H. C. McNeile

“ Elaborate your mechanical devices as you will, introduce the most complicated automatic machinery to control the regular sweep of the light, and the monotonous explosion of the maroons, it all comes back finally to the man who lives in that tall slender building rising out of the water. A dreary life to which not many men are suited: a life where strange thoughts and fancies might come drifting into one's brain—drifting as gently and slowly as the gray wisps of fog outside. ”

“ Like great monsters out of the depths they wail dismally at one another and pass unseen, their sirens growing fainter and fainter in the distance. Only the roar of the maroons from the light- house goes on unchanged, while the gray fog eddies gently by, making fantastic figures as it drifts. Implacable and silent, it seems to mock such paltry man-made efforts to fight it, and yet there are amazingly few accidents, even in that crowded shipping area. ”

“ And after a while some might remain, even though outside the fog has gone and the water shines blue again in the sunlight. It is that way that danger lies. In the crowded water- ways, where inspectors are many and inspections numerous, the risk is small.
BUT there are others where from month's end to month's end a man will see no soul save the fellow who lives with him; where, save for the occasional visit of a boat with supplies, there is nothing to break the deadly monotony. Sometimes even there is no other fellow: the man is alone. ”

“ Outside the siren was going continuously, seeming almost on top of us, while standing on the platform we tried to catch MacGregor as he swung past us. But the bell was heavy and it seemed an age before we could check the clapper sufficiently to cut him down. And every moment we expected to hear the dreadful grinding crunch of a ship striking rock. But at last we had him down, and Jim darted to the lever to restart the bell. ”

“ But he'd done it right enough, and for ten minutes MacGregor had swung backward and forward, dazed and half-stunned, while the madman had crouched below him.
At seven o'clock the mist lifted, and we stopped that accursed bell. Out to sea lay a steamer, and a boat was being lowered. Through glasses we saw an officer get in, and then the boat was pulled to the lighthouse.
I have met angry men in my life, but for sheer speechless fury the skipper of the good ship Floriana—one thousand five hundred tons and of mixed cargo—wins in a canter. ”

“ He looked up at the lighthouse.
I saw Temple shoot a quick suspicious glance at him, but he merely nodded and said, “Very good, sir.” Then he glanced toward Taba Island and nodded again, as if satisfied.
“There will be fog tonight, sir,” he remarked. “When the Queen of the Island is crowned in mist at this time of day there is always fog. So you will hear the bell.”
He went off to superintend the disposal of his stores, and Jim turned to MacGregor. ”

“ And since I gather there is no vast rush for Corn Reef, I suppose Bill Lambert was only too glad to let him.” He paused and looked at Jim.
Jim shook his head.
“Five years is a long time, Jock,” he said gravely. “A very long time. It's far too long a time for a man to spend in a place like that.”
“You think I may find Temple a bit queer?” said MacGregor slowly. ”

“ At the faintest sign of trouble he was to call us, and to make doubly sure, Jim and I had taken turns sleeping while the other remained awake. There was no good in letting Temple see that we suspected anything, since no steps could be taken till the return of the supply boat. Then Jock MacGregor, had decided that Temple was to go back in it while he remained in the lighthouse till a relief was sent. ”

“ A dangerous part of the coast, that one- time haunt of smugglers, till the lighthouse made it safe. There are treacherous currents and shoals, and when a southwesterly gale has been blowing full force for some days it can be rough off Beachy Head. ”

“ It was built out from the side, and it reminded one of those medieval galleries which jut out from the walls of old castles into which the defenders used to go to pour burning oil on the gentlemen below. ”