d walk that stretched along the entire waterfront. Below this
was a great wide beach of pure white sand as firm as a well-paved road,
and fairly crowded with bathers. This beach was known throughout the
world as an automobile race course, and many a speed record had been made
on it.

"So this is the famous Old Harbor Beach race course?" said Jiminy, as he
eyed the straightaway.

"That's what it is, son, and if you'll look away down there you'll see a
number of low green sheds. Those are the garages where the speed maniacs
store their high-powered cars."

"Jiminy!" whispered Gordon, thoroughly awed.

Mr. Herrick's office was in the big white building at the shore end of
the steel recreation pier. Without any ceremony he ushered the lads into
the room and had them make themselves at home. This invitation the
scouts accepted by promptly taking a seat on whatever was handiest,
including window sills, tables and even the floor; Mr. Herrick sat down
at his desk, while the collie curled up at his feet and his daughter took
her place on his knee.

"Scouts," he said, "there have been three very sad occurrences at the
beach this Summer, and while in each case the fault lay entirely with the
bather, I feel very much disturbed by the accidents, and I don't want any
more to take place this year. I have called upon you boys to help me
prevent them. Remember, from now on you lads are the guardians of the
lives of bathers at Old Harbor Beach." He spoke the last sentence very
impressively.

"Here's my plan," he continued after a pause. "Last Winter I was out to
California, and at one of the beaches I saw a motorcycle life-saving
corps that had been organized by an old-time lifesaver. It pleased me so
much that I decided to have the same sort of a patrol on my beach. I
ordered two motorcycles built along the lines of the machines used there.
They arrived here two days ago and are now in their garages waiting for
you. These cars are equipped with all kinds of life-saving and first-aid
devices, including a stretcher, a pulmotor, bandages and medicines of all
kinds. There will be two men to a motorcycle; a driver and a man on the
tandem seat, ready to spring from the wheel and plunge into the surf and
make a rescue. He should be the best swimmer of the pair, of course.

"All along the beach I have had signal towers built, each of which will
be manned by a scout. He will keep constant vigil, and, at the first
sign of t