Page:Bedford-Jones--Boy Scouts of the Air at Cape Peril.djvu/180

 and one of the boys with you. Easy, now!"

The old man's fingers began to pluck nervously at the buttons of his coat. "My light! My light!" he whispered as recollection dawned on him once more.

"Listen," Turner said earnestly. "Don't worry. I've set fire to a shack on the shore—you know Thompson's old cottage—so there's no danger to ships. Cheer up now, and tell us how it happened when you feel a little stronger." The words had their effect.

"You done that? You throwed out the life-belt. Lemme see it, mate."

To humor him, Turner lifted him so he could see the glow through the window.

"You done it, mate, and to think my light ain't never been out befo'. 'Twar that scum Bill Perkins that tied me and smashed my light, and—"

What the Cap'n was about to add was interrupted by sounds without. Turner rushed to the window and was able to distinguish a group of men, with lanterns swinging in the wind, a party from the fishing settlement. There was a rush for the stairs and the men thronged into