“Oh Aunt Fanny! Surely I and Dick can stay up!” said Julian. “After all, we’re not in bed till ten at school.”

“Yes — but this is half past ten, and you wouldn’t even be in bed then,” said his aunt. “There’s no reason why you shouldn’t lie in bed and watch for it though, if you want to — providing you haven’t fallen asleep!”

“Oh yes — I can do that,” said Julian. “My window looks across to Kirrin Island. Six flashes with a lantern? I shall count them carefully.”

So the four went to bed at the usual time. Anne was asleep long before half past ten, and George was so drowsy that she could not make herself get up and go into the boys’ room. But Dick and Julian were both wide awake. They lay in their beds and looked out of the window. There was no moon, but the sky was clear, and the stars shone down, giving a faint light. The sea looked very black. There was no sign of Kirrin Island. It was lost in the darkness of the night.

“Almost half past ten,” said Julian, looking at his watch which had luminous hands. “Now then, Uncle Quentin, what about it?”

Almost as if his uncle was answering him, a light shone out in the glass top of the tower. It was a clear, small light, like the light of a lantern.

Julian began to count. “One flash.” There was a pause. “Two flashes.” Another pause ‘Three… four… five… six!’

The flashes stopped. Julian snuggled down into bed. “Well, that’s that. Uncle Quentin’s all right. I say, it’s weird to think of him climbing that spiral stairway right to the top of the tower, in the dark of night, isn’t it? — just to mess about with those wires.”

“Mmmmm,” said Dick sleepily. “I’d rather he did it, than I! You can be a scientist if you like, Ju — but I don’t want to climb towers in the dead of night on a lonely island. I’d like Timmy there, at least!”

Someone knocked on their door and it opened. Julian sat up at once. It was Aunt Fanny.

“Oh Julian dear — did you see the flashes? I forgot to count them. Were there six?”

“Oh yes, Aunt Fanny! I’d have rushed down to tell you if anything was wrong. Uncle’s all right. Don’t you worry!”

“I wish I’d told him to do an extra flash to tell me if he’s had some of that nice soup,” said his aunt. “Well, good night, Julian. Sleep well!”

Chapter Eight

Down in the quarry

The next day dawned bright and sunny. The four tore down to breakfast, full of high spirits. “Can we bathe? Aunt Fanny, it’s really warm enough! Oh do say we can!”

“Of course not! Whoever heard of bathing in April!” said Aunt Fanny. “Why, the sea is terribly cold. Do you want to be in bed for the rest of the holiday with a chill?”