Then, with the suddenness of one who has received a terrible revelation, he exclaimed:
“It’s Pearl and Ruth and your sister in the Flyaway. Their mast is gone. They are powerless. In five minutes it will be dark. Soon the sea will be white with foam. They are out there, your sister and mine, out there! Just think!”
Lester did think. One instant his mind sped, the next his hand was on the dory.
“Yes,” said Don, “but you must go alone.”
“Alone?” The younger boy stood appalled.
“The dory will ride almost any storm. You must reach them, take them off the schooner and bring them round the island to the lee side.”
All the time he talked Don was helping to shove the dory off. “You can’t possibly reach them before the storm and complete darkness come. Both of us couldn’t, not half way.
“I will guide you. I’ll find you a light so strong you’ll see all the way.”
The younger boy stared as if he thought his companion mad.
“In the center of the island,” Don spoke rapidly, “there is a powerful searchlight, a government light for use only in time of war or a great emergency. You have no idea of its power, hundreds of thousands of candle power. The keeper is away, but I know how to swing it into place, to put on the power, to direct its rays. Go! Quickly!” He gave the dory a stout shove, then went racing up the bank.