"The
news came by wire just as I left town."
"God help us," whispered Gertrude Oliver under her breath. "My dream--
my dream! The first wave has broken." She looked at Allan Daly and tried
to smile.
"Is this Armageddon?" she asked.
"I am afraid so," he said gravely.
A chorus of exclamations had arisen round them--light surprise and idle
interest for the most part. Few there realized the import of the message
--fewer still realized that it meant anything to them. Before long the
dancing was on again and the hum of pleasure was as loud as ever.
Gertrude and Allan Daly talked the news over in low, troubled tones.
Walter Blythe had turned pale and left the room. Outside he met Jem,
hurrying up the rock steps.
"Have you heard the news, Jem?"
"Yes. The Piper has come. Hurrah! I knew England wouldn't leave France
in the lurch. I've been trying to get Captain Josiah to hoist the flag
but he says it isn't the proper caper till sunrise. Jack says they'll be
calling for volunteers tomorrow."
"What a fuss to make over nothing," said Mary Vance disdainfully as Jem
dashed off. She was sitting out with Miller Douglas on a lobster trap
which was not only an unromantic but an uncomfortable seat. But Mary and
Miller were both supremely happy on it. Miller Douglas was a big,
strapping, uncouth lad, who thought Mary Vance's tongue uncommonly
gifted and Mary Vance's white eyes stars of the first magnitude; and
neither of them had the least inkling why Jem Blythe wanted to hoist the
lighthouse flag.
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