"There's a signal from the lighthouse, sir," announced Atherton. "Now, then, signallers: what do you make of that?" asked the Scoutmaster, as a burst of flags fluttered from a staff rising from the gallery of the lighthouse. "We can't make out, sir," replied Phillips and Neale. "They are not spelling anything." "No, it is in code. The combination of those three flags means a message which we could only interpret if we had a signal-code book. One of those vessels 'made her number '--that is, has reported herself on first sighting a British signal-station--and the information will be telegraphed to Lloyd's. See, there's a keeper on the gallery. Watch him through your pocket telescope, Phillips, and when he looks this way tell Neale to call him up." "What shall I semaphore, sir?" asked the Second of the "Wolves." "Ask him for permission to visit the lighthouse," replied Mr Trematon. "Then, if he says yes, ask what day and what time will be convenient." "He's looking this way, sir," reported Phillips. Standing well apart from his comrades, Neale "called up" the lighthouse. In a few moments Phillips announced that the man was looking towards them through a glass. "He's acknowledged, sir," continued the Second of the "Otters." "Another man has taken the glass from him." "Carry on," ordered the Scoutmaster, and Neale began semaphoring with considerable rapidity and accuracy. Back came the reply: "The keepers of Beware Head lighthouse will be pleased to show the Scouts over the building any day between 9 A.M. and one hour before sunset." "Acknowledge and thank them, Neale. Say we hope to inspect the lighthouse tomorrow at 2 P.M." "Has this point any name, sir," asked Phillips, indicating the northernmost limit of Seal Island. "No, I think not," replied the Scoutmaster. "Suppose for our own convenience we give it a name. What shall it be?" "Why not North Cape?" suggested Green. "I am afraid it doesn't jut out sufficiently into the sea. It is bold and lofty; suppose we say North Head?" "And the other extremities, East, South and West Heads, sir?" asked Sayers, the lad who shared with Reggie Scott the distinction of being the Tenderfoot of the "Otters." "Very good," assented Mr Trematon. "The names are simple enough, which is a consideration, since there is little chance of getting confused over the various designations. Now, forward once more." The route now lay in a south-westerly direction along an ill-defined track that followed the edge of the cliffs, which hereabouts attained a height of about eighty feet.