, coiled a rope around his
waist, hung a life-saver across his chest
and another over his shoulder, lighted a
lantern, and called Aunt Cressy. 1.-THE
'Osprey's' in trouble between here and
Bad Man Reef. I'm going over"
"No boat could live in this sea-" de-
INJURED Aunt Greasy.
"I'll take my chances in row-boat to
the main-the tides hardly covered the
bar yet.-then creep around shore to
Raleigh's boat house at Birch Point. If l
don't find it open, I'll break in and get a
boat. From there it's only few rods to
BAD Mans Reef. -
Aunt Cressy took down heavy REFER
belonging to her husband. 81 can be Of
some use with you, hold the lantern or
something. Gwen,' her eyes travelling
from her niece to the beacon light above
stairs, you've been here long enough to
know what to do.
eyes, yes, Gwen fairly shouted, think
ing Of Gus. She climed on chair and took
bo lirb faI la
tern for aunt. go, go! I'll see to
things
"Stay inside and keep fire." Uncle
Jake called back from the darkness. ''Y gu
couldn't see out in this storm. whatever
happened You'd only get lost in the
hail"
Gwen and Joe peered after the light
keeper and his wife, but could see them
no farther into the driving hail than the
revolving light threw its searching rays.
In few seconds even the turn of the
lamp revealed no sight of the rescuers'
figures, flecked with white Gwen turn
ed to Joe, saying:
''They'll need hot fire and perhaps a
thankful OF warm water if they bring any,
one off the Osprey"
The little shed opened off the kitchen,
and Joe cheerfully filled the wood-box.
"Now, how'll it do to make fish chow
der, Gwen? Sh1pwrecked folks are al
ways hungry" He took down pan and
opened the cellar door.
''All right Bring up some pork, too.
A layer of pork, layer of potatoes, or
is that a stew" anxiously. ''Did Aunt
Cressy put crackers in hers?''
''She poured in some hot milk when
twas all done, hot, not scalded-"
But Gwen forgot to listen. She was
staring over his head through the pane
into the blast. Hasn't the light stop
ped burnin? Or am dizzy? You look,
joe"
.'Obediently Joe looked out 'It's
just one steady blaze. 1t never goes
out.
Then it's stopped turning round. 1t
should disappear every two seconds,
showing the dark side to the water. y
II should think it would be better for
it to keep right stock STILL" said Joe.
eff it pours steady shine out there on
the water, it'll guide vessels all the bet
ter"
"But all the boats know Bug Light is
right here, revolving all the time, turn
ing first her brig hit side to the ocean, then
in two seconds leaving it in darkness. If
Bug Light is stationery, the boats II mis-
take her for one of the fixed lights along
shore here, and be likely to run on to a
snag most anywhere. They'll think they
haven't come to Bug Light, with her
rocks and reefs. -
Joe went down cellar for his pork and
potatoes, but Gwen stayed on at the
window, staring and thinking. 1--WE
may be guiding some ship straight up
on these rocks" groaned the little girl
'Joe, let's go up turret and see."
''See what?'' Joe emerged with his
load. cts plain enough to see."
Come on, though. We may be able
to make the thing work"
Reluctantly Joe set down his provis-
ions and followed her. On the landing
she stopped him. ''You wait and let
me try it first. I'm taller and have a
longer reach"
She climbed the step-ladder to the
lamp. 1t had ceased revolving and threw
an unblinking stream of light out over
the bay. Gwen laid hold on the burner,
and tried to twist it around. 1t resisted
all her strength. "It's stuck" she
spoke back to Joe. II can't move it.
You'll have to come up on the other
side, and see what we're both strong
enough to do
So Joe clambered up the steps on the
opposite side of the great globe, and
put his two hands around the far side of