“Yes, they have seals here. Not fur seals, however. They are hair seals and quite useless. You’ll see any number of them later in the day. Just keep your eye out for a shiny black head in the water or listen for them to bark.”
A few moments later the launch grated on the coarse sand of the tiny beach and the voyage from Portland was finally ended. As the engineer and Jack stepped out of the boat a gang of men headed by a burly, good-natured Irishman, whom Jack learned later was Shamas, otherwise known as Big O’Brien, the foreman of the camp, came down toward the beach.
“Mornin’, chief,” he said to Mr. Warner. “T’ camp’ll be ready for ye be t’ end o’ t’ forenoon. In t’ meantime, these fellers are goin’ t’ move the rest o’ t’ dunnage up, which wuz left here last night count o’ darkness. Git busy, byes.”
“Fine work, O’Brien. Now come on back with us and introduce us to our new home,” said the engineer.
“Home, is it?” said O’Brien with a grin. “Sure an’ I’m a-thinkin’ it’s another name we’ll all be callin’ of it be t’ time our wor-r-k is finished here.”
“Tut—tut—don’t be such a pessimist,” said Jack’s companion good-naturedly.
The rap-rap-rap of many hammers and the noise of falling lumber was Jack’s first impression of the Hood Island camp. This was gained even while he was at the foot of the promontory.
When he finally arrived at the top he found the camp a veritable beehive for busyness. But before he could take in the details of the very interesting place, Mr. Warner called his attention to a prolonged whistle blast from the tender. The Blueflower was saying good-by; and of course both of its recent passengers must needs signal back a farewell.
Jack watched the vessel until it grew quite indistinct in the distance. Then he turned his attention to the construction camp again. One small building and one long one had been completed, and the men were working on two other structures of the larger type. Mr. Warner explained that the tiny building was to be the general office in which he would have his desk, drawing-tables and the like. The completed long building was to be the bunk-house for the workmen, while the other two were mess-hall and work-shed in the making.
“We will stay with Eli Whittaker, the lighthouse keeper, for the present at least,” said the engineer. “The Government allows the light keepers to take men employed in the service as boarders. How will you like sleeping in a lighthouse?”