“I will! I will!” exclaimed Jess. “If I can only succeed!”
Ned saw her dart around the corner of the house. Then she was out of his line of vision. They could only wait developments now.
“Do you think she can do it?” asked Jerry.
“She will if it’s possible,” replied Ned. “Only there is not much time. My! But it’s going to storm fierce!”
A loud crash of thunder sounded, making the stout lighthouse vibrate. The flashes of lightning showed through the ventilating window, illuminating the small apartment with a weird glow. The wind was howling about the place.
“There’ll be a heavy sea on,” said Jerry. “The ship will get upon the rocks and go to pieces. Then these scoundrels will go out and pick up the cargo.”
“There may be many lives lost,” exclaimed Bob. “The life saving station is short-handed. They all are in the summer time.”
“If Jess can only get the keys!” Ned murmured.
It seemed like an hour before there sounded a tapping on the storeroom door. Ned sprang to answer it.
“Are you still there, boys?” they heard Jess ask.