Page:Cornelia Meigs--The island of Appledore.djvu/204

184 those papers, go light the other piles down toward the point. They won’t dare land where it is light.”

He blew upon the blaze until the sparks flew and the rapid flame ran through the dry  fuel. Higher and higher the red beacon arose, until it shone out over the water and  showed the boat, slowly backing away into the  dark to seek another landing place. Billy ran to another driftwood heap, glancing over his  shoulder to see that Sally had successfully  started hers and was hastening on to kindle  others. The whole beach was lit by the red glare, the crests of the little waves caught and  reflected the glow as they came running in,  while, with the lighted circle spreading  farther and farther out over the water, the boat  drew back more and more to keep in the sheltering darkness. Johann Happs’ tall figure and Captain Saulsby’s huge, bent one looked  gigantic against the crimson light, with their  moving shadows trailing down to the water’s  edge.

The services were over in the little church, and the congregation, seeing the line of flame  along the shore, came trooping down to see  what it could mean. Once having caught an