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 ? If the snow came thicker they might never notice the absence of the light . And suppose there was a ship away out there , as there nearly always was , with the dangerous rocks and shoals of the outer harbour to pass , with precious lives on board and no guiding beacon on the Big Dipper . Mary Margaret hesitated no longer . She must go . Bravely , briskly and thoughtfully she made her preparations .
First , the fire was banked and the draughts dosed ; then she wrote a little note for her mother and laid it XXXXX the table .
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