If Captain Eph had thought that reading the jingle would turn Sidney's thoughts from the possibility that those on the tender had tried to deliver a message from his father, he made a decided mistake; but the lad laughed heartily when he had finished the lines, and then did his best to hide from the old keeper that which was in his mind.
Next morning the wind was blowing quite as fresh as ever; but Captain Eph had not forgotten the determination to go into his own room, and when the routine work had been performed, Mr. Peters was summoned to assist in what promised to be quite a serious task.
"You're clean wild to think of sich a thing, Cap'n Eph," the first assistant said as he stood with folded arms in front of the keeper, and the latter replied petulantly:
"Perhaps I am, Sammy Peters; but I ain't so wild as to let you try to argue me out of it. I'm goin' to do what little lays in my power toward puttin' this 'ere tower ship-shape, an' you'll help me without any back talk."
"How do you count on doin' it, seein's you can't touch the floor with your lame foot?"
"You're allers ready enough to riggin' up schemes that ain't of the least earthly account, an' now let's see if you can't turn your mind to somethin' sensible."
"Then I shouldn't be thinkin' how to help you up them stairs, for that ain't in any way sensible," Mr. Peters said calmly, and Uncle Zenas cried pleadingly:
"Why don't you stay where you are, Ephraim Downs, leastways as long as this wind blows? When there's a turn in the weather, you'll have time enough to get up-stairs before the tender comes."
"I'm goin' now if I have to crawl," Captain Eph cried. "Things have come to a pretty pass if the keeper of a first-order light can't go where he pleases without both his assistants raisin' a rumpus."
"I'm thinkin' it'll be you who'll raise the rumpus," Mr. Peters said grimly, "but if you're so set that you won't listen to old friends, I'll get to work. Put one arm around my neck, an' I'll do my best at luggin' you up, though in case of a tumble you're likely to be lamed for life."