During the return journey Jack and Ray kept their eye on Mr. Warner. They saw him scrambling about on the rock, making measurements and marking off various sections of the rugged Head. Then they saw him send a signal to the men on the cliff who waited to fire a lifeline to him. They saw, too, the puff of smoke from the little brass cannon and they watched the rocket with the line trailing out behind it describe a big arc over the rock and fall into the sea beyond, dropping the rope almost into Mr. Warner’s hands.
The engineer began to haul in immediately and presently he dragged out of the surf a heavier section of rope to which the line was fastened. This was the cable upon which the breeches-buoy was to be suspended, and Mr. Warner spent some time in making the end secure over the top of the big lump of granite that formed the cobra’s head. The men on shore worked quickly at rigging the buoy, too, and by the time the boat crew had landed and made its way up the promontory, stone cutters were already being sent down to the rock to level its surface and build the tower that was to support the aerial cableway. And, when Jack saw this, he realized that Cobra Reef had been conquered and that the lighthouse was actually under way.
CHAPTER VII
UNDER ARREST
With the completion of the aerial cableway and the clearing of the surface of the rock the Hood Island construction camp became a very busy place. A score or more of men were to be seen on the big rock whenever the waves were not piling up on top of it (as always happened when a storm came in) and the donkey engine that operated the cableway was puffing and snorting from daylight until darkness settled down.
Jack and Ray found that their duties increased with the rush of work also, for besides their tasks in Mr. Warner’s office there were numerous other small jobs about the camp that they could accomplish. But for all that they had plenty of time on their hands to roam about the rocky shores of the island, or take short trips in the dory that belonged to Captain Eli and was moored down off the sandy beach near the whaleboats. The boys made frequent trips to Cobra Head, also traveling by way of the aerial cable of course. Indeed, [Jack and Big O’Brien were the first to ride down to the rock], on a section of stone that was conveyed to the lighthouse site. This was more or less of a perilous trip and Big O’Brien insisted on accompanying the lad when he heard that he was going.
But with all these possibilities for a good time Ray seemed to become less interested in the construction work as the days went on. In truth, he developed a certain melancholy air which, after a time, became very noticeable. This, of course, puzzled Jack, as it did the engineer and the others of the camp who had become friendly with him. More than once Jack sought to gain his confidence and have him tell his troubles, but the boy always appeared to cheer up for the time and assure the youth from Vermont that he had not a single trouble in the world. Jack knew well that this was not true, however, and to add to the mystery of it all, Ray frequently strayed away from the camp in the evening or when he had no work to do and went wandering down along the rocky shore of the island until he came to a secluded spot where he would sit and brood over his troubles for hours at a time.
It was after one of these mysterious disappearances one afternoon that Jack went in search of his companion, quite determined to get at the bottom of all that was upsetting his peace of mind. The lad from Drueryville had seen Ray steal away and go down the path that led to the little beach near where the whaleboats were moored. He watched him as long as he could, but when he saw Ray walk the entire length of the sandy strip and start climbing along the rock-strewn shore beyond, he decided to follow.
But Jack soon discovered that his chum had not gone far. Just on the other side of the beach he saw the lonesome figure perched upon a smooth chunk of granite, his back resting against a large boulder just behind him. Ray’s hat was off and the wind was playing with his hair. He was staring off into space in a most preoccupied manner, and the expression on his face was that of a lad who was greatly disappointed over something.
So absorbed was he with his troubles that Jack managed to come up very close to him before the young swordfisherman was aware of his presence. When he did notice the Vermonter, he seemed very much chagrined at being discovered and a sheepish smile wrinkled the corners of his mouth.