DARRY IN THE LIFEBOAT
The boat was soon rolled out and placed where it could be quickly
launched at the word.
Mr. Frazer was not only the keeper of the station but the helmsman of
the lifeboat, which latter was a most responsible position, since he
must direct the movements of the men who pulled the oars, bring the boat
under the vessel in peril, manage to rescue as many of those aboard as
could be carried, and finally navigate the craft successfully to the
shore.
Darry looked upon him as a wonderful man, a hero, indeed, whose equal he
had never known.
There were signs of distress seaward. Through his night glasses Mr.
Frazer reported seeing a steamer in trouble. She had evidently gone on
the reef, having gotten out of her course in the wild storm, or else
because the wreckers further down the coast had deceived her navigator
by means of false beacons.
No matter, she was fast upon the treacherous reef and would likely fill
and be a wreck before morning, since her entire port side seemed
exposed to the fury of the waves.
It was a wonder how anything could remain on board and endure so
terrific a pounding; if later on she were washed free the chances were
there would be holes enough in her by that time to cause her to sink
like a shot.
The lifeboat could not get out to her any too soon.
Those on board were burning lights, and sending up rocket after rocket
to indicate that their need of assistance was great.
Still nothing could be done until the men on the detail came in.
Already it had been settled that unless assistance came speedily, in the
shape of a recruit to take the place of Tom, Darry would have to go.
The boy was in a fever of suspense, fearful that he might be cheated out
of the experience, as on the previous occasion.
Paul was quite useless because he knew so little about pulling an oar,
while as a sailor, with some years experience on a vessel, Darry was at
home on the water in any capacity.
"I certainly admire your grit, Darry," said Paul, shuddering as he
looked out at the heaving waves, the white tops of which loomed up in
the gloom.
"Oh! I'm used to these things. Dozens of storms I've been through, under
all sorts of conditions," answered the boy.
"All the same it's a big risk. I hope nothing will go wrong. That's a
mighty small boat to pit against the fury of the sea."
"But as safe as they make them. It's impossible to sink it, and the
ropes are there to keep us from being swept out, even if flooded. All
around the outside you see ropes, and if a fellow goes over he holds on
to one of those until another wave sweeps him back in his seat again,
and there you are."
Although Darry spoke so lightly it must not be assumed that he failed to
realize the gravity attending the passage of the surboat out upon such a
troubled sea; for accidents do happen to the crews of these life-saving
craft, and many a daring soul has gone to his account while trying to
rescue others.
But just then the patrol came running up, almost out of breath.
From one man Frazer learned that his surmise concerning the appearance
of the lawless wreckers on the shore was well founded, and that they had
been up to some mischief further south, where signs of lights had been
noticed by this coastguard.
The word was given to take their places, as the boat was about to be
launched.
They had waited a brief time to allow the newly-arrived men a chance to
recover their wind for they would need it presently, when once upon the
heaving bosom of the deep.
Paul squeezed the hand of his young friend.
How he envied him this chance to prove his courage and to pull an oar in
a life-saving trip.
The rockets had ceased to ascend as though either the supply had given
out, or else conditions had become so bad that there was no longer a
chance to carry on this work.
Then came the word:
"Go!"
There was a simultaneous movement on the part of the entire crew, and as
the sturdy men put their shoulders to the task the surfboat shot forward
just at the proper instant when a wave expended itself upon the sloping
beach.
Its prow entered the water, and those furthest ahead sprang into their
places, whipping the long oars into the rowlocks for a struggle against
the force of the next onrushing billow.
Darry was one of these.
He had not watched that other launching for nothing, and understood just
what was required of him, as though through long practice.
Now they were off!
The oars dipped deep, and hardy muscles strained back of them.
Slowly but surely the boat gained against all the fury of the onrushing
tide, and foot by foot they began to leave the shore.
Paul was shouting, swinging his hat, as Darry could see while he tugged
at his task.
Once fully launched upon the swelling bosom of the sea, the progress of
the surfboat was more rapid, though every yard had to be won by the most
arduous of labor, the men straining like galley slaves under the lash;
but in this case it was a sense of duty rather than the whip of the
tyrant that urged them on.
No man but the helmsman saw anything of the steamer that was fast upon
the cruel jaws of the reef, for it was against orders for anyone to turn
his head.
Such an incautious movement might throw him out of balance in the swing
of the stroke and bring about disaster, or at least temporarily
disarrange their regular advance; they had to trust everything to the
wisdom and experience of the man who hung on to the long steering oar,
and blindly obey his shouted instructions.
Many times had he gone forth upon just such a hazard, and thus far his
sagacity had proven equal to the task.
They began to hear human voices shrieking through the storm.
That meant they were drawing close under the lee of the steamer, and
that those on board must have sighted them, and were consequently filled
with new hope.
Above all else came the awful pounding of the sea upon the side of the
doomed steamer.
Darry knew the sound well, for many a night had he gone calmly to sleep
while the chorus of the elements was beating close to his head.
He had pulled well, and held his own with the brawny men of the crew,
just as Mr. Frazer had known would be the case when he allowed him to
take the place of Tom in the boat.
Abner was next to him, and the surfman had watched the manly efforts of
his adopted boy with secret delight.
