“Uncle Jim, do tell I, where be the ‘Light of Home’?”
“Sure I don’t know, Thomas, my son. Can’t ee find she?”
Tommy shook his head.
“Try down below,” and Uncle Jim waved vaguely towards the mouth of the harbour.
“Been there,” Tommy demurred, “an’ Uncle Sam ’e said come up ’ere, ’e did.”
Uncle Jim was removing old bait from the boulter; he stopped and scratched his head.
Tommy’s eyes grew large and puzzled.
In a few minutes the word passed round that the “Light of Home” was missing, and with her were Tom and Jack Tregennis, James Prynne and Billy Dark.
Tommy walked into the kitchen with a white, strained face. “Mammy,” he said, and again, “Mammy.” Then he swallowed hard. “I can’t find my Daddy and the’ Light of Home’ bain’t in.”