Darry the Life Saver Part 25

Already it had been settled that unless a.s.sistance came speedily, in the shape of a recruit to take the place of Tom, Darry would have to go.

The boy was in a fever of suspense, fearful that he might be cheated out of the experience, as on the previous occasion.

Paul was quite useless because he knew so little about pulling an oar, while as a sailor, with some years experience on a vessel, Darry was at home on the water in any capacity.

"I certainly admire your grit, Darry," said Paul, shuddering as he looked out at the heaving waves, the white tops of which loomed up in the gloom.

"Oh! I'm used to these things. Dozens of storms I've been through, under all sorts of conditions," answered the boy.

"All the same it's a big risk. I hope nothing will go wrong. That's a mighty small boat to pit against the fury of the sea."

"But as safe as they make them. It's impossible to sink it, and the ropes are there to keep us from being swept out, even if flooded. All around the outside you see ropes, and if a fellow goes over he holds on to one of those until another wave sweeps him back in his seat again, and there you are."

Although Darry spoke so lightly it must not be a.s.sumed that he failed to realize the gravity attending the pa.s.sage of the surboat out upon such a troubled sea; for accidents do happen to the crews of these life-saving craft, and many a daring soul has gone to his account while trying to rescue others.

But just then the patrol came running up, almost out of breath.

From one man Frazer learned that his surmise concerning the appearance of the lawless wreckers on the sh.o.r.e was well founded, and that they had been up to some mischief further south, where signs of lights had been noticed by this coastguard.

The word was given to take their places, as the boat was about to be launched.

They had waited a brief time to allow the newly-arrived men a chance to recover their wind for they would need it presently, when once upon the heaving bosom of the deep.

Paul squeezed the hand of his young friend.

How he envied him this chance to prove his courage and to pull an oar in a life-saving trip.

The rockets had ceased to ascend as though either the supply had given out, or else conditions had become so bad that there was no longer a chance to carry on this work.

Then came the word:

"Go!"

There was a simultaneous movement on the part of the entire crew, and as the st.u.r.dy men put their shoulders to the task the surfboat shot forward just at the proper instant when a wave expended itself upon the sloping beach.

Its prow entered the water, and those furthest ahead sprang into their places, whipping the long oars into the rowlocks for a struggle against the force of the next onrushing billow.

Darry was one of these.

He had not watched that other launching for nothing, and understood just what was required of him, as though through long practice.

Now they were off!

The oars dipped deep, and hardy muscles strained back of them.

Slowly but surely the boat gained against all the fury of the onrushing tide, and foot by foot they began to leave the sh.o.r.e.

Paul was shouting, swinging his hat, as Darry could see while he tugged at his task.

Once fully launched upon the swelling bosom of the sea, the progress of the surfboat was more rapid, though every yard had to be won by the most arduous of labor, the men straining like galley slaves under the lash; but in this case it was a sense of duty rather than the whip of the tyrant that urged them on.

No man but the helmsman saw anything of the steamer that was fast upon the cruel jaws of the reef, for it was against orders for anyone to turn his head.

Such an incautious movement might throw him out of balance in the swing of the stroke and bring about disaster, or at least temporarily disarrange their regular advance; they had to trust everything to the wisdom and experience of the man who hung on to the long steering oar, and blindly obey his shouted instructions.

Many times had he gone forth upon just such a hazard, and thus far his sagacity had proven equal to the task.

They began to hear human voices shrieking through the storm.

That meant they were drawing close under the lee of the steamer, and that those on board must have sighted them, and were consequently filled with new hope.

Above all else came the awful pounding of the sea upon the side of the doomed steamer.

Darry knew the sound well, for many a night had he gone calmly to sleep while the chorus of the elements was beating close to his head.

He had pulled well, and held his own with the brawny men of the crew, just as Mr. Frazer had known would be the case when he allowed him to take the place of Tom in the boat.

Abner was next to him, and the surfman had watched the manly efforts of his adopted boy with secret delight.

Few boys indeed of his size could have proven their worth to the crew of the lifeboat in time of need as Darry had done.

He could indeed be reckoned one of the life savers from this hour on, if so be they came back again to the sh.o.r.e that had witnessed their departure.

Now, as they swung around temporarily the rowers were afforded their first glimpse of the imperiled vessel.

It was undoubtedly a steamer, one of the coasters that pa.s.s up and down the Atlantic seaboard, bound from New York to one of the various southern ports, or _vice versa_, and usually keeping far enough out to avoid the perils that hover about Kitty Hawk and Hatteras.

She was in a bad position, having gone ash.o.r.e, or been washed aground, so that her whole quarter was exposed to the sweep of the boiling sea.

Through the flying spray they could see numerous figures along the lee rail of the vessel, hanging on desperately, while now and then the water would sweep over the deck, and at such times a chorus of screams told that there were other than men there, women half frightened out of their senses by the peril.

The surfboat was, after some maneuvering, gotten in such a position under the lee of the steamer that a rope could be thrown aboard.

Then a woman was lowered by means of this, and safely stowed away.

As the rope had been fastened to the boat there was no longer necessity for the crew to strain at the oars, consequently they were at liberty to a.s.sist in caring for those sent down by the steamer's crew, working under the direction of a cool, level-headed captain.

Darry had cast off his oilskins, as being in the way.

A wetting was of small moment anyway to one so warm-blooded as he, and the c.u.mbersome garments impeded his movements, since they were meant for a big man.

The sleeve of his shirt had also become torn in some way and flapped loose until he tucked it up out of the way.

All unconscious of the picturesque figure he made he continued to work with all his might, helping to receive the women and children as they were slipped over the side.

Many an eye was attracted toward him as seen by the light of the lanterns that were held over the side of the steamer to aid the workers, and more than one wondered how it came that a mere lad was to be found keeping company with these hardy men of the coast, seasoned to storms, and able to defy the rigors of the cold.

It was no easy task to take on a load of the pa.s.sengers under such conditions.