THE SIGNAL ROCKET
Abner Peake made no comment until the end had been reached.
Then he smote one hand into the palm of the other, and relieved his
feelings in the expressive way one would expect a coast "cracker" to do.
"This sorter thing has got to stop! It's sure the limit wen them
varmints set about burnin' a honest man's buildin's up! I'll take the
law into my own hands onless somethin' is did soon. P'raps that parson
kin manage to rouse up the village, and upset old Dilks. Ef so be it
falls through I'm gwine to take a hand, no matter what happens."
He immediately told the whole story to his companions at the station,
and they, of course, sympathized with him to a man.
"That Dilks gang has got to be run out of Ashley, root and branch, daddy
and sons, for they're all alike," declared the keeper, Mr. Frazer, who
was a man of considerable intelligence--indeed, no one could hold the
position he did unless fairly educated and able to manage the various
concerns connected with the station. "It's a burning shame that the
families of men who are away from home in the service of the Government
can't be left unmolested. I'm going to take the matter up with the
authorities the next time the boat comes to this station."
The life savers asked Darry many questions, but he was careful not to
fully commit himself with regard to identifying the three culprits.
"Course he couldn't say, boys. Don't forget Darry's new in this section,
and most o' the boys is strangers to him. But he's put his trade-mark on
one as won't forget it in a hurry. And for me I'd be willing to wager my
week's pay that young Jim Dilks was leadin' them raiders in their
rascally work," declared one of the crew, a stalwart young fellow named
Sandy Monks.
By this time the storm began to break, and it became necessary for the
keeper to make good use of his glass in the endeavor to place any vessel
chancing to be within range, so that in case of trouble later in the
night they would have some idea as to the character of the imperiled
craft.
Darry watched everything that was done with eager eyes.
After an early supper, in which he participated with the men of the
station, he saw the guard that had the first patrol don their storm
clothes, and prepare to pass out to tramp the beach, exchanging checks
when they met other members of the next patrol to prove that through the
livelong night they had been alive to their duty.
Abner was on the second watch. He had consented to let the boy go out
with him, and share his lonely tramp, for he seemed to realize that just
then it was the most ardent wish in the heart of our hero to become a
life saver like himself.
The rain came down in sheets, and the thunder rattled, while lightning
played in strange fashion all around; but this storm was not in the same
class with the dreadful West India hurricane that had sent the poor
_Falcon_ on to the cruel reefs, to wind up her voyaging forever.
Darry might have liked to sit up and listen to the men tell about former
experiences; but the keeper chased them to their beds, knowing that it
was necessary to secure some sleep, since they must remain up the latter
half of the night.
A hand touching his face aroused Darry.
"Time to git up, lad, if so be yuh wants to go along," came a voice
which he recognized as belonging to Abner, though he had been dreaming
of the captain.
He was quickly dressed and out of doors.
It seemed to be still raining, and the wind howled worse than ever,
though but little thunder accompanied the vivid flashes of lightning.
Having been giving some spare waterproof garments in the shape of
oilskins, and a sou'wester, Darry felt himself prepared to face any
conditions that might arise during his long walk with his friend.
Taking lantern and coster lights for signalling, Abner set out, another
patrol going in the opposite direction.
Those who had been out for hours had returned to the station in an
almost exhausted condition, and at the time Abner and Darry left they
were warming up with a cup of coffee, strong spirits being absolutely
forbidden while on duty.
Darry asked questions when the wind allowed of his speaking, which was
not all the time, to be sure.
He wanted to know how the patrol learned when a ship was in distress,
and Abner answered that sometimes they saw lights on the reefs; again
the lightning betrayed the perilous condition of the recked vessel; but
usually they learned of the need of assistance through rockets sent up
by those on board, and which were answered by the coast guard.
Captain Harley had not been given a chance to send such an appeal for
help, since he had been swept overboard just after the brigantine
struck; besides, the vessel was a complete wreck at the time, and
without a single stick in place could never have utilized the breeches
buoy even had a line been shot out across her bows by means of the Lyle
gun.
In two hours they had gone to the end of their route, and exchanged
checks with the other patrol coming from the south. Then the return
journey was begun.
Almost an hour had elapsed since turning back, and they were possibly
more than half way to the station, when suddenly Darry, who chanced to
be looking out to sea, discovered an ascending trail of fire that seemed
to mount to the very clouds, when it broke, to show a flash of brilliant
light.
"See!" he had exclaimed, dragging at the sleeve of his companion's coat,
for Abner was plodding along steadily, as if his mind was made up to the
effect that there was going to be no call for help on this night.
"A rocket! a signal!" cried the old life saver, at once alive to the
occasion.
His first act was to unwrap one of the coster lights, and set it on
fire.
This was intended to inform those on board the ship that their call for
assistance had been seen, and that the lifeboat would soon be started if
conditions allowed of its getting through the surf; for there are
occasionally times when the sea runs so high that it proves beyond human
endeavor to launch the boat.
Having thus done his duty, so far as he could, Abner set out on a run
for the station, knowing that unless the full crew was on hand all
efforts to send out the boat would be useless.
Darry kept at his heels, though he could have outrun the older man had
he so desired, being sturdy and young.
Stumbling along, sometimes falling flat as they met with obstacles in
the darkness, they finally came within sight of the lights of the
station.
Here they found all excitement, for the signal rockets had of course
been seen by the lookout, and all was in readiness to run the boat out
of its shed.
Darry found that he could certainly make himself useful in giving a
helping hand, and with a will the boat was hurried down to the edge of
the water that rolled up on the beach.
All they waited for now was the coming of one man, whose beat happened
to be a little longer than any other, but who should have shown up ere
now.
As the minutes passed the anxiety of the helmsman grew apace, for those
on the stranded vessel were sending more rockets up, as though they
believed their peril to be very great.
The men stood at their places, ready to push at the word, and then leap
aboard.
Darry was with them, eager and alert; indeed, he had done such good
service up to now that the stout Mr. Frazer cast an eye toward him more
than once, as though tempted to ask him to take the place of the missing
man, who must have had an accident on the way, perhaps spraining an
ankle over some unseen obstacle that came in his way as he ran headlong.
Darry saw him talking with Abner, who looked his way, and shook his head
as if hardly willing to give his consent.
Just as his hopes ran high, and the words seemed trembling on the lips
of the helmsman a shout was heard and the missing man came limping down
to take his place without a complaint, though as it afterwards turned
out he had a bad sprain.
Then the wild word was given, the men heaved, the surf boat ran into the
water, with the men jumping aboard, oars flashed out on either side, and
were dipped deep, after which the boat plunged into the next wave, rode
on its crest like a duck, made a forward move, and then darkness shut it
from the gaze of the lad left behind.