Part 9 (1/2)
In the distance, with the sun playing on it and the sea gulls swooping about its top, it see slender and ethereal It was only when one was close at hand that its real strength and solidity could be appreciated
It was built on a solid rock foundation that sloped down into the sea many feet distant from its base The toas circular in form so as to offer as little surface as possible to the wind froht blow The walls at the bottom, where the force of the waves spent itself, were rew thinner as the tower rose in the air At the top was the enorht ofkind, and every fifteen seconds it threw out a ray that could be seen by hthouse stood about a mile froht over by Lester or his father froe of Bartanet Whatever was needed for the light itself caovern that section of the coast
The boys, under Lester's guidance, had long before this explored every portion of the lighthouse and wondered at the ht in ht Brought up in inland towns, all this was new to them, and their curiosity and interest were insatiable
Now as they watched it growing larger as they drew nearer, they shared the delight and pride of Lester in the noble structure of which his father was the guardian
”Isn't it glorious?” demanded Fred
”Think of the lives that have been saved by it,” said Teddy
”And will be saved by it during the next hundred years,” added Bill
”I wonder if poor Mr Montgomery saw it on that last cruise of his,”
pondered Fred
”He lers really came this way,” answered Lester
”That was only about nine years ago, you rehthouse has stood for twenty years”
”Has your father had charge of it all that time?” asked Bill
”No, he was appointed about twelve years ago”
”Then he old was stolen,” said Teddy eagerly ”I wonder if he heard anything about the matter”
”I never heard him speak about it, but I shouldn't be a bit surprised if he had There are so many old salts that run over to spin yarns with hi around that he doesn't hear at one tiested Bill
”Surely ill Hethat Ross himself doesn't know”
”In that case, the next time we meet Ross it will be our turn to look wise and ain with hi to tell us but didn't,” added his brother
”We'll have to co like that sooner or later,” said Lester decidedly ”It's all nonsense our going round blindly, when each ht to tell everything to his doctor, and a prisoner oughtn't to keep anything back from his lawyer
When he does, he has no one to bla to put it up to Ross, full and plain, the next time I see him”
”I wonder when that will be,”I hope If he doesn't coo up to Oakland to see him”
”How far is Oakland from here?” asked Bill
”Not ood e canon the platform of the tower
Take a look, Bill, and tell ood, but yours are better”