Page:Harry Castlemon - The Steel Horse.djvu/220

 "Here I am; holding fast to the anchor rope," replied Roy. "Can't you see me now?"

The boy's hand instinctively went to his head; but the cap he intended to wave in the air to show the light-ship's men where he was, had been left aboard the White Squall to keep company with his shirt-sleeve. But if the men couldn't see him they heard his words, for the wind brought them plainly to their ears; and instead of stopping to ask him what he was doing in the water and how he got there in the first place, they pulled up their lanterns and hurried away.

"Hurrah for me!" said Roy to himself. "They've gone to lower a boat and I am all right—"

Just then another wave broke over his head; but when he came up again, Roy continued his soliloquy as if nothing had happened.

"Or shall be in a few minutes," said he. "I've learned a good many things to-night, and one of them is, that a wind that would keep our Mount Airy people ashore don't bother these deep-water fellows at all. I call