The Life Savers: A story of the United States life-saving service Read online

  CHAPTER X.

  THE UNIFORM.

  Mr. Bradford was in no haste to return home on this evening when he haddecorated Fluff and provided Benny with the means of getting a uniform.

  He had come to assure the crew that he fully appreciated the disciplineand prompt attention to duty which made possible his rescue, for hadthirty seconds been wasted after Sam Hardy's summons, the boat wouldhave arrived too late.

  "I never before fully realized the value of life-saving stations orthe heroism of life-saving crews," he said, addressing Keeper Downey."Perhaps it was because I never knew what perfection of discipline anddrill was to be found among the men. I have often wondered why thisservice should be under the supervision of the Treasury Department,when one would naturally expect it to be a branch of the navy."

  "The reason is, Mr. Bradford, that a deep-water sailor, as a rule,knows very little about surf work," Tom Downey replied quickly, andwith considerable warmth. "You will find that among all the marinerswe aid, no more than one out of every hundred has had any experiencein making a landing on a shore like this when the water is rough, andit's not to be expected of them. The life-saving service is recruitedfrom shore fishermen--men who are accustomed to going back and forththrough the surf in all kinds of weather. Put the best sailor that everjockeyed a spar into our surf-boat, and he'd be out of his element, asyou can well understand. Therefore the life-saving service is reallythe duty of landsmen, and has nothing to do with such as the navy wouldbe forced to employ."

  Before the visitor could reply Sam Hardy began making preparations togo on patrol, and Benny felt it his duty to accompany him, particularlyafter having begged permission to share the labor, although he waseager to hear the remainder of the conversation.

  "There's no need for you to go out this night, Benjamin, and I thinkyou are called on to stay here till Mr. Bradford leaves," Sam said,observing the expression on the boy's face.

  No. 8 had no idea of allowing inclination to interfere with the dutieshe had assumed, especially now that he had considered himself aregularly enrolled member of the crew.

  "Mr. Bradford knows that somebody must go on patrol, and I'll never betrusted alone if I don't hurry up with the learning," Benny repliedpromptly, putting on the pea-jacket and sou'wester Joe Cushing hadgiven him.

  "You will come and see me to-morrow?" the visitor asked, and Samreplied for the lad:

  "You can count on his givin' you a call, Mr. Bradford, although wewon't have overly much time to spend in neighboring."

  Then the two shook hands with the gentleman, and went out into thenight on their errand of mercy.

  Benny was unusually quiet as they walked along the bluffs, glancingfrom time to time over the placid waters illumined by the moon, andafter ten minutes or more had passed in silence Sam asked:

  "What has gone wrong with you, No. 8? Ain't a solid silver collar richenough for Fluff C. Foster, or did you think the medal might have beenbigger?"

  "I'd be terribly ashamed of myself to think anything like that, Mr.Hardy. Of course the collar and medal ain't any better than Fluffdeserves; but they're a good deal nicer than I ever thought he'd get,and it makes me feel fine to think of his having them."

  "Then what is keepin' you so glum? You haven't opened your mouth sincewe left the station."

  "That is 'cause I've been thinking."

  "About what, No. 8?"

  "I'm afraid I shan't do enough, and that the crew will find out I ain'tcoming up to the praise I'm getting. Everybody has been so good to mesince the ship was wrecked, that I can't even begin to pay it back."

  "There isn't any danger so long as you have such thoughts in your head,Benjamin. I don't believe in praisin' boys, as a general thing, becauseit's apt to spoil 'em; but you don't seem to be one of that kind. Keepon as you've started, No. 8, and I guarantee all hands of us will besatisfied."

  Then Sam Hardy told Benny of a boy who had been saved from a wrecktwo years previous, and who was anything rather than an agreeablecompanion, following this story with another, until the four hourspassed so quickly that it seemed to No. 8 as if they had not been onduty one quarter of the required time.

  Mr. Bradford had started for home nearly two hours before Benny and Samcame in, their night's work finished, and no one except Fluff was awake.

  He greeted them with his shrill barking, which Benny checked quicklylest the others should be awakened, and when the two whose time forduty had come were aroused, Sam whispered:

  "Now we'll turn in, No. 8, and see to it that you're up bright andearly to-morrow. You're not to do any work in the kitchen, but will eatbreakfast with the crew, so that we shan't be delayed in setting out."

  Benny did not obey this command strictly. Next morning when the cookslipped out of bed softly to avoid disturbing the others, the lad heardand followed him without delay.