Few boys indeed of his size could have proven their worth to the crew of
the lifeboat in time of need as Darry had done.
He could indeed be reckoned one of the life savers from this hour on, if
so be they came back again to the shore that had witnessed their
departure.
Now, as they swung around temporarily the rowers were afforded their
first glimpse of the imperiled vessel.
It was undoubtedly a steamer, one of the coasters that pass up and down
the Atlantic seaboard, bound from New York to one of the various
southern ports, or _vice versa_, and usually keeping far enough out to
avoid the perils that hover about Kitty Hawk and Hatteras.
She was in a bad position, having gone ashore, or been washed aground,
so that her whole quarter was exposed to the sweep of the boiling sea.
Through the flying spray they could see numerous figures along the lee
rail of the vessel, hanging on desperately, while now and then the water
would sweep over the deck, and at such times a chorus of screams told
that there were other than men there, women half frightened out of their
senses by the peril.
The surfboat was, after some maneuvering, gotten in such a position
under the lee of the steamer that a rope could be thrown aboard.
Then a woman was lowered by means of this, and safely stowed away.
As the rope had been fastened to the boat there was no longer necessity
for the crew to strain at the oars, consequently they were at liberty to
assist in caring for those sent down by the steamer's crew, working
under the direction of a cool, level-headed captain.
Darry had cast off his oilskins, as being in the way.
A wetting was of small moment anyway to one so warm-blooded as he, and
the cumbersome garments impeded his movements, since they were meant for
a big man.
The sleeve of his shirt had also become torn in some way and flapped
loose until he tucked it up out of the way.
All unconscious of the picturesque figure he made he continued to work
with all his might, helping to receive the women and children as they
were slipped over the side.
Many an eye was attracted toward him as seen by the light of the
lanterns that were held over the side of the steamer to aid the workers,
and more than one wondered how it came that a mere lad was to be found
keeping company with these hardy men of the coast, seasoned to storms,
and able to defy the rigors of the cold.
It was no easy task to take on a load of the passengers under such
conditions.
Only when the surfboat rose on a billow could they be lowered, for at
other times the distance was so great that the deck of the steamer
looked as far away as the roof of a tall building.
Yet, thanks to the ability of the steamer captain, and the experience of
the surfmen below, the shipping of the women and children was
accomplished with but a single accident.
One child dropped off the rope, having been insecurely fastened, and
with the shrieks of the women fell into the sea, but hardly had she
reached the water than with a splash Darry was over, and had seized upon
the little one.
His companions immediately reached out friendly hands, and both were
drawn into the plunging boat, amid frantic cheers from all who had seen
the daring rescue.
One woman seized hold of the boy as he pushed his way through the crowd
to his place at the oars, and looked wildly in his face.
He supposed she must be the mother of the child he had saved, and not
wishing for any scene just then, when he was needed at his place, as
they were about to cast off, Darry gently broke her hold, leaving on her
knees and staring after him.
Although he little suspected the fact it was something else that had
chained the attention of this woman passenger; and even as she knelt in
the bottom of the boat, which was beginning its perilous passage toward
the shore, her eyes continued to be riveted upon his face, and she was
saying to herself over and over:
"Oh! who is he, that boy? I must see him again if we both live. Can it
be possible he had any connection with Paul's telegram? I have come far,
but I would go over the distance a thousand times if only a great joy
awaited me. Yes, I must see him surely again!"
From which it would appear that the friendly fortune that seemed to be
attending the affairs of our young hero of late had again started work;
and that even in gratifying his wild desire to serve as a life saver
Darry had been advancing his own cause.
Now the lifeboat was headed for the shore, and sweeping in on a giant
roller.
Great care had to be exercised lest the boat broach-to, and those in her
be spilled out, when some must be drowned, for having taken so many
aboard they lacked the buoyancy that had previously marked their
progress.
Standing in his place the steersman carefully noted every little point,
and high above the rush of the storm his voice rang out as he ordered
the crew to cease rowing, or to pull hard.
It was well worth experiencing, and Darry was glad he had at last found
a chance to go out with the crew.
Abner knew that at least one more trip would have to be made, in order
to take off the crew of the steamer, and he was determined that if there
should have arrived any substitute on the beach while they were away
Darry must not be called upon to undertake the second voyage.
The strain was terrific for a mere stripling of his build, and only old
seasoned veterans could stand under it.
There was no need of questioning the willingness of the lad to volunteer
again; and if it seemed absolutely necessary Abner would give his
consent, but he hoped circumstances might change and another hand be
provided.
With the women and children they had several of the crew who had come
along to relieve any oarsman who might give under the great strain; the
more sent in this load the less remaining for the next, and among these
Abner had picked upon a certain husky fellow who seemed able to do his
part if called upon.
Now the shore was close by.
The fire burned brightly, fed by Paul, and the steersman could see
several other men at the water's edge, proving that they had crossed the
sound in some sort of staunch craft, or had come down from above,
knowing the wreck was close to the life-saving station.
At last the boat mounted the last billow on which she was to continue
her voyage to the beach.
The crew pulled heartily to keep her perched high on its foamy crest,
and in this fashion they went rushing shoreward.