[Illustration: _Frontispiece._ "LOOK OUT FOR THIS 'ERE ROPE!"] THE LIGHT KEEPERS A STORY OF THE UNITED STATES LIGHT-HOUSE SERVICE BY JAMES OTIS AUTHOR OF "THE LIFE SAVERS," ETC. [Illustration] NEW YORK E. P. DUTTON AND COMPANY 31 WEST TWENTY-THIRD STREET COPYRIGHT, 1905 BY E. P. DUTTON & CO. Published, September, 1906 The Knickerbocker Press, New York CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. AN INVOLUNTARY VISITOR 1 II. SIDNEY HARLOW 22 III. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE 43 IV. REPAIRING THE MOTOR BOAT 65 V. A CLOSE SHAVE 84 VI. THE VOYAGE 104 VII. A LESSON ON BUOYS 124 VIII. THE SURPRISES 143 IX. THE WRECK 164 X. THE RESCUE 184 XI. "SONNY'S" OUTFIT 204 XII. MR. PETERS' MISHAP 224 XIII. A DISABLED CREW 244 XIV. NURSES AND LIGHT-KEEPERS 264 XV. STORM-BOUND 285 XVI. AS IF FROM THE GRAVE 305 XVII. THE INSPECTOR 325 APPENDIX 341 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE "LOOK OUT FOR THIS 'ERE ROPE!" _FRONTISPIECE_ "YOU LUBBERS!" CAPTAIN EPH SCREAMED 92 CAPE ELIZABETH 130 MT. DESERT ROCK 170 SADDLE BACK LIGHT 210 BOON ISLAND 250 ISLE OF SHOALS 290 MATINICUS 330 THE LIGHT KEEPERS. CHAPTER I. AN INVOLUNTARY VISITOR. "If that 'ere ain't a boat, Cap'n Eph, I'll agree to eat this buff-skin, an' wash it down with a pint of Uncle Sam's best oil," and Mr. Samuel Peters, first assistant of Carys' Ledge light, flattened his nose against the glass of the lantern as he peered out over the surging waters which surrounded the light-house on every hand.