  "You could have had a good half-hour's sleep before breakfast will beready, No. 8."

  "Yes, sir; but I wouldn't have done my share of the work here," Bennyreplied hesitatingly, for the cook had spoken sharply.

  "Members of the crew who have a day's liberty are not expected to doanything around the station, and you're down for leave of absence frommidnight."

  "That's no reason why I shouldn't do what I can before we leave," Bennyreplied stoutly as he set about the usual morning duties, and untilbreakfast was on the table he insisted upon aiding the cook.

  Then Sam sternly ordered him to "knock-off" and make ready for thejourney.

  "We've got a five-mile pull before us, an' I'm not of the mind to spendour entire day at the oars."

  Until this moment Benny had supposed they would walk from the stationto the city, and on learning that Sam intended to make the journey inthe dory which the crew used for fishing, a certain wistful expressioncame into his eyes.

  "Now what have you got on your mind, No. 8?" Sam asked, quick to notethe change on the boy's face.

  "I was wondering--I thought--I don't suppose you'd want to take Fluff,Mr. Hardy. He's been in a boat very often, and knows how to behavehimself."

  "Afraid Maje will make trouble if you leave him behind?"

  "No, sir, it wasn't that; but you see he won't have many chances togo away from the station, and I want him to show his collar and medalwhenever it's possible. He had a bath yesterday, and is as clean as awhistle."

  "There's no reason why he shouldn't go, an' I'm not certain but Mr.Bradford would like to see him rigged out in his finery."

  Benny no longer gave any heed to his breakfast, but spent all theremaining time in combing Fluff's silken hair, and when Sam Hardyannounced that he was ready to start, the dog was looking his best,with the medal hanging in the most conspicuous position.

  "He's looking a good deal finer than you are, No. 8," Joe Cushing saidwith a laugh. "That gorgeous collar don't correspond with your oldpea-jacket and sou'-wester."

  "It don't make any difference about me, so long as he's the way Mrs.Clark always wanted to see him," Benny replied, choking back a sob ashis mind thus involuntarily went into the past. "Folks wouldn't noticea boy like me, but they always stare when Fluff walks along lookinglike everything belonged to him."

  "Wait till you're togged out in a uniform, No. 8, and then I'll answerfor it you get as much attention from the people as does Fluff. I'mgoing into town with you then, and what a dash we'll cut!"

  Joe Cushing laughed in anticipation of that moment, and while he wasthus amused Sam beckoned Benny to follow him.

  The dory was lying near the water's edge, and it only required that sheshould be launched in order to begin the journey.

  Fluff took his place in the stern-sheets as if accustomed to thismethod of travelling; Sam took up the oars, refusing most decidedlyBenny's proposal that he be allowed to do his share of the rowing,and as the boat glided out of the little cove the crew at the stationcheered right heartily.

  "It sounds as if they were glad to be rid of us," Benny suggested, andSam replied:

  "That's their way
of showin' that they'll be pleased to see you back.I might leave a dozen times, an' nobody would so much as poke his noseout of the door to see if I got away all right."

  "But they count on your coming home just the same," Benny repliedearnestly, as if thinking his comrade might be jealous because moreattention was bestowed upon a newcomer than on himself.

  "I reckon they do, No. 8; but an old fellow like me don't cut any suchfigger as does a boy, an' a dog what's wearin' a medal of honor," andSam Hardy laughed heartily, whereat Benny began to understand that nojealousy lurked in his heart.

  A most enjoyable voyage did this prove to be for No. 8 and Fluff, eventhough the temperature was many degrees below freezing and the windpiercing cold. Sam Hardy did not appear to be in any very great hurryto reach the city, once he had put off from the station, but toldstories of heroism displayed by his comrades, at the same time that hefed the dog liberally with lumps of sugar.

  "We're out for a holiday," he said when Benny suggested that it was notwell for Fluff to have such a feast, "an' I'm countin' on his enjoyin'it as well as us."

  "But it may make him sick."

  "Then it will teach him not to be so greedy another time."

  "I'm afraid he won't remember it."

  "Most likely not, No. 8, most likely not. Boys an' dogs are much alikein that particular--they won't learn by experience. Did you ever thinkwhat a wise lad he would be who was eager to learn by the experience ofothers?"

  Benny was considerably puzzled by this remark, and the surfmancontinued gravely:

  "Look at it in this light, lad: you've been thrown with them as wereolder than yourself a good portion of the time you've lived in thisworld. You've heard of this one's havin' what people call 'bad luck,'or of that one's doin' some foolish thing. Now suppose you'd storedall that up in your memory. Wouldn't you be able to steer clear of thefirst man's bad luck, an' keep yourself from committin' the same follyyou condemned in the other?"

