Page:Silver Shoal Light.djvu/208

 gray shapes lying stiffly outside the harbor, their sharp bows heading into the tide. Already their busy little canvas-backed launches were flying to and fro like so many energetic water-beetles.

"Fogger says the flagship's prob'ly the Billington," said Garth. "I'm glad she's anchored nearest to us, because she'll run up most of the signals. Be all ready with the code-book, Joan, in case they do something suddenly."

Joan, not at all sure of what was expected of her, opened the book and adjusted the marine-glasses to the proper focus. All at once three brightly-colored flags floated up aboard the Billington, and simultaneously the telescope became fixed to Garth's eye.

"Oh, I wish they wouldn't flap so!" he said. "Wait a minute; I see it now! Dog—Cast—Have."

"Would you mind telling me what in the world you're talking about?" said Joan, gazing at him, transfixed.

"Look in the code-book," said Garth. "Those are just names they have for the letters. If they didn't, ones that sound the same, like B and T and C, might get mixed up when the men call out signals."