School began in the tower room of the house at Hallock Point. Harry Cornwall went to the lessons because he eagerly sought knowledge. Kate Hallock tried to study because she wished to win the good opinion of Frank, and, if possible, to excel him in everything. Frank went because, as he said, “he had to.”
Captain Green taught in order to obtain for a well-beloved little grandson, whose days on the earth were to be few in number, the nameless, numberless little helps-by-the-way to the place of parting.
Had Mrs. Hallock known what the love for the sea meant to Captain Green, instead of giving up the tower room for lessons, she would have chosen the spot in the house the most remote from sight or sound of wave; but there he was, day by day, with the blue of dancing, sun-lit water beckoning to him. He could see the gentle glide of every keel that went down the harbor, and feel the drawing of every sail that filled away under the sweet pressure of the summer winds. More than any schoolboy that ever groaned to play truant did Captain Green feel the impulse to run away from school; nevertheless, he remained faithful to his trust, and for two August weeks everything went well with the new enterprise. Mrs. Dobson was perfectly gleeful over the grand opportunity afforded Harry. She thought early and late, and worked all the day between the thinkings, to give Harry every moment that was possible. The dear little soul knew perfectly well that the more Harry learned, the less the chance of keeping him in Pumpkin Delight Lane; but the more she loved her boy, the less grew her selfishness, and the more she rejoiced in whatever of good came to him.
On the shore there lay an old wreck, from which Harry wrenched a few planks. By the aid of Frank Hallock, on the Saturday before school began, he got them to the marsh that lay between the Point and the lane, and placed them along the line of danger. Thus Harry made short work of getting to and from the tower room.
Josh was for a few days greatly disturbed by the new order of going and coming, and followed Harry across field and marsh until Captain Green shook out on the air the tongue of his bell, whereat the dog gave forth a recitation in a howl, and went home, only to repeat the same on the day following.
On the little island, lying off shore from the town, there was a mill for the making of oil from white fish. At the time the school began on the Point, business at the oil mill was very good. Dozens of boats sailed up to the wharf at evening, with loads of sparkling, rainbow-hued menhaden, that had been trapped into nets during the day, in the deep waters of the Sound. Far into the night, and sometimes until the day-dawn came, men would work at unloading the fish, which were thrown into tubs, the tubs hoisted by steam to a car, into which they were dumped, until the thousands filled it. In its turn the car was drawn up the long lines of rail leading from the wharf to the upper story of the mill.
This mill was within sight from the room where Frank studied, and by the aid of a spy glass could be seen distinctly, although lying two miles away.
Every morning early, when the wind and weather served, the schoolmaster went across to the island wharf to procure bait for his lobster pots. Occasionally when a fog dropped suddenly down, or the wind blew fast from off shore, Captain Green was late in returning from the lobster pound, and the spy glass was used in the tower to find out his whereabouts.
One morning Captain Green was caught in a fog when returning to the mainland: the three scholars waited in the schoolroom, and he did not return.