Page:Barbour--For the freedom from the seas.djvu/208

 cautiously, "but when you see lights flashing along the shore these days it's a good plan to keep your eyes peeled."

"Probably a Coast Guard or a—a—look here, we don't want to spend the night on this forsaken place, Nep. That fellow, whoever he is, has a boat, and even if he won't take us off he can probably tell us how to find a village."

"I don't think the light down there was in a boat," said Nelson. "I think there's a bit of beach there. A boat where that light was would be right in the surf. Listen, Mart. We're farther from the water than we were."

"Yes, but" Martin began querulously, but stopped. After a moment he went on in a different tone. "Maybe you're right, Nep," he said softly. "Come on and let's see where we are, first of all."

They crept gingerly in the direction of the first light, testing each step for fear that they might reach the edge of the cliff too suddenly. Low bushes took the place of the sod, and small stones impeded their uncertain steps. After a minute they stopped abruptly, for, below them and nearer now, the first light they had glimpsed was again flashing its message into the mist and gloom. Three times it showed and then went out. The 183