Page:Ruth Fielding at Lighthouse Point.djvu/200

190 catboat made no headway. In one of these calms Helen sighted a rowboat some distance away, but pulling toward them from among the little chain of islands beyond the reef on which the lumber schooner had been wrecked.

"Here's a fisherman coming," she said. "Do you suppose he'd take us ashore in his boat, Tom? We could walk home from the light. It's growing late and Miss Kate will be worried."

"Why, Sis, I can scull this old tub to the landing below the lighthouse yonder. We don't need to borrow a boat. Then Phineas can come around in the Miraflame to-morrow morning and tow the catboat home."

But Jane Ann had leaped up at once to eye the coming rowboat—and not with favor.

"That looks like the boat that Crab came out to the Thimble in," she exclaimed. "Why! it is him."

"Jack Crab!" exclaimed Helen, in terror. "He's after you, then."

"Well, he won't get her," declared Tom, boldly.

"What can we do against that man?" demanded Ruth, anxiously. "I'm afraid of him myself. Let's try to get ashore."

"And before he catches us," begged Helen. "Do, Tom!"

There was no hope of the wind helping them,