Robert Shaler

“ Chester admired the boats which were built for contending with the roughest surf, yet capable of being easily managed by the brawny men who wielded the heavy oars. Alec and Billy, glancing at the surf guns or carronades and then at the rows of life-preservers hung upon the walls, expressed a wish that they might some time have a chance to go out in those boats to the rescue of a ship in distress, or, at least, to see the crew in action, even if they should not be permitted to join in the work. ”

“ As they trudged doggedly on, the wind whipped through the beach grasses on the dunes and spitefully swirled handfuls of cutting sand into their faces. Fortunately, the night was not cold, else they might have fared worse. As it was, the two scouts rather enjoyed the novel experience. They felt that they were, for the time being, a part of Uncle Sam’s coast guard,—members of a crew of brave men whose vigilance and strength and presence of mind save hundreds of lives and valuable property every year. ”

“ Rowing hard against the now outflowing tide, yet helped by the wind, the lifesavers approached the beach. With a rush their boat rolled in on a giant wave and, no sooner had the keel grated on the sand, than the crew, including the two scouts, were out knee-deep in the undertow dragging the boat up high and dry. ”

“ Hugh agreed with this statement. Somehow, he felt that the slight part he and his comrades had played in sharing the labors of those brave surfmen and guardians of the coast would linger in his memory longer than any other experience of their visit. It meant to them all much more than their brief sojourn at the Seminole village, with the stalwart braves returning from the chase, the squaws busying themselves with household cares, the romping children, the air of contented aloofness that pervaded the scene.
“Yes, it’s been a great trip.” ”

“ Alec was close at his heels. Stripping off his coat and waving it frantically, he overtook Billy just as young Worth, bounding forward, almost collided with the girl and caught her outstretched hands in his own. Some little distance behind them, Chester stood at the end of the trestle, gazing with horror-stricken eyes at his friends and wondering what was the best thing he could do at this crisis.
“Oh!” he groaned despairingly. “They’ll never stop it! They’ll all be killed!” ”

“ Before the surfboat could reach her, she lurched over the bar on a mightier wave, veered halfway around, and drove directly toward Turtle Island. The crew in the boat could do nothing, and the few men aboard the schooner were helpless. With straining eyes, the lifesavers saw the vessel drift rapidly past them; they even heard shouts and frantic yells from the deck, and, in return, they shouted encouragement. ”

“ At the rising of the moon, they all set forth in single file, and crossed the little island by an old trail through the chaparral to the ocean side. There they found a firm, wide, sandy strip of shore on which a low surf was murmuring its continuous song. The moon sailed higher and higher, the night was delightfully warm and calm, and there was an excellent prospect of finding game.
Telling Norton, Chester and Hugh to hide in the scrubby growth that fringed a sand dune, Dave took Alec and Billy along the beach for about fifty yards. ”

“ I’ve found out that I can charter the small sloop Arrow, Lemuel Vinton, owner and master,—you remember him, Alec?—and engage his services as captain. For crew, he’ll have you four boys and a certain young man from my New York office whom I’m sending over to Havana on business. His name is Roy Norton; he’s a good sailor, and one of the most sensible and likable young men I’ve ever had the good fortune to know. I’ll expect you boys to stand by him as your leader on this trip, just as you would if he were George Rawson or your scout master, Denmead. ”

“ Flaw after flaw darkened the water, flattening the long swells; but at length the squall passed, and once out of a broad inlet, the sloop headed straight down the coast under a good breeze.
“What for so much hurry?” grumbled Dave, emerging from the cabin, and looking around quizzically. “Huh! Plenty time.”
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“Oh, we’re in no hurry, Dave,” answered Hugh with a laugh. “This is just sailing for sport. You’ll like it after a while when you get more used to it. Go and sit up fore, to windward.” ”