  Benny nodded gravely. This proposition was something entirely new tohim, and he believed it to be a most valuable suggestion.

  "A boy who was willing to learn from the experience of others wouldsoon be wiser than the average run of lads, and, what's more, he'd savehimself many a sore time; but it ain't done by young people any morethan Fluff will remember, in case he's sick to-morrow, that the nexttime sugar's offered him he should be less greedy."

  Benny was so interested in this method of acquiring knowledge that hecontinued to discuss the matter until the dory was made fast alongsideone of the city piers, and Sam said laughingly:

  "I reckon we'd best not spend any more of our time discussin' thematter; it'll serve us out on patrol bright nights, when there's littlecall to keep a very sharp lookout. Now we're bound for Mr. Bradford'soffice, and then to the tailor's. You'll be a terrible swell beforemany days, No. 8."

  "I'm not going to wear the uniform except when I go into the city, sothere's no danger of my doing very much swelling," Benny replied with alaugh, and then Sam Hardy was ready to lead the way to the sportsman'soffice.

  No. 8 did not dare allow Fluff to walk through the streets lest someevil-disposed dog should pick a quarrel with him; but he took good careboth the collar and medal could be seen while the little fellow was inhis arms.

  Their reception by Mr. Bradford was exceedingly friendly--almost toomuch so, Benny thought, when the gentleman insisted on introducing themto his acquaintances, and telling the story of the rescue.

  The dog was petted as perhaps he never had been before, which waspleasing to his master; but, as Benny afterward told Sam Hardyconfidentially, there was no reason why he should be praised for whatFluff C. Foster had done.

  Then the little party went to the tailor, who was ordered to make auniform exactly like the one worn by Sam Hardy, and, in addition, asecond suit of clothes was decided upon, so that the boy might have aproper outfit when the time came for him to go to school.

  The surfman, No. 8, and Fluff dined with Mr. Bradford on this day,after which they were treated to a carriage ride, and so eager was thegentleman to give them pleasure that but for Sam Hardy's persistency insetting out on the return voyage at an early hour, they might not havesucceeded in regaining the station until late in the night.

  "It has been what you might call a great day, No. 8," the surfman saidwhen they had bidden their entertainer adieu on the pier and the dorywas out of the harbor. "I'm not certain but that two such outings asthis would spoil you an' Fluff C. Foster for work at the station."

  "We've had a good time, and Mr. Bradford has been very kind," Bennysaid thoughtfully; "but I'm not so sure as I'd like to try it overagain very soon."

  "Why not?"

  "Because, in the first place, I don't deserve it, even if Fluff does;and then again, it ain't very nice to have folks praising you up whenthere's no reason for it."

  "Then you don't think Mr. Bradford had any right to lay it on quite sothick about what you'd done?"

  "No, because it wasn't altogether true. Any fellow who was all alone inthis world with a dog like Fluff, would work mighty hard if folks gavehim a home, same's the crew have given me, so what I do don't count.Now if Mr. Bradford had told the people we met how good you all were totake us, I'd had a much better time."

  "You're too modest, Benjamin, an' that's a fault every boy don't have,I'm sorry to say. Now about that uniform of yours. You didn't so muchas ask me when it was to be sent out to the station."

  "It wouldn't have looked very well to be in a hurry when some one makesme such a splendid present."

  "Oh, it wouldn't, eh? Well, the toggery wasn't for me, therefore I hadno call to be so bashful. The uniform is to be ready in four days, andabout that time Tom Downey will be goin' into town. The other clothesare to be finished in a week. When they come we'll--Hello, what's thatsteamer layin' off there for?"

  The dory was almost within sight of the station when Sam Hardy ceasedrowing very suddenly to gaze at a steamer which appeared to be atanchor a mile or more off the shore, and Benny was wholly at a loss tounderstand why his companion had become so thoroughly excited.

  "She don't seem to be in any trouble," he ventured to say, and Samsettling down to the oars as if believing he had a severe task beforehim, replied:

  "Her captain is huntin' for it, if he comes to anchor in that placewithout precious good reasons. A shoal makes out just there, an' I'veseen two good vessels go to pieces on it. That steamer is aground,Benny!"

  There was nothing startling to the lad in this announcement. The craftlay as if afloat; the wind was not strong enough to raise a very heavysea, and nothing indicated any sudden change in the weather.

