Tom hired the same sullen pilot to guide The Comet safely past the tusks of rock jutting from the mouth of Big Harbour. It was Richard Williams again who rowed him ashore. After dragging the boat onto the beach, Richard hoisted the long wooden box on his shoulder and followed Tom to Janet MacKenzie’s door. Again Effie peered at them before scurrying off to alert her mistress.
“The captain isn’t with you today?”
“No, Mrs. MacKenzie. He’s busy on his charts. I’ve brought Williams the coxswain with me.”
Janet nodded and surveyed Richard who was lowering his burden. Her eyes gleamed. Tom couldn’t be sure whether it was curiosity or amusement. He tried on a boyish smile. “You were very firm about not wanting any recompense but I’m afraid the Lighthouse Commissioners were adamant that we deliver this to you.”
“Well, open it young man.”
Tom opened the lid, lifted out the contents and presented them to Janet with a bow. He was astonished to see her stern face melt into a laugh.
“Well, I feel like the Queen herself. It’s a fine thing indeed, but why should I have need of it?”
“It’s the most modern and best lamp available. Brighter and cleaner than any other.”
“It’s certainly a handsome thing.” She tapped the brass base. “But I already have my own lamp and another smaller one too. I won’t need them soon and certainly not a new one as well.”
“True. But I have something else I trust will be more serviceable.” He took a package from his jacket pocket and gave it to her.
She unwrapped the soft leather cover. “Now this is beautiful and there’s an inscription from Captain Otter himself. How kind of him.”
“A spyglass!”
Tom started at the sudden voice. He turned round to see an upturned face with large, glowing eyes and a pelt of black hair. More like a panther cub than a small boy.
Janet smiled fondly at the child. “First you must greet these gentlemen, Lieutenant Masters and Mr. Williams. This is Louis, the son of Mr. Stevenson. He’s staying with us while his father is away building lighthouses.”
“I’ve been watching your ship getting bigger as it came closer.” Janet gave him the telescope and he pushed it against his eye. “Oh, it’s made the ship smaller.”
“Turn it the other way around,” Tom bent down so that he was level with the child. “Now you can see the men on board clearly.”
“I can!” Louis squealed, hopping from foot to foot.
His excitement made them all grin.
“Captain Otter is very generous. If I write him a letter, would you give it to him for me? Louis, go and ask Effie to bring us some tea.”
Louis skipped off to do her bidding. “He’s been ill, poor soul, but he’s much recovered now. I fear he’s weary of having only female company.”
“Would he like to come aboard?” Tom asked.
“We’ll have to make sure that he’s well wrapped up.”
“Can I go on the ship?” Louis erupted into the room again.
They walked across the rocky beach to the rowing boat, Louis darting between the strolling men. Richard rowed while Tom listened to Louis’s chatter. He recounted the stories Janet had told him, spoke about his collection of different-colored stones and shells and told how Hamish had taken him to fish for mackerel from the rocks. Then he stared at Tom. “Did your Papa want you to join the Navy?”
“You don’t have to follow in your Papa’s footsteps if you don’t want to?”
“That’s true. Don’t you want to build lighthouses?”
“I want to write stories, sea adventures.”
“Well I’m sure Captain Otter can tell you some tales. He’s famous for them.” Tom winked at Richard who grinned. “Now we’re at the ship. Can you climb up the rope ladder?”
“Of course.” But Louis gnawed his lip as he watched the ladder swinging against the hull. Tom clambered onto it first while Richard stood behind Louis, guiding his hands onto the rungs.
“A new midshipman, I see,” Captain Otter boomed when they found him bent over his charts. “Your visit was successful?” he asked Tom.
“Yes sir, but the telescope was a greater success than the lamp. Mrs. MacKenzie asked me to give you this letter.”
“Good. Well young man, would you like to inspect my ship?”
Louis explored everything. He felt the shuddering engines under his feet, climbed into a hammock to let the waves rock him and marked in some figures on the captain’s chart, his tongue sticking out as he concentrated. After a piece of fish and some hard tack from the galley it was time to slither down the rope ladder and row back to the island. Before they beached the boat he had fallen asleep, his face nuzzled against Richard’s arm.