The San Francisco call., 1897-08-29

with his two legs correctly in the trousers,
performance that was scarcely graceful
nor, l should fancy. comfortable, but
probably SAFE At any rate the men pulled
him down to position within reach and
lifted him out.
''I suppose" ventured, ''if 1 were on
ship that was disa bled and drifting in to
shore, that you would fire that cannon
ball at the mast and some one would eaten
the rope and pull it in and fasten 1t, ana
should have to slide down to shore that
way2"
The captain eyed me calmly and laughed
and answered, "Just so.'
why" some one else said, "that is fun;
go up and try it.'
And for reply 1 looked severe. There
are few things L will not do, even to
describe them. That is one, and to swing
on Mrs. Carter's curfew bell is another.
Total annihilaiion might come in some
easier fashion.
the old white horse was fastened up
again, the ropes and the preservers and
the cannon were replaced and slowly we
proceeded back again 10 watch them put
it all in order.
You see, explained The ca plain, leach
of these ropes has attached to it small
piece of board painted black, with white
| lettering telling just where that partic-
ular part of the gearing belongs. On one
side the directions are in English and on
the other side French, for every one on
ship board or at the saving stations is
supposed to understand one or both OF
these lans nsuages."
"And suppose they didn't?"
"Well," he said, "they wouldn't, then.
but they must"
Aud 1 pondered over that the rest of the
way through the sand.
I'm the winter time it is qaite stormy"
ventured. turning and looking at the
uneven beach with it's mass of debris
lying where the ocean had tossed it.
Great logs that had tasted the life in far
different cline, bits of wood of strange
sorts and shapes, cooking utensils and the
rusted remains OF an old stove.
"Stormy!" he exclaimed. Indeed it is
in some parts of the winter. The breakers
dash in here so wildly that sometimes l
wonder that they don't wash away the
buildings. This part of the coast Is ex-
ceedingly dangerous; it is said to be the
most dangerous place about this port.
That large boat that you noticed in the
boathouse has lost three men just trying
to get out from shore. The undercurrent
here is tremendous. No man, no matter
how good a swimmer, could with
stand it."
Have you ever been called outP"
| mo. We went out once. but were not
needed. This station has been established
for eight years. 1t seems as though it were
an unnecessary expense to the Govern
ment; but strange things happen in such
uncertain places. There might not be a
wreck here ever, and there might be need
of us tomorrow. We are always
ready
'There are stories that 1 have heard"
he resumed, seating himself on the edge
of log near by, ''of forbearance and brav-
cry, but 1 don't think that any captain
ever had better or braver men than mine.
I think they'd be equal 10 any emergency.
You see that fellow over there winding the
rope-the good-looking one?"
L observed him closely. Tall he was,
with finely cut features and 1.-the and
slender.
'He wanted leave to go to one of the
towns a number of miles from here some
time ago, and l granted it providing he
would be back in time to go on duty as
guard. He had a wild horse to ride. and
coming home, just as he was leaving the
town, the horse threw him, breaking his
shoulder. II he had gone back to physi-
clan he would have had to report late, so
ne rode all the way and got here on time,
more dead than alive. Those are the men
you can depend upon.
But they are afraid of you girls" he
laughed. II don't think they'd mind
cannon half as much. They don't see
many women folks"
And we watched with amusement their
nervous haste and conscious manners.
"Oh, l wish the whole world was life
saving station and every man IN it was
brave"
cit is" said some one who was inclined
! to philosophize. "People are only brave
by contrast. Some are braver than others,
of course, and"
But didn't hear the rest. 1 was lost in
admiration OF the great towering waves
! that, white-crested, rushed in over the
dripping sands, and of the great dark
banks Of cloud over the sky and of a ship
with its feeble little line of smoke, arising
like protest, as it steamed over the gray
| ish-green of the water, looking more like
chill DIS toy in the midst OF the vastness
than something with destination in
view and freight of human beings in its
keeping.
"No wonder these men are brave" said
aloud, "with the might of the sea in their
! ewes and the noise OF the sea in their ears
! always. Now, as for being bashful-"
"Please," said the voice Of the captain
Just behind me, would you like to come
in with me and see the collection OF
pebbles while you are waiting for your
companions2"
l looked at him and then far up the
beach, and saw some wind-tossed gowns
and huttering ribbons, and each accom-
panied by a figure in a white duck suit.
| Only one white-suited brave remained,
| and he had stopped at the little white
painted guardhouse and was staring with
all his might at the moving couples on the
sands.
''Ill call them back for the other drill il
| you wish"