Captain John did not answer. He drove in a nail just above the place where his hand had been. Then he hung the second lantern on it.
“Now see if you can open the lantern.”
Able-seaman Titty stood on tiptoe and opened the lantern.
“But what’s it for?” she asked.
“You’ll see as soon as it’s dark,” said Captain John.
“I can’t reach it,” said Roger, after trying.
“You won’t have to,” said Captain John.
“Not until you are allowed to use matches,” said the mate, “and by then you’ll be tall enough.”
As soon as it began to grow dark the whole crew of Swallow were at the harbour again. John gave the able-seaman the matches and she lit both lanterns, while the boy watched. Then all four of them embarked.
“Roger ought to be in bed,” said the mate.
“It won’t take long,” said Captain John, “and we can’t leave him alone.”
“Anyway, I’m not sleepy,” said Roger.
They rowed away down the lake. The dark came fast overhead. Stars shone out. Owls were calling. The edges of the lake disappeared under the hills. They could see the outlines of the hills, great black masses, pressing up into the starry sky. Then clouds came up over the stars and they could not even see where the hills ended and the sky began.
Suddenly high in the darkness they saw a flicker of bright flame. There was another and then another, and then a pale blaze lighting a cloud of