The Dilly party stared at the strange man now before them. He was dressed as one might expect a seafaring sort to be, with high boots and dirty overalls. A black, tattered hat adorned his head. His face showed signs of age but it could also have been due to prolonged sun exposure, making it hard to tell just how old he was. His salt and pepper beard was long and ratty, twisting around and around. As he smiled at the others, it was clear he was missing a few teeth.

"Oh, I apologize," the figure said, slightly bowing, "I didn't introduce myself. My name is Menelaus Winslow Groat. I'm the lighthouse keeper at Phoque King Light."

The Dillys looked about to one another.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Groat," William replied.

"I saw your boat at the dock just now," Menelaus continued, "figured I should row over and introduce myself, us being neighbors and all." He motioned behind himself- further down the beach was a small rowboat haphazardly pulled ashore.

"Well, pleased to meet you," William repeated, "I'm William. This is my wife, Minnie, my nephew Albert, and my daughter Sophia."

Menelaus, closest to Sophia, looked the young lady over in a hungry way that made Sophia feel uncomfortable.

"Your daughter is lovely, if you don't mind my saying so," the lighthouse keeper remarked, "of course, so is your wife but...say, girl, you aren't married, are you?"

The question was awkward and Sophia again too a few steps back from the man.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry," Menalaus quickly bowed again. "You see, it's lonely being a lighthouse keeper. Don't get to see many people. Sometimes forget what is or isn't polite conversation. I apologize for any offense."

"It's fine," William said, though he clearly was uncertain what more to say or what further to offer the visitor.

"It was nice when those decorators were here," volunteered Menelaus, "got to talk to them a bit. And the builders before that. It's been nice that you've bought Sharpy Island. Brought me some company, I guess I'm saying."

"Well...you're welcome, I suppose..."

"Shame about the interior decorators. I found their boat, you see. That was all that was left of them. Same with the builders. Terrible tragedies. "

"The builders...their boat capsized in the riptides too?" Sophia remarked slowly, looking to her father.

"Sure did. The ocean can be mighty unforgiving sometimes," Menelaus said frankly.

"Did you know, father?" Sophia pressed, "is this a safe place for us to spend the summer?"

Menelaus suddenly started to laugh. It was a loud, odd, laugh that made everyone stand on edge.

"Of course Sharpy Island is safe! Those poor fools just met unfortunate ends because they couldn't read the ocean. The Atlantic is unforgiving to those who do her wrong. Those builders, those interior decorators, they should have known better. Especially the interior decorators."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"How so?" William asked.

"Why, I can only say what I observed at a distance, but they were always gathering things from the shore. The sea doesn't like its things taken without a good reason. I tried to warn them to stop, but they said they needed them for their 'vision'. You know how artistic sorts can be."

"What sorts of things?" Sophia asked.

"Oh, shells, starfish, sand dollars..."

Minnie looked to her husband. "That's the objects they used in the house decorations, William!" she exclaimed.

"It was when they started killing the seals left and right that I knew the Atlantic would never forgive them."

" 'Killing seals left and right'?" repeated Sophia, "why on Earth would they kill so many seals?"

Albert swallowed hard. No doubt it was for the gratuitous decorations in the so-named Seal Room.

"Well, speaking of seals," William said, "it just so happens that's why we're down here. Did you happen to see a sick seal come this way as you were rowing in?"

"It wasn't a seal," Sophia emphatically stated, "it was a sealman."

The lighthouse keeper shook his head. "Nope, can't say I saw anything, seal or otherwise. Far as I know, I'm the only man that's down here." He again looked at Sophia with his creepy gaze. "Did you think you saw something? Perhaps it was just me. I apologize for scaring you, lovely."

"That must be it, then," William nodded, "you must've seen Mr. Groat pulling in and mistook him for a seal."

"He looks nothing like what I saw," protested Sophia, though she too was beginning to wonder. It would have made more sense if it was Menelaus, yet the sealman and its features were still so clear in her mind...

"Well then," Menelaus smiled, "now that we are all acquainted, I do hope you don't mind my stopping by to visit time to time. As I said, it is very lonely in Phoque King Light."

Minnie leaned over to her husband. "He's so horrible-looking," she whispered, though nowhere near as quiet as she thought. "Please tell me we won't have his visits often, William!"

William cleared his throat. "Yes, well, we'll see when works best in the future. Our family is here for some rest and relaxation, afterall. The goal being to be left alone as much of the summer as possible. You understand, I hope."

Menelaus was quiet a moment. "I see..." he finally replied, tapping his extremely large feet. "Well, I certainly hope I will be able to visit you again. It is very nice to have human contact," his eyes again fell on Sophia, "especially with beautiful women."

Sophia had taken enough steps backwards that she was now besides Albert. Albert did his best not to turn red as she brushed slightly against his arm.

"We'll see, certainly, if there is a good time," William said.

"I can also say I can be mighty handy when you consider my knowledge of the sea," Menelaus put his hands behind his back. "The riptides here can be unpredictable. You may value someone who has some...control over the waters."

"William," Minnie whispered loudly again, "is that a threat?"

"I will keep that in mind, Mr. Groat," William answered, though there was a clear unease to his voice. "We will be sure to let you know when we would like you to visit again."

"I suppose all you'll have to do is wave your hands," the lighthouse keeper said, "I'll be able to see from up at the top of my station." Once again, Sophia was in his sights. "I'll be sure to keep a close eye on Sharpy Island a d look for your invitation."

There was a long pause in the conversation. Menelaus tipped his hat.

"I can see I am now imposing. I will allow you to get settled in."

"Thank you, Mr. Groat. We will look forward to seeing you again one day."

Menelaus gave Sophia a slight wink as he returned to his rowboat.

"What a ghastly man," Minnie remarked when she assumed him to be out of hearing range.

"It seems he had a particular interest in you, Sophia," William noted with some dissatisfaction. "At least we've solved this sealman mystery."

Sophia did not agree with her father, yet it seemed there was no other explanation for what she had observed. The looks Menelaus had shot her had filled her with a continued unease. "I...I think I need to lay down," she said.

"Yes, let's all go back to the house," William nodded, "you can go to your bedroom and relax there a bit. I will have Jerome send you up a cool glass of lemonade."

"Yes," Sophia answered, "perhaps a brief rest in my bedroom will make me feel better. Take my mind off all this seal and sealman business."

Albert, recalling the walls of mounted seal heads in Sophia's room, nervously muttered: "I don't think that seals are going to be off your mind for some time."

But his shy voice was soft and nobody heard.