"I am going with you," interrupted the girl with determination. "Where is the path up the bluff? Can you find it in the dark?"
"I cal'late," replied the lightkeeper. "If you will go, come on."
Their eyes were now accustomed to the darkness. Besides, even on the gloomiest night there is always a faint glow upon the water. And the foaming of the wave-crests cast some radiance all about. When Tobias once found the path, Lorna mounted to the summit of the bluff much more quickly than he.
"Oh, sugar!" the lightkeeper panted, when he finally caught up with her. "You're just as quick on your feet, Lorny, as a sheep. I never see—— Dad fetch it! what's that?"
As had the girl, he had first turned to look off across the sea to the spot where they had last seen the laboring fishing schooner. A greenish-white light began to glow low down on the sea, and inshore.
"It's the schooner, Tobias!" cried Lorna. "Oh! She is ashore!"
"I cal'late you're right," the old man breathed. "Yep. On the outer reef. There!"
The girl shrieked, crouching at his feet and hiding her eyes. Tobias stared. The growing Coston light picked out the broken spars and the slanting deck of the Nelly G. The banker had gone broadside on the submerged rocks not half a mile south of the Twin Rocks Light.
CHAPTER XXIX
DAYBREAK