SOUNDING.

119

* Oh, how awful to have to go out in that little boat on such a
night! Do you think there is any danger ?'

I would rather have been stabbed. I went off, full of venom, to
help in the pilot-house. By and by the boat's lantern disappeared,
and after an interval a wee spark
glimmered upon the face of the water
a mile away. Mr. Thornburg blew the
whistle, in acknowledg-
ment, backed the steamer
out, and made for it. We
flew along for a while, then
slackened
steam and
went cau-
tiously glid-
ing toward
the spark.
Presently Mr. Thorn
burg exclaimed—

c Hello, the ^ buoy-
lantern's out!7

He stopped the
engines. A moment
or two later he
said—

* Why, there it is
again!'

So he came ahead on
the engines once more,
and rang for the leads.
Gradually the water
shoaled up, and then
began to deepen again! Mr. Thornburg muttered—

6 Well, I don't understand this. I believe that buoy has drifted
off the reefl Seems to be a little too far to the left. No matter, it is
safest to run over it, anyhow/

So, in that solid world of darkness we \vent creeping down on

*OH, HOW AWFUL I9