The fire blazed up, higher and higher, as the boat went back to the Industry, so that it was roaring by the time the sailors climbed aboard. And they hoisted the boat up, and put it in its place, and Captain Solomon had the sailors change the sails so that the ship would go ahead on her course. And the mate was on the quarter deck, telling Captain Solomon what he had seen. When the mate had got through Captain Solomon thought for a long time.
"That's the Frenchman that was abandoned off Hatteras more'n a year ago," said Captain Solomon at last. "They thought she was sinking. She must have been carried by the currents up towards Norway, maybe, and then down past the west coast of France and Spain. I've heard of derelicts doing that, but I've never seen it before."
And the mate didn't say anything, but they watched the wreck burning. It burned fiercely, but the flames didn't blaze very high, for she hadn't any masts nor any rigging. And the light of the fire made the moonlight look pale and white. And they watched her getting farther and farther away as the Industry sailed on her course.
"I hope," said Captain Solomon, "that there's something aboard of her to sink her."
And just as he said that they saw the light of the fire go out suddenly, and where it had been there was nothing but some smoke in the air and the moon was shining brightly all around.
THE LIGHTHOUSE STORY
