The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-24

Think you want to go over, do
your" asked the Captain.
II certainly do. IL l can get
there"
"Oh, we can git. there all right.
I've rowed a dory good many
times when twas as bad as this"
A dory Is the safest of all small
craft for use in heavy weather. 1t
is unsuitable for one thing, and
being flat-bottomed, slips over the
waves instead of blowing through
them. But the high freeboard is
a mark for the wind, and to keep
a straight course on such q morn
ing as this requires skill, and no
small amount of muscle. Ralph,
seated in the stern, found himself
wondering how on earth his-com-
panion managed to row as he did,
and steer at the same time. The
strokes we're short, but there was
power in them. and the dory, al
though moving rather slowly,
went doggedly on.
They hit the beach almost ex-
actly at the right spot, feat
which the passenger considered a
miracle, but which the Captain
seemed to take as matter OF
course. They beached and an
chored the dory, and, bending al
most double as they faced the
wind, plowed through the sand to
the back door of the station.
Mr.. Langley met them as they
tramped into the hall. The old
gentleman was glad to see his as
sistant, for he had begun to fear
that the latter might have tried
to row over during the evening
and met with disaster.
AS they sat round the stove In
his room he said: 81 hear there
is a schooner in trouble"
THAT so?" asked Captain Fri.
"Where is she2"
"On the Hogs Back shoal, they
think. One of the life-saving crew
told Mclaughlin that they saw
her last night when the gale first
began, trying to make an offing,
and that wreckage was coming
ashore this morning. Captain Da-
Wis was going to try to reach her
with the boat, I believe"
81 should like to be at the life
saving station when they land
said Ralph. give seen the crew
drill often enough, but / have new
er seen them actually at work"
what d'you say If we go down
to the station?" asked the Cap
tain. "That is, II Mr.. Langley
here can spare you"
ooh, l can spare him." said the
superintendent. But it will be a
terrible walk down the beach this
morning"
However, they set out.
The electrician is not likely to
forget that walk. The wind whist
led in from the sea with terrific
strength, and carried the sleet with
It. It deluged them with water, and
plastered them with flying sea-
weed and ice. The wet sand came
in showers like hail, and beat
against their shoulders until they
felt the sting, even through their
clothes. d.
Captain Err went ahead, hands
in his pockets and head down.
Ralph followed. At length the
Captain turned, grinned pleasant
ly, and waved one arm. Ralph
looked and saw ahead of them the
clustered buildings of the life
saving station. And he was glad
to see them.
"Whew!" puffed Captain Fri as
they opened the door. Mice
mcrnin' for ducks. Hey, Luther!
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, Fri! he 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,
extending his hands over the fire.
"It's easy enough to tell you why
we're here. We heard there was
q wreck"
There is. She's a schooner, and
she's off there on the Hogs Back.
Luther and the crew put off to her
morn two hours ago, and I'm git
tin worried"
Then Perez went on to explain
that because Of the storm, he had
been persuaded to stay at Mrs,
Mayo's all night; that Captain
Davis had been over for moment
that evening on an errand, and
had said that the schooner had
been sighted and that, as the
northeaster was coming on, che
was almost certain to get into
trouble; that he, Perez. had rowed
over the first thing in the morn
ing to get the news.
There amt nothin' to worry
bout" observed Captain Err. TITS
no SLOUGH of q pull off to the
Hogs Back this weather. and be-
sides, I'd trust Lutte Davis any
where on salt water"
Eyes. / know" replied the un-
convinced Captain Perez, "but he
ought to have been back afore
this. was Jest thinkin' OF goin
out on the pint to see II ! could
see anything OF 'em when you
| folks come"
well, go ahead. Well go with
YOU" and they went out once
more in the gale