Walter could detect little stamps in the form of a cross.
“There is Tom Walker’s record,” said the keeper. “One stamp was fifteen minutes of nine, when you went down; another at ten minutes of ten, and the third at eleven. That shows that Tom Walker did his duty.”
“And he would have done it anyway,” growled the sensitive Tom. “I don’t like to have that thing nag me round. I do my duty.”
“Oh yes, yes, sartin,” replied the keeper in a mollifying tone.
“Did you burn your light after I left you?” inquired Walter. “I mean your signal.”
“No, nothin’ turned up.”
“What would you have done if it had?” inquired Walter. “Say, if you had seen a wreck, what then?”
“What would he have done?” said the keeper, answering for the surfman, and answering in an oratorical fashion. “What would he have done? My! Wouldn’t he have flown round! He’d have out with that signal and burnt it in less than no time. Then he would have run to the station, big rubber boots and all, roused the crew, and we might have had to run out the boat and get a line to the wreck,” and the keeper, as he proceeded, seeing the effect his earnestness had on his young auditor, grew quite dramatic in his gestures.
“Wish I could see it!” thought Walter. But that was not possible. His return home must be effected that very afternoon.