Chapter 10 SETTLING IN
Once more they all climbed up the spiral stairway. Timmy rather slowly, for he found the windingstairs difficult. Mischief¹ shot up in front of them, almost as if he were the owner of the light-house,and was showing off his home!
The lamp-room was a high room with big windows all round it. It was very bright, for the sun shonesteadily into it. The view was magnificent!
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Anne gave a shout of wonder! The light-house was so high that the children could see for miles andmiles over the heaving dark blue sea. They went all round the lamp-room, looking in every direction.
'I say! There's a door here!' cried Dick. 'Does it open on to that little balcony, or gallery, or whateverit is that runs all round this room?'
'Yes. The gallery goes completely round the lamp-room,' said Tinker. 'My word, you should see itsometimes when the weather's rough, and the gulls² go seeking somewhere out of the storm.
They perch³ on that gallery by the dozen! But you can't go out there except in calm weather -you might be blown right off! You've no idea what it's like when there's a storm. Honestly, one nightwhen my father and I were here I thought I felt the light-house rocking!'
'This is about the most exciting place I've ever stayed in,' said Anne, her eyes shining. 'Tinker, I thinkyou are the luckiest boy in the world!'
'Do you really?' said Tinker, pleased. He gave Anne a little pat. 'I hoped you'd like it. Mischief lovesit - don't you, Mischief?'
Mischief was up on top of the great lamp. He chattered⁴ down to Timmy as if he were telling him allabout it. Timmy listened, his ears cocked, his head on one side.
'He looks just as if he understood that monkey-gabble!' said George. 'Tinker - this lamp is neverlighted now, is it?'
'No, never,' said Tinker. 'I told you there is a fine new light-house a bit farther down the coast. It has aterrific lamp - run by electricity. We shall see its beam sweeping⁵ the sea at night.'
'Why don't people build light-houses and live in them?' wondered George, as she gazed out over thewide blue sea.
'Anyone feeling hungry?' asked Tinker, rubbing his tummy. 'I feel jolly empty.'
'Oh gosh - we haven't taken the things out of my boat!' said Tinker. 'Come on - let's carry them allindoors, and have a meal. What's the time? Past four o'clock! No wonder I feel empty. Come on,Mischief - to work! You can carry some of the things in too.'

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