  "I'll admit that it don't mean very much now, lad," the surfmancontinued as if reading his companion's thoughts; "but on this coast atthis time of the year, no one can say when everything may be changed.There! The captain is beginning to understand that matters ain'taltogether lovely."

  The steamer's whistle had begun to sound a whistle that help of somekind was required, and Benny believed the captain was calling upon thelife-saving crew for assistance, until Sam said:

  "She's whistlin' for a tug; but with the wind in this quarter it ain'tlikely to do much good, unless she is sighted by one."

  "Our crew will see her."

  "Not before sunset, when the patrol goes out; but they'll hear thewhistle, an' find her by that means."

  Sam was rowing at his best speed, and Benny watched eagerly for theappearance of the life-saving crew, but no one had appeared in sightwhen the dory was brought within hailing distance of the strandedsteamer.

  The rail was lined with heads, showing that she had passengers aboard,and on the bridge was a group of officers.

  "Boat ahoy!" some one shouted, and Sam replied, standing up as he did,so that his uniform might be seen.

  "Are you a member of a life-saving crew?"

  "Ay, sir; the station is a mile and a half away around the point. Areyou in need of assistance?"

  "We want tugs. Can you telephone
from your quarters?"

  "Ay, sir."

  "Ask that two steamers be sent at once. We're not heavily aground; butto such an extent that our engines are of no avail."

  "Shall we take off your passengers?"

  "There's no need of it. We can lie here easily enough, if it isn'tpossible to haul us off before morning."

  "I'm not so certain of that, sir. The tide will fall twelve inches ormore before the ebb, and the water hereabouts is rough."

  "Send a message for me to the city, and that will be enough," themaster replied curtly, and Sam took up the oars again, pullingvigorously toward the station.

  "There's what you call a pig-headed captain," he said when the dory wassome distance away. "It stands to reason he doesn't know anything aboutthis coast, else he'd never gone on that shoal, an' he had too good anopinion of his own abilities to so much as look at the chart. There areno tugs around here that can pull him off before high tide, and in themeanwhile he's likely to find that the steamer won't lay as easy ashe's countin' on."

  "There comes our surf-boat!" Benny cried, pointing toward a projectingcliff which hid the station from view, and around which the life-savingcrew were just appearing. "I knew they'd answer the steamer's signal assoon as it could be done."

  "Of course they would, lad, there are no sleepy heads among us, if I dosay it. Tom Downey will read that captain a lecture, I reckon."

  The dory and the surf-boat were soon side by side, and the keeperasked for information concerning the steamer.

  Sam repeated the conversation he had had with the captain, and Mr.Downey replied:

  "Send the message as soon as you get back, and then go on duty at once,taking up a station directly opposite where the steamer lies. Flash theCoston twice if she's likely to need us between now and midnight. JoeCushing shall cover the remainder of your beat."

  Then word was given for the crew to "pull away," and Sam bent to hisoars as if time was very precious.

  "Does Mr. Downey think it is possible the steamer can come to any harmin such pleasant weather?" Benny asked in surprise.

  "There's no telling what may happen, lad, and Downey don't intend toget himself into trouble if it can be prevented."

  "What trouble can come to him if the captain of the steamer won't allowthe crew to do anything?"

  "In case there should be loss of life, even after what's been said anddone, all hands of us would be called for an explanation as to why wedidn't do our duty. Let any trouble come to that steamer, an' we'rebound to stand an investigation, for the Superintendent of the Serviceis mighty sharp in such affairs."

  Benny could not understand how it might be possible to blame a crew whohad not been allowed to give their services, and Sam was too deeplyintent on the business in hand to go into any lengthy explanation.

  "I'll figger it all out for you some time when we're on patrol," hesaid, and No. 8 understood from the tone of his voice that the surfmanwas not inclined to indulge further in conversation.

  When, ten minutes later, the dory was pulled into the little cove nearthe station, Sam Hardy landed hurriedly, calling out to Benny as he didso:

  "Make her fast, lad, and follow me. I'll set the cook to work on oursupper, for we're not likely to have another chance for anything to eattill midnight."

  No. 8 did as he was bidden, and when he entered the station Sam wasjust coming from the telephone.

  "There's little show of getting two tugs out to the steamer much beforehigh water, and I'm thinkin' the captain may be obliged to call onus after all, unless he's shipped a different set of passengers thanusually travel. Turn to an' fill yourself up with coffee and heartyfood, Benjamin, for we've got a long stretch of patrol duty ahead, ifnothing worse comes of this night's business."