下载辰思小说免费APP
Mr。Fentolinshookheroff。HelookedaroundforMeekins。
“Meekins，standbymychair，“heorderedsharply。“Turnround；I
wishtogototheHall。Drivethiswomanaway。“
Meekinscamehurryingup，butalmostatthesamemomenthalfadozenofthebrownjerseyedfishermendetachedthemselvesfromtheothers。
Theyformedalittlebodyguardaroundthebath-chair。
“Whatisthemeaningofthis？“Mr。Fentolindemanded，hisvoiceshrillwithanger。“Didn’tyouhearwhatIsaid？Thiswomanannoysme。Sendheraway。“
Notoneofthefishermenansweredawordormadetheslightestmovementtoobeyhim。Oneofthem，agrey-beardedveteran，drewthechairalittlefurtherdowntheplankedwayacrossthepebbles。
HannahCoxkeptclosetoitsside。Theycametoastandstillonlyafewyardsfromwherethewaveswerebreaking。Sheliftedherhand。
“Listen！“shecried。“Listen！“
Mr。Fentolinturnedhelplesslyaround。ThelittlegroupoffishermenhadclosedinuponSarsonandMeekins。Thewoman’shandwasuponhisshoulder；shepointedseawardtowhereahissinglineofwhitefoammarkedthespotwherethetopmostoftherockswerevisible。
“YouwonderedwhyIhavespentsomuchofmytimeouthere，“shesaidquietly。“Nowyouwillknow。IfyoulistenasIamlistening，asIhavelistenedforsomanywearyhours，somanywearyyears，youwillhearthemcallingtome，DavidandJohnandStephen。
’Thelight！’Doyouhearwhattheyarecrying？’Thelight！
Fentolin’slight！’Look！“
Sheforcedhimtolookoncemoreatthetopoftheboat-house。
“Theywereright！“sheproclaimed，hervoicegaininginstrengthandintensity。“Theywereneitherdrunknorreckless。Theysteeredasstraightashumanhandcouldguideatiller，forFentolin’slight！Andtheretheyare，callingandcallingatthebottomofthesea-mythreeboysandmyman。Doyouknowforwhomtheycall？“
Mr。Fentolinshrankbackinhischair。
“Takethiswomanaway！“heorderedthefishermen。“Doyouhear？
Takeheraway；sheismad！“
Theylookedtowardshim，butnotoneofthemmoved。Mr。Fentolinraisedhiswhistletohislips，andblewit。
“Meekins！“hecried。“Whereareyou，Meekins？“
HeturnedhisheadandsawatoncethatMeekinswaspowerless。
Fiveorsixofthefishermenhadgatheredaroundhim。Therewereatleastthirtyofthemabout，sinewy，powerfulmen。TheonlypersonwhomovedtowardsMr。Fentolin’scarriagewasJacob，thecoastguardsman。
“Mr。Fentolin，sir，“hesaid，“theladshavegotyourbullysafe。
It’sayearandmorethatHannahCoxhasbeenaboutthevillagewithsomestoryabouttwolightsonastormynight。It’struewhatshesays-thathermanandboysliedrowned。There’sWilliamGreen，besides，andanephewofmyown-JohnKallender。AndPhilipGreen-hewassaved。Hesworebyallthatwasholythathesteeredstraightforthelightwhenhisboatstruck，andthatasheswamforshore，fiveminuteslater，hesawthelightreappearinanotherplace。It’sastrangestory。Whathaveyoutosay，sir，aboutthat？“
Hepointedstraighttothewire-encircledglobewhichtoweredonitsslendersupportabovetheboat-house。Mr。Fentolinlookedatitandlookedbackatthecoastguardsman。ThebrainofaMachiavellicouldscarcelyhaveinventedaplausiblereply。
“Thelightwasneverlitthere，“hesaid。“Itwassimplytohelpmeinsomeelectricalexperiments。“
Then，forthefirsttimeintheirlives，thosewhowerelookingonsawMr。Fentolinapartfromhiscarriage。Withoutanyhastebutwithamazingstrength，HannahCoxleanedover，and，withherarmsaroundhismiddle，liftedhimsheerupintotheair。Shecarriedhim，claspedinherarms，aweird，strugglingobject，totheclumsyboatthatlayalwaysatthetopofthebeach。Shedroppedhimintothebottom，tookherseat，andunshippedtheoars。Foronemomentthecoastguardsmanhesitated；thenheobeyedherlook。Hegavetheboatapushwhichsentitgrindingdownthepebblesintothesea。Thewomanbegantoworkattheoars。Ev
