“What was it that father said about her?” asked Mrs. Carey, smiling till her blue eyes were almost hidden in wrinkles, as she stopped her mending a moment, and leaned back in the big, red rocker beside the south window where the roses climbed.
“Said she carried the starriest top-lights he ever saw on a craft under her t’gallant eyebrows.”
Mrs. Carey laughed as she turned to her sewing.
“Well, she has a pair of the brownest eyes, seems to me, I ever saw. And she’s lively too. I’d a sight rather have those girls than a pack of boys raising hob over there on the island all summer long. I hope nothing will happen to any of them.” She looked out of the window towards the Knob. Its outlines showed up darkly against the night sky, but the music had died away and no light was to be seen. “I think I’ll tell the girls to put a lamp in that side window every night, so I’ll know they’re safe and comfortable.”
So after that first night, all summer long while the Polly Page Yacht Club held forth on Lost Island, a beacon light was placed at the side window to assure the Careys all was well.
CHAPTER XI
SMUGGLERS’ ISLE
For the first two weeks hardly anything was done, except steady, earnest lessons in swimming and sailing. The excitement and novelty of it made the sport a delightful one to the girls, and they were out whenever the weather was good. During the morning hours the bay held many bathers, over on the hotel shore, and on the strip of beach at the Knob likewise. Afternoons the white sails spread and dipped like gulls out on the water, and the Tidy Jane was usually the first out and the last one in. After the first week or so, Tom and Nancy helped only occasionally, but the girls were doing so well they did not need much direction now.
The Admiral returned south at the end of the second week, but promised to run up for the regatta in the latter part of August, and make sure they were getting along.
“If it wasn’t for the Careys I’d feel as though it were risky, my leaving you girls up here with just Welcome to see that you have plenty to eat and don’t come down with croup—”