Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-08-20

tod Mclaughlin that they sew he-
last night, when the gale first began.
trying to make an offing and tl.af
wreckage was coming ashore this
morning. Captain Davis WIS g9ir,-
try to reach her with the boat, l be-
lieve."
L should like to be at the life saw
ing station when they land" said
Ralph. 1T would be a new experience
for me. I've seen the crew drill often
enough, but / have. never seen them
actually at work.
what d'you say If we go down to
the station?" asked the captain. THAT
IS, II Mr.. Langley here can spare you"
"Oh, | can spare him. said the SUI
perlntendent. There is nothing of i'm.
portance to be done here just now.
But it will be terrible walk down the
beach this morning"
: wind ii be at our backs, and we're
rugged for it too What d'you say, Mr.
HazeltineY'
| Ralph was only too glad of the op-
portunity to see, at least, the finish
of rescuing expedition, and he said
so. So they got into the oilskins again,
pulled their sou'westers down over
their ears and started on the tramp
to the life saving station.
The electrician is not likely to forget
that walk. The wind was, as the cap
tain said, at their backs, but it whis-
tied in from the sea with terrific
strength and carried the sleet with it.
It deluged them with water and plas-
tered them with flying seaweed and
| ice. The wet sand came in showers
like hail and beat against their shout
ders until they felt the sting even
through their clothes.
They walked as near the water line
as they dared, because the sand was
harder there. Captain Fri went
ahead, hands in his pockets and head
down. Ralph followed, sometimes
watching his companion, but oftener
gazing at the sea. At intervals there
would be lull, as if the storm giant
had paused for breath, and they could
see for half a mile over the crazy wa
ter, then the next gust would pull the
curtain down again and a whirl Of
rain and sleet would shut them in.
Conversation meant only series Of
shrieks, and they gave it up.
At length the captain turned, grinned
pleasantly while the raindrops splash
ed on his nose and waved one arm.
Ralph looked and saw ahead of them
the clustered buildings of the life saw
ing station. And he was glad to see
them.
"Whewr' pulled Captain Fri as they
opened the door. Mice mornin' for
ducks. Hey, Lutherv' he shouted.
"Wake up here! You've got callers"
They heard footsteps in the next
room, the door opened and in came
not Luther Davis, but Captain Perez.
why, Eriv' ne exclaimed amazedly.
For the lands sake, Perez! What
are you dom here?
what are you dom here, should
say. How d'you do, Mr. Hazeltine?"
Captain Fri pushed back his SOU.
wester and strolled over to the stove
Ralph followed suit.
'Well, Perez said the former, ex-
tending his hands over the fire. ITS
easy enough to tell you why were mere.
We heard there was wreck.
sIhere is. She's schooner, and she's
off there on the Hogs Back. Luther
and the crew put off to her more'n two
hours ago, and I'm gittin' worried
Then Perez went on to explain that
because of the storm, he had been per-
suaded to stay at Mrs Mayo's all night
, / al fai I'd ha6 for
a moment that evening on an errand
and had said, that the schooner had
been sighted -aSSf. That as the north
easter was coming on, she was almost
certain to get ,inr9,% trouble; that he
: Perez) had roweds5ver the first thing
in the morning to get the news and
had been just in time to see the launch
ing of the lifeboat as the crew put
off to the schooner.
''There amt nothin to worry bout.
. observed Captain Fri. cts no sloucl
of pull off to the Hogs Back this
l weather and, besides, I'd trust Lutte
Davis anywhere on salt water
Eyes, 1 know" replied the uncon
: WINGED Captain Perez, ''but he ought
to have been back afore this. There
was a kind of letup in the storm jest
: afore l got here, and they see her fast
" on the shoal with the crew in the rig
!, gin Luther took the small boat cause
], he thought he could handle her better
: and that's what's worryin' me; Tn
'fraid she's o1erloaded. L was jes
thinkin' of goin' out on the pint to SCI
If / could see anythingof EN- when 20,
folks GOMEZ
well, go ahead. We'sl go with you
: if Nj. Hazeltine's got any of the chill
Il out of him."
Ralph was feeling warm by this time
= and after Perez had put on his Goa
= aid hat they went out once more int
|. the gale. The point of which Pere
had spoken was wedge shaped san
ridge that, thrown up by the wave
, and tide, thrust itself out from tn
u beach some few hundred wards below