e morning and get back to the Shoals
before noon," he suggested. "I want to get busy on the government maps
and plot out every mile of the coast so that we can start out in
earnest."

But Lester's plan miscarried in part. They got the early start after a
cordial good-bye to Mark. But the wind was baffling and they had to make
long tacks, so that dusk was drawing on when they at last reached
Bartanet Shoals.

CHAPTER XXII

ANGRY WATERS

As the five boys entered the lighthouse, Teddy happened to glance at the
barometer that was fastened to the wall near the door.

"Say, fellows!" he exclaimed, "the glass is certainly mighty low this
evening. Looks as though there might be some weather coming."

"Let's take a peep," responded Lester carelessly. "We're not due for any
bad weather yet awhile, and I don't think--Whew! but it is low, isn't
it?" he exclaimed as he examined the dial of the instrument. "There's
something on the way, that's sure. I don't remember the barometer often
getting quite as low as that."

"Oh, well, let it come!" exclaimed Fred. "What do we care? We won't be
out in the _Ariel_ this time, and I guess it would take some storm
to wash this old lighthouse away."

"Yes," assented Lester. "I guess no storm that ever blew or ever will
blow can do us much damage. It is built on a ledge of solid bed rock,
and it would take an earthquake to shake it loose. We'll be snug and
safe enough, no matter how hard it blows."

"In that case, bring on your show," grinned Teddy. "I've always wanted
to see a first-class, bang-up storm, so you can't pile on the scenic
effects too strong. Let's have plenty of wind and waves and all the rest
of the fixings. Do a good job, while you're about it, Lester."

"Judging from the looks of that barometer, I won't have to do a blessed
thing," replied Lester in the same tone of banter. "My stage manager,
old Father Neptune, is going to be right on the job, and when he gets
going I don't feel called on to interfere. I've seen a few of his
performances and I must confess that I haven't seen much room for
improvement.

"Except," he went on in a graver tone, "that if I had my way, I'd leave
some of the ships out of the production. After you've once seen some big
craft go to pieces on the shoals, you rather lose your liking for the
entertainment."

"Yes, I suppose that's so," acquiesced Teddy, his usually high spirits
sobered for a moment by having this view of the case pr