“And what time is high tide?”
“Tide turns at seven to-morrow—it’ll be full at two o’clock,” said the lightkeeper.
“Good, we’ve got to make a landing on the reef, you know, and we want clear weather for such a venture. I only hope we all come out of it alive,” said Mr. Warner, showing great concern. Then turning to the boys he said: “Well, lads, if you are going to be up to tussle with the waves to-morrow, you’d do well to go to bed. You’ll probably have to bunk together. Which room is theirs, Captain?”
“The little room in t’ so’est corner,” said the captain, adjusting his goggles preparatory to a visit to the light. Then before he climbed the stairs he paused a moment and spoke. “Say, have either of you a watch that keeps good time? I dropped mine this mornin’ an’ now she won’t tick any more. An’ ye know I feel sort o’ lonesome up aloft here when I hain’t got a timepiece about me. Sometimes my watch’s face is t’ on’y friendly face I see fer months, ’ception that o’ old Mitch, t’ lobsterman who lives down t’other end o’ t’ island. He’s the only one on this forsaken strip o’ land except me.”
“Here, Captain, take my watch,” said Jack, hastily handing over the gold timepiece that his father had given him several years before.
“Thank ’e, when ye want it jest let me know. I calc-late I’ll be able t’ fix mine in a day er so.”
Then as he started up the spiral stairs he said:
“Well, good night, boys. I’ll be abed when ye start out fer t’ rock to-morrow, so here’s luck an’ hopin’ ye’ll come back safe. Good night.”
And Ray and Jack started downstairs, both wondering what the next day would bring forth.