Page:Silver Shoal Light.djvu/314

292 afternoon, Garth fished off the pier, but he caught nothing, except a very small chogset. It was nearly time for his supper, and they had all gone indoors, when they heard a blithe voice carolling up from the landing.

Jim appeared at the kitchen door.

"Are you?" they all cried at once. "Tell us! Quickly!"

Elspeth put her hands on his sleeve.

"You got it?" she said.

"It's quite extraordinary," Jim said. "Yes, I got it. They said that I was absolutely fit physically; then we had a sort of impromptu technical examination. Of course nothing is signed and sealed, but as far as I can gather, if I duly pass the real exams for my stripe, it means a little while at school, then on a ship, and then, some fine day, Lieutenant J. H. Pemberley, learning to command a little destroyer and in line for promotion."

Garth gave a wild shout of joy and climbed into his father's arms, while Joan shook Jim's hand and Elspeth patted his shoulder.

"I knew you would," she said. "Oh, Jim!"