was torn and blown in solid
sheets before the raging wind so that at times it was impossible to see
the heaving waters beneath. As the breakers came up against the
lighthouse ledge, their tops would curve over and come crashing down
with mighty blows that it seemed must pulverize the solid granite. The
rebounding spray was snatched up by the gale and hurled against the
lighthouse, as though the elements were furious at this one obstacle
that prevented them from wreaking their full rage on some unfortunate
ship and were resolved to sweep it from their path once and for all.

The boys gazed spellbound at the awe-inspiring spectacle, and for a time
none of them uttered a word. Lester was the first to break the long
silence.

"I've never seen anything better--or worse--than this," he said. "I
guess the barometer knew what it was doing to-day."

"It surely is a tremendous thing to watch," assented Fred, and again
applied himself to the window, where the others kept their faces glued,
too fascinated with the elemental turmoil to think of anything else.

They tore themselves away at last and went up into the lamp room where
Mr. Lee was on duty.

He had just finished trimming the wicks when the boys entered.

"What do you think of this for a storm?" he quizzed. "Is it blowing hard
enough to suit you?"

"It's tremendous!" ejaculated Ross. "I never knew that wind could blow
so hard or waves get so big. It's something to remember for a lifetime."

Mr. Lee smiled at his earnestness and nodded his head.

"You may well say so," he observed. "Of course, I've seen worse winds in
the tropics, when they developed into hurricanes or typhoons. But for
this coast, it doesn't often blow harder. There's more than one fine
ship will lay her bones down on some reef or beach this night."

While Mr. Lee was speaking, the boys had noticed several dull blows
against the outside lens of the light, and Teddy took the first
opportunity to inquire the cause.

"That's caused by sea-gulls and other water birds dashing themselves
against the light," explained Lester. "They're driven by the wind, and
are so confused and terrified that I don't suppose they know what
they're doing. Or perhaps the bright light has an attraction for them.
At any rate, they always do it in a big storm, and in large numbers too.
Why, in the morning we can go out and find hundreds of dead birds where
they've dropped at the base of the tower."

"What a shame!" excla