“ One man, the captain of the ill-fated schooner, dejectedly explained between huge mouthfuls that they had been making for Santario, to get provisions for a voyage to Key West. The schooner’s rudder had broken on a reef, and they had drifted for thirty-four hours without food, each man filling “the aching void” with nothing more substantial than water. ”

“ He is the keeper of the Life Saving Station at Red Key,” she explained. “His name is Anderson,—Peter Anderson. Mine is Ruth.”
“We’re Boy Scouts,” replied Alec, feeling that some introduction was due. “This chap is William Worth,—we call him Billy, for short,—this is Chester Brownell, and I’m Alec Sands. We are on our way to Santario, too; we left our machine over yonder. If you like, we’ll be glad to give you a ride. Will you come? It’s getting late, the sun’s going down, and you’ll never walk all the way to Santario before dusk. Better come with us.” ”

“ As the young Scouts dashed to the rescue, the ominous rumbling grew louder and louder; the rails began to hum; then, with another warning blast of the whistle, the freight train appeared around the bend and thundered toward the long bridge.
Billy was the first to reach the end of the trestle toward which the girl was coming rapidly. Running forward, leaping from one tie to another, he realized how precarious was the footing, how easily one misstep might hurl anyone into the depths below. ”

“ When Chester descended the stairs in some anxiety and reëntered the keeper’s room, Bowling asked sharply: “What’s Bill doing—besides his duty? Depend on him for that!”
“Trying to decide how we can help those in the sponger, if she strikes a ledge, sir.”
“Oh, so that’s what’s troubling him! Let’s hope his fears won’t be justified! Bill Wayne may be mulish and irritable at times, but whenever any danger or hardship comes up, his heart swells out till it’s too big for his body.” ”

“ A clumsy black form emerged from the thick vegetation on the dunes, stood motionless for several minutes sniffing the air, and then ambled slowly and cautiously toward the water, pausing now and then to nose the warm sand.
“It’s a bear, and he smells our tracks,” whispered Hugh.
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“Will he find the nest?” Billy asked, nudging Dave with his elbow.
“Sure, he find it all right,” was the whispered reply of the Indian. “When turtle make nest, lay eggs, scent is stronger than what we leave. Watch him. You can—huh, look!” ”

“ She was about to spring into the car, when she paused, one foot on the running board, and looked questioningly at Alec.
“Oh, I almost forgot poor Carlo!” she exclaimed, struck by a sudden misgiving. “What can we do with him? He can’t run all the way and keep up with us, can he?”
“Not much!” was Alec’s emphatic reply. “He’s going to ride with us. There’s plenty of room in the car.”
“But he’s dripping wet!”
“No matter. In he goes! Nothing’s too good for old Carlo! Now you and Billy jump in and take the rear seat, and make him sit on the floor.” ”

“ The three young tourists who were speeding along at a good thirty miles an hour, were all members of a troop of Boy Scouts whose summer headquarters were located at Pioneer Lake, “up North.” Alec Sands, the captain of the Otter patrol, and Billy Worth, a member of the Wolf patrol, had been prominent in many of the contests held at Pioneer Camp. Chester Brownell of the Otters was less well known to the boys of the troop, but Alec had come to know him at Hilltop School and had found in him a promising athlete. ”

“ Billy tied the boat to another post, while Downs again lighted a signal. They were still near enough the station to notify the lookout there of a possible ship in distress, and in a few minutes they caught the gleam of the big lamp in the tower, shining out through the vapor blown from the crests of the waves.
Still no sign from the object of their concern.
“Look!” cried Hugh. “It can’t be a cloud; it hasn’t changed its shape, and——”
“And it seems to be comin’ nearer,” added Downs, interrupting him quickly. “You’re right, son; it’s a sailing vessel. ”

