As a matter of fact, he was sending a message in this manner to the editor of the News as already arranged between them.
His first long flash was to determine if the editor was at his post and, having ascertained that he was, he announced that he was about to send an important message and then when the answer came that they were ready for him he went on.
Leaving out all unnecessary and obvious words, his message to the News man was as follows:
“Inform bank officials attempt robbery be made to-night. Thought they would keep away from bank account danger.”
To telephone at that time of night would be inconvenient as well as not feasible and Jack had therefore hit upon this method of sending word to Mr. Brooke as being the safest and surest.
He had signaled before with great success, his light being a powerful one and capable of carrying to the river without the least difficulty, providing the night was clear.
“That is all right,” he muttered as he shut off his light, closed the window and turned into bed, having no need of any light and not caring to have any show from the cottage at that hour.
Unknown to him, however, there were those who saw his signals, or a part of them, in addition to the man for whom they were intended.
Peter Herring and Ernest Merritt, returning from a clandestine visit to the village after hours were coming along the road, keeping as much in the shadows as possible, not caring to be seen, when Herring whispered:
“See that light?”