Mary Margaret felt alarmed and anxious . What was wrong at the Big Dipper ? Was Uncle George away ? Or had something happened to him ? Mary Margaret was sure he had never forgotten ! Fifteen minutes longer did Mary Margaret watch restlessly at the window . Then she concluded that something was desperately wrong somewhere . It was half an hour after sunset and the Big Dipper light , the most important one along the whole coast , was not lighted . What would she do ? What could she do ? The answer came swift and dear into Mary Margaret 's steady , sensible little mind . She must go to the Big Dipper and light the lamps ! But could she ? Difficulties came crowding thick and fast into her thoughts . It was going to snow ; the soft broad flakes were falling already . Could she row the two miles to the Big Dipper in the darkness and the snow ? If she could , dare she leave Nellie all alone in the house ? Oh , she could n't ! Somebody at the Harbour Head would surely notice that the Big Dipper light was unlighted and would go over to investigate the cause . But suppose they should n't ?
XXXXX the snow came thicker they might never notice the absence of the light .
If Margaret Nellie after along at in into that to