The Mystery on Cobbett's Island

ospreys,” Peter said, “these birds are monogamous.”
    “Are what?” cried Diana. “Mart, do you know what he’s talking about?”
    Mart had to admit that he hadn’t the faintest idea what the word could mean.
    “It means that ospreys keep the same mate for life,” Peter told them, “and I’ve read that swans and geese have the same habit. Another interesting thing about ospreys,” he went on, “is that they reinforce their nests before they go south so they’ll be in good condition in the spring, and even hurricane winds don’t seem to knock them off.”
    Cap was now within hailing distance of the Star Fire , and, at Mart’s suggestion, they decided to eat their lunch in the cove. They dropped anchor in the shallow water to keep from drifting, then hungrily opened the lunch baskets. The cook had prepared succulent chicken, fried to a golden brown, hard-boiled eggs, cucumber sandwiches, and brownies for dessert. A big Thermos bottle of orange juice was very welcome, for they were all thirsty after being in the sun so long.
    “It’s a good thing these eggs are already peeled,” said Peter. “If there’s one thing I hate to clean out of the bilge of a boat, it’s eggshells, and potato chips are just about as bad.”
    After lunch, Cap suggested they get under way, and the two boats headed out into the bay, toward the lighthouse.

An Accident • 9

    PETER GAVE TRIXIE the mainsheet and asked Di to take the jib. He shifted Mart, who was the heaviest of the three, around to various places on the boat to maintain a good balance. The wind freshened a bit as they got out into the middle of the bay and headed east. Trixie, glancing over her shoulder, noticed that Cap was tacking, and she started to ask Peter why he didn’t do the same thing, but she remembered just in time what he had said about the crew interfering and stopped in the middle of a sentence, her face red with embarrassment.
    “Don’t be silly, Trix. Ask all the questions you want. That’s the way to learn,” Peter reassured her. “Yes, I see Cap’s trying to put Blitzen around from the port tack, but his sails don’t seem to be filling very well on starboard. Watch him! Whoops! There he goes, flopping back to port.” His voice was filled with excitement.
    The Lightnings streaked through the water, spray blowing up over their bows, and everyone was tense with excitement.
    “Wow!” Mart cried a few minutes later. “Cap’s sure making up for lost time now. Just look at that boat go!”
    “Come on, Star Fire!” yelled Trixie as Blitzen came almost abreast of them. There was much jovial shouting back and forth as the two boats raced for the lighthouse. When they came fairly close to it, Peter told Cap he was going in on the south side of the rocky pile on which the lighthouse stood, leaving Cap free to approach the old dock on the opposite side.
    After dropping sails, Peter paddled around to the dock, using the one oar he always carried in the boat. While he did so, Trixie pulled out the chart again, mumbling to herself as she pored over it.
    “Either Ed was crazy or we are,” she finally said. “That last buoy just happens to be on the wrong side of the lighthouse. Otherwise, everything is dandy,” she added sarcastically.
    “Oh, Trixie, I’m beginning to think we’re all wrong,” said Honey, who had now joined her friend. “The rock didn’t even show. The black buoy wasn’t where it should have been, and now the nun has apparently walked around to the other side of the lighthouse.”
    “I know, but let’s explore it, anyway. That letter was written ages ago, and, as Peter says, things change. It certainly looks as though the lighthouse is here where the chart is marked ‘Finish,’ doesn’t it?” Trixie said with determination.
    They secured Star Fire to the stern of Cap’s boat, and Peter called out, “By Jove, Cap, that boat of yours can really move!”
    “She did get up and go, didn’t she?” Cap answered with a smile.
    “She sure did, and she’ll be real hard to beat,” Peter replied. “The tune-up races are Friday, you know. So may the best man win!”
    “Or the best boat.” Cap laughed. Then, turning to the Bob-Whites, he added, “That’s the funny thing about boats: No two are ever quite alike, even if they’re the same class. Each has a nature all her own.”
    Peter and Cap had frequently visited the lighthouse, and they were anxious to show their friends through it. “It was built about