Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER HI. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. When Captain Ephraim entered the kitchen he held in his hand a sheet of paper on which were several lines of written words, and before Sidney could ask him any questions relative to the rations, as had been suggested by Uncle Zenas, the keeper cried in a tone of triumph:
Here’s what I’m reckonin’ will fill the bill all right, an’ if Captain Harlow don’t get it in short order, the blame will be on the inspector. See what you think of it, Uncle Zenas. Then Captain Eph read the following, pausing now and then to look over the top of his glasses that he might get some idea of how the statement impressed the cook:
To the Inspector of Light-Houses,
District No. 1. Honored Sir:
Me and my assistants believe it is our duty, though not so laid down in the rules and regulations, to make a special report because this morning a small boy came on to the ledge in a motor boat that gotsmashed up pretty considerable on the rocks while making a landing, said boy claiming to be the son of Captain Harlow of the five-masted schooner West Wind bound for Porto Rico, and he wishing to let his father hear that he ain’t drownded. Not knowing how to send word to the said father that the boy is on this ledge safe and sound, with us feeding him out of our rations so that the Government won’t come short of provisions, I hereby, being of sound mind and disposition, make report to you that the said father ought to be hunted up by your honorable and respected Board, so that he may be able to know that his son ain’t yet drownded.
Your respectfully obedient servant to command,
Ephraim Downs, Keeper of Carys’ Ledge Light, and subscribed to by his assistants, Zenas Stubbs and Sammy Peters.
P.S. Th…