“ Chester remarked. “I visited a station on the coast of Maine two summers ago, but I didn’t see the crew at work.”
“I’ve never even seen a Life Saving Station,” said Billy.
“I have it—a great idea!” exclaimed Alec. “Some day, soon after Hugh gets here, we’ll motor down to Red Key and——”
Ruth interrupted him with a silvery laugh. “Oh, that will be fine!” she cried gaily. “Dad will be so glad to see you-all and to thank you for all you’ve done for me to-day. And I’m sure you’ll like the crew over at Red Key; they’re the nicest, kindest, bravest fellows in the world! And they’ll like you, too ”

“ Two more sailors swung to safety ashore. None too soon, for the sixth man had hardly been dragged to the beach when the schooner’s mast, unable to stand the buffeting of the waves any longer, snapped at the middle and toppled over into the sea, dragging with it a tangled mass of rigging. Two sailors were left on the deck of the Mary Jane. ”

“ After camping again for a day or two on Palm Island, they sailed idly among innumerable smaller islands, enjoying the fine weather, bathing, fishing, taking photographs, learning how to manage the sloop, and making observations of other ships that passed.
“The Captain says that by running to starboard more we can strike the lee of Elbow Key Light to-morrow,” Norton said, as he and the boys were turning into their bunks at nine o’clock one night. “You know that’s where the sponging fleet work at this time, so, in case of storm, they can shelter under the lighthouse key. ”

“ What would you all say to a trip down the coast?”
“A hunting and fishing trip?” Alec asked eagerly.
“Yes, if you want to try any fishing. You can’t hunt; it’s not the season, you know.”
“We wouldn’t want to, even if we could,” his son replied on second thoughts. “But the fishing would be great sport! That’s a bully idea of yours, Dad! I’m keen for the trip!”
“How about you two?” Mr. Sands turned to the others. “Does the plan strike your fancy?”
“It surely does!” was Billy’s prompt reply.
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“Simply great!” added Chester.
“Good. Do you think Hugh will like it?”
“I’m sure he will,” Billy said. ”

“ The crew ran the ever-ready surf boat through the double doors of its house and down an inclined plane to the beach. Resting in a carriage provided with a pair of broad-tired wheels, the staunch craft was hauled by Powers and Flynn and the four boys through the clinging sand and into the very teeth of the wind to the point nearest the vessel.
“Can we go out with you?” yelled Hugh excitedly.
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The surf rolled in with a deafening roar that seemed to shake the ground, drowning the sound of his voice. No one paid the slightest attention to the eager lads ”

“ I guess we can put you up for the night, if you’re not too particular, and the missus can rustle enough grub for us all.”
“Thanks, ever so much,” said Alec and Billy, almost in one breath, and Hugh added: “It’s mighty good of you, Captain Anderson.” He was much pleased with the hospitable captain’s “us all.” It seemed to include all four boys in a fellowship with the crew of life-savers, for whom the young scouts had begun to feel a genuine liking and respect. ”

“ Both Dave and Jim knew the direction of the Seminole camp, and though they headed off into the wrong water-course once during the morning, they did not go far afield. The streams were wonderfully clear, except in places where the guides had to pole through enormous patches of water plants and grasses. For six miles they pushed into the Glades, and about noon they reached a small inland island on which was a rude landing made of wreckage from the coast.
Dave explained that his tribesmen often transport planks and timbers very long distances, lashed to their canoes on the outside. ”

“ The lighthouse keeper’s name was John Bowling, and he was a brother-in-law of Captain Anderson of the Red Key Life Saving Station. So, naturally, he was interested in hearing about the rescue of Ruth, the boys’ recent sojourn at Red Key, and the wreck of the Mary Jane.
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“I used to know the cap’n of that schooner,” he said, “but it’s three years since I saw him last. We don’t see many folks or have many visitors here, except the spongers and now and then the crew of some passing craft. So strangers with news to tell are certainly welcome.”
“Don’t you find it pretty lonely?” inquired Alec. ”

“ With oilskins buttoned tightly and hip-boots drawn up, Jim Downs and his youthful comrades fought the stiff breeze on their watch. Darkness was slow in coming, so they were not yet in imminent peril from shifting sands, driftwood, or tidal waves. ”