Evening star., 1926-06-20

in favor Of them. But the boat was
ready, only waiting for the crew to
take their places and the fast-gather-
ing villagers to man the haul-off. AL
ready the storm-drenched beach was
thick with people. And on such
shores it is not hope of gain that
brings men and women folk out of
their snug and secure beds when ships
are in trouble.
"THERE goes a gun Another
rocket voices shrieked in
chorus outside.
The sullen boom OF a signal gun and
the golden thread of a rocket, both
coming out of n black mass beyond
the Ledges. drew attention to flittering
lights out there which came and went
in q scattered, broken sort of code;
as If the great seas between ship and
shore intervened inopportunely.
She's signaling she's helpless.
cried a woman, who had long ago
seen her man rolled ashore out of
| such a night, helpless for ever.
"Too far out for the breeches-buoy, "
muttered the broad, dark man.
Aboard tn boat, lads"' the cox
swain snapped crisply, and the crew.
cork -jacketed and barefoot, .clambered
in. Two men gripped oars: the others
stood up, ready to step mastS and set
the lugs. The coXswain had his yoke
! lines at hand, but slipped the long
steering sweep into it's rowlock in
readiness. Old Bob Stafford COM
manded the haul-off gang.
Let one o the young 'uns take that
rope, Bob"' roared Ike Fergus.
Ike was eager for the tuSsle. lie
meant no jibe.
Now, lads, run her down" barked
the coXswain.
but TIL Cappen was jealous and
looked down his nose
Bob sang, and started the boat down
the creased slide while volunteers
gathered in the slack and ran away
with the rope.
With a rush and a roaring swoop
the lfeboat took the sea. The two
oarsmen pulled desperately to keep
her off the beach until the small lug
sails were set. The folk who had
hauled her off stood with tho rope i'll
their hands. tensely watching the
fiuttering pale patches against the
blackness The boat shone white
against the sea, until a breaker envel-
oped it. then all was white. Only
those pale fluttering bits of sail
against the black sky told of fight
gallantly sustained.
Old Bob Stafford stood in the fore
front of the throng, keeping an eye
upon every bit of the scene.
Mother rocket a voice screamed
"'N a gum
Out of the blackest storm cloud shot
a binding flash of lightning. In the
next breath the thunder crashed. In
spite of their familiarity with such
scenes the women gasped. screamed
but ashamedly. In the lightning glare
the ship had been sighted, and the
lifeboat.
"Full.rig ship.' somebody shouted.
zone O. them big colonial packets"
another surmised.
THE boats won clear muttered
old Bob Stafford, and turned to look
after his job.
There were more lanterns to light,
many heaving lines to get down, poles
and boathooks. The boathouse must
be ready to receive survivors. There
might be no mishaps, but, again, there
might. Bob had to see to it that how
ever men came ashore out of that
ship, they would be received accord
ingly.
Habit sent him first to the inner
most corner, where he prepared sails
and old canvas. There might be some
dead. The dead would require no COM
fort, but they were entitled to respect.
There might be injured. For hurt
men blankets and head rests were
likely to be needed. These were pre-
pared in lighter corner. And there
might be women. Bob saw the rest
done, and plodded off to prepare his
own tiny quarters for the decent re-
ception Of women.
''Then she got shore tailor to rig
out her sailor
In fine nankeen trousers and long
tailed blue coat;
And he looked like a squire. for her
to admire, :
WI a bandanner Handkerchief tied
round his throat"
Bob sang as he hauled off the hlan-
kets from his bed and shook tnem.
He turned them and put them pack.
It was all the change he could make
His pillow cover was turned, too, ana
since there might be more than one
woman, and he had no more accom-
mediation. he bundled up his best
Jacket, wrapped clean shirt around
1t and placed it at the foot of the bed.
| His guests would have to lie heads
and tails until the doctor came, II
needed, or the villagers took them
| away.
Another gun doomed out as Bob
surveyed his place. Then he returned
to the boathouse to take up his vigil
again.
"The boats got to windward o the
Ledge" the cripple shouted: :.
1--WE seen it in tn lightnin' flash.
woman laughed Historically.
"There." shrieked another, as a
streak like molten steel shot athwart
the sooty heavens, setting sea and
ship and sky ablaze.
Then followed the cracking peal OF
thunder its note so metallic that II