"The iron ice-buoy is made of boiler-iron, and is divided into compartments, so that any one may be pierced without sinking the buoy. One of the first-class costs $275, is fifty feet long, and stands twenty-two feet out of water. One of the second-class costs $181, is forty feet long, and stands seventeen feet out of water. As with wooden spar-buoys, the ice passes over them without carrying them away; but, unlike the wooden buoys, they break the propeller blades which strike them, instead of being broken, and, thus defending themselves, last many times longer than spar-buoys, and, though costing more at first, are more economical in the end." Captain Eph had remained patiently near the window during all the time Sidney was reading that which has been given here, and a smile overspread his face as the lad said when he closed the book: "It seems as if I ought to know all about buoys, after reading so much, and I'll try not to forget it." "The longer you stay with us, Sonny, the bigger idee you'll get of the money it costs to keep the waters of this 'ere country in proper trim for sailors. I reckon there ain't more'n one landsman in twenty who, when he sees a light-house, could give any reasonable guess as to the bigness of the service." "There's a lot to learn about it," Sidney said with a sigh, and Captain Eph replied laughingly: "Indeed there is, Sonny, an' you ain't forced to wade through it all unless your curiosity leads that way. There's a big fleet of steamers to be talked about yet, an' they must surely cost a lot of money." The keeper was interrupted by the voice of Uncle Zenas from the kitchen: "Ephraim Downs, I want to know if your losin' your senses entirely?" "Now Uncle Zenas, what seems to be the trouble with you?" the keeper called down through the door. "Has the cookin' gone wrong, or didn't we buy all the gim-cracks you wanted?" "In case you haven't lost your senses, why is Sammy allowed to make a jumpin' jack of himself all over this 'ere ledge? If anybody should see him, it would be told everywhere on the mainland that we'd gone crazy, an' then goodness only knows what might happen!" "I didn't know Sammy was up to any capers, Uncle Zenas; but I'll look into the matter, an' if he's doin' anything agin the rules an' regerlations, I'll straighten him out in short order. Don't worry about his bein' seen, for there isn't so much as a fisherman's dory in sight." "He'd be cavortin' 'round jest the same if a whole fleet had hove to off here," Uncle Zenas cried, and without waiting to make any reply, Captain Eph hurried to one of the windows, from which Sidney was already gazing out with a look of wonderment on his face. "What in the name of goodness has come over Sammy?" the old keeper cried to no one in particular; but Sidney replied in a tone of perplexity: "It looks as if he was nailin' up a lot of sticks, sir."