Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-12
SURF HEROES.
By ARTHUR w. STAGE.

branches was a platform from which they
could see across the point and far up
and down the lake. The path up the dune
was difficult even in the daytime, but
now. In the dark. with hurricane lash
ing the trees and underground, the chill
dren found it strewn with unfamiliar OBJ
stacles and chilling fears OF vague dan
gers. Near the top was an open stretch
of sand. Here the gale caught them with
such fury they had to drop to their
foot OF the tall pine.
Stay here while I climb up" ordered
Dumpty, and the trembling twins obey ed
The tree. exposed to the full force of the
hurricane, sWayed to and fro, its
branches thrashing about furiously Had
Dumpty been less brave or less strong he
would have given up the perilous climb
at the start. He could scarcely cling to
the shaking trunk. The wind beat and
tore at MIN. The bougfls slapped vicious
the safety Of the boat kept him going up
ward. Inch by inch he mounted higher
Finally his head bumped sharply against
the platform Dumpty swung himself
ly toward the north. All. there 1T was.
The boat.
what is it," shrilled Twiddle and
Twaddle from the darkness below.
The boat. shouted back Dumpty.
rs it on fire." cried the twins.
Dumpty looked sharply The boat wa 6
nearly two miles to the north, vet the red
glow revealed 1t plainly. No! 1t wasn't
on fire. Still. the light came from It.
Dumpty was puzzled. The red flare look
ed like-yes. it was red fire such as he
often used on the Fourth of July. Could
the boat be celebrating? And why was
II so close in shore? 1t should have been
far out to keep off the dangerous shall.
lows.
Then there flashed into Dumpty's mind
the meaning of it all. The boat was al
ready in the shadows. The red light was
a signai-a signal of distress. Now he
remembered having once been told that a
red light on the water was a hurry-call to
the life savers-an alarm as sharp and
emphatic as that which sends a fire de-
partment rushing pellmell down a city
street.
tvs heart grew suddenly heavy as the
thought came to him. The boat was four
miles from the life saving station. Be
tween them was the high wooded point
and curve in the coast. The chances
were that the life savers would not no.
tice the signal
''Who-o-o-oh. who-o-o-oh. Who-o-oh.
Who-o-o-Oh.' came the boa's moaning
cry for aid. That call decided Dumpty.
He and the twins must carry the alarm to
the life-saving station. carry it through
the storm and night. carry ii swiftly and
without halt. Another instant he was
sliding. humping his way to the ground
He landed in a heap almost on top of the
frightened twins
1.-THE boats ashore in the shadows. We
must fetch the life savers; come on"'
shouted Dumpty. racing ahead Of them
down the path. At the bottom ne paused.
Which way should they go?-By the
beach or through the woods
The road through the woods was short
er. but it held many fears for the children.
Once. in travelling it. they had seen a
gang of tramp berrypickers encamped be
side a stream. Another time they had
met three ragged Indians right where the
forest was darkest. Although they knew
that many tame" Pottawatomies lived
peacefully on farms around about. they
dreaded another meeting.
Let's go by the beach, urged Twfddle,
Yes! Yes!' chimed III Twaddle.
Dumpty started toward the beach. Then
he thought of the deep lands. Travel
through them would be slow The road.
on the contrary, was firm. and they could
go fast. Delay might mean death to the
persons on the boat. Bravely crushing
down his fears, Dumpty made his deci-
sion.
We must take the road" he said. He
led the ho or1 ha n vl,-