The young Philadelphian might have been hazarding an inquiry about a matter of trivial interest, so calm was he, so smooth his utterance. But Brand had made no mistake in estimating this youngster's force of character, nor did he seek to temporize.
He extended an arm towards the reef.
"You hear that?" he said.
"Yes."
"It may boil that way for weeks."
"So I have been told."
"By whom?"
"Mr. Emmett told me."
"Ah! He and I have discussed the matter already. Yet I imagine that neither he, nor any other man in the place save myself, grasps the true meaning of the fact."
"I've been theorizing," said Pyne. "It occurred to me that this light isn't here for amusement."