Third Warning

  CHAPTER XIX A FLASH IN THE DARK

  An hour later darkness lay like a black blanket over the waters ofSuperior. Every moment of that hour saw the gale increase and the wavesmount higher, yet the strong arms of Katie never wavered. Headingstraight away from the storm, she held their boat to a course.

  Florence was obliged to admit that for once her steady nerves that hadstood so much had now all but deserted her. What was the end to be? Wouldthey drift on and on in the path of the storm until waves were strongenough to swamp their boat? As she listened she caught the low hiss ofeach wave and shuddered in spite of her courage.

  Then, with a suddenness that was startling, a light that was fairlyblinding flashed over their heads. Florence was thrown intoconsternation.

  "Ka-Katie!" she cried. "What is it? Are we in the path of a steamer?"Through her mind there flashed a vision of some black bulk looming out ofthe night.

  As for Katie, so overcome by emotion was she that for a space of secondsshe could not speak. When at last she found her voice, she exclaimedjoyously, "It is the Passage Island light. I forgot it. We are almost atthe island. Listen--"

  As they both listened there came the roar of waters beating on rocks.

  "It--it's terrible," Florence said in a low, awed tone. "We couldn't landthere. Our boat would be smashed to splinters."

  "No, not there," Katie agreed. "But on this side there is an entrance.There is a snug little harbor. If only we can find that--"

  "Yes, if only we can. We--"

  Suddenly Florence's voice was drowned by a hoarse hoot that filled allthe night.

  "Oh!" she all but jumped out of the boat. Then she laughed. "The Passagefog horn! I have heard it at a distance."

  "Yes," Katie agreed, "the light and the horn. They should have been therebefore."

  "Perhaps something was wrong with their power."

  After that, for some time neither girl spoke. Katie was busy with theoars and Florence with her thoughts. Long thoughts they were, you may besure.

  It was a relief to know their position. And yet, how much danger lurkedbefore them? Ships going north pass between Isle Royale and PassageIsland. Should they find themselves in the path of a freighter the blackwaters of the night might swallow up their smashed boat. Their fate wouldnever be known. They were headed for Passage Island. But could they findthe entrance to that harbor?

  "Katie," Florence said, "how wide is it?"

  "Is what?" Katie demanded.

  "The entrance to that harbor."

  "Twenty feet, I think," Katie replied.

  "Twenty feet!" Florence thought this but did not say it. Could they findsuch an entrance in the dark and could they, with waves mounting high,make that entrance? It seemed to her all but impossible.

  A sudden feeling of rebellion swept over her. Here she was taking a dayoff, trying to have a good time. For weeks she had worked hard withlittle or no hope of reward. She had worked for the good of others. Andnow--

  "It's not fair!" she whispered. "Not fair at all." Her fists clenchedtight, she looked out over the black waters where white crests of foamplayed.

  One moment more and she was in a different mood. What was it, after all,that she had asked of life? Thrills, adventure, suspense, mystery, thatwas it. Happy adventure. Well, she had known all these.

  "And this," she told herself stoutly, "shall be just one more happyadventure."

  But now Katie was straining eyes and ears. "We are close, perhaps tooclose," she murmured. "Sometimes the waves, they bring you in."

  She veered to the right. Dashes of spray cut sharply at their cheeks. "Wemust take it," she insisted, "or we may crash."

  Florence "took it" in silence.

  The whole setting was strange beyond belief. With that bright lightflashing above them they were in darkness. Not one trace could they seeof the cliffs against which the waters dashed madly.

  Then, for the first time, as if to light their way, there came a gleamfrom the clouds.

  "Lightning!" said Florence.

  "Rocks! Close--too close!" exclaimed Katie. They were both right.

  The moments that followed will remain long in Florence's memory. No moreflashes came. The roar of surf on rocks was deafening. They were close.But how close? Were there low, jutting rocks ahead? Would there come agrinding crash and after that the end? Somewhere in that wall was a gap.Where? How were they to find it?

  It seemed the darkness and suspense would become unbearable. Then cameagain that flash across the sky. Three flashes, close together. Theseserved only to mock them. The first flash gave them hope. The rocky wallwas still there. Perhaps the gap was only a little way ahead.

  Now came a second flash. What was this? The wall was low now. It seemedthat here were only jagged rocks. The girl's heart sank.

  One more moment passed into eternity, then another flash and she knew.About them was only black water flecked with foam. They had drifted pastthe mile-long island without finding the gap. They could not go back.They must go on. Where to?

  Florence buried her face in her hands and tried to think, but herthoughts, like the sky and sea, were one mad whirl.