"What are you doin' there? You all alone?"

"I got asleep in the cabin, and they left me here."

"And you been here all night? It is a wonder the sharks didn't eat you,"
said Simes, who had a very vivid imagination.

"The sharks?"

"Well, no matter about them things. I s'pose now you want to go home?"

"Yes, if I can get down into your boat."

"I'm willin' to take you if you can get down."

"Couldn't I shin down the chain-cable?"

"O no! Look round and find a piece of rope and make it fast to something
up there, and then drop your rope down here and come that way."

"What, drop myself down like the rope?" said Wort, grinning.

"Tut, tut, boy! come down the rope! Didn't I say so plain as day? and if I
didn't, I will now."

Wort found a rope, made one end fast to the rail, and then, throwing the
other end down to Simes, safely lowered himself into the stern of the
light-keeper's boat. In fifteen minutes more Wort was at home, to the
surprise and joy of his parents.