The Light Keepers: A Story of the United States Light-house ServiceOtis, James
General
The Light Keepers: A Story of the United States Light-house Service
Otis, James
Lighthouse keepers -- Juvenile fiction
"I'm the same one," Mr. Sawyer replied with a laugh, "an' it surely
seems as if I wasn't born to be drowned, for this is the second time
I've been rescued when the chances were big against me; but how does it
happen that Sidney is here, and where is the _West Wind_?"
"If you people are countin' on spinnin' yarns, don't you think it would
be a good idee to pull me in where I wouldn't freeze to death quite so
soon?" Mr. Peters cried from the ledge beneath the window. "I don't
want to be fussy; but I'd rather be behind the stove than out here."
"I declare if I hadn't forgot all about poor little Sammy!" Captain Eph
cried in a tone of contrition. "He must be chilled clean through to the
bone by this time. Haul in, Uncle Zenas, an' stand by for squalls when
he gets here, 'cause his temper ain't of the best jest now, an' there's
good reason for losin' it."
Two minutes later Mr. Peters clambered through the window, looking
around for a moment, and then he said that which gave his comrades to
understand that he had heard all Mr. Sawyer said:
"I'm wonderin' how big a schooner I could pull inter the cove, if I
hadn't anybody but two blessed old cripples to help me," and Uncle Zenas
asked in surprise:
"What on earth do you mean, Sammy?"
"I was only tryin' to figger the thing out, 'cause after we've saved all
hands belongin' to the _West Wind_, it will be a shame to let the
schooner drift around instead of haulin' her up on the ledge," and
having said this Mr. Peters slowly ascended to his own room that he
might put on dry clothing.
This served to remind Captain Eph that Mr. Sawyer needed some attention,
and he said to Sidney:
"S'pose you take the mate up-stairs, an' give him anything of mine that
he can wear, Sonny? By the time he's made a change, Uncle Zenas will
have plenty of hot coffee, which I reckon he'll be glad to drink."
Sidney did as he was bidden, the mate following at his heels, and when
the two had disappeared from view Uncle Zenas said solemnly:
"The ocean does cut some queer capers now an' then; but the queerest
I've ever heard of is that both them who left the _West Wind_ in the
motor boat should have drifted in here to Carys' Ledge."
And Captain Eph replied in quite as grave a tone:
"If this last one brings us as much comfort as the first has, we'll be
two mighty lucky old men, Uncle Zenas."
CHAPTER XVII.
THE INSPECTOR.
Sidney told the story of his rescue to Mr. Sawyer, while the two were
up-stairs selecting such articles from Captain Eph's wardrobe as the
mate needed, and dwelt at length on the care and affection which the
light-house crew had bestowed upon him.
When they descended to the kitchen again a substantial meal was set
before the rescued sailor, and after it had been eaten, he explained how
he chanced to be adrift in the dory with neither food nor water.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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