"Fine. Now, I'll explain the way a rescue is made by the California life
savers. That reel of wire cable and the cigar-shaped float attached to
the rear end of the side car is a very important factor in rescue work.
The float has a life belt attached to it, as you can see. When a rescue
is to be made the motorcycle comes to a stop at the water's edge and the
man on the tandem seat leaps off and seizes the float. He buckles the
life belt on to him as he plunges into the water and the man on shore
reels out the cable as the rescuer swims to the person in trouble. When
the life saver reaches the man or woman he is after he does not have to
struggle to keep afloat, for the buoy holds him on top of the water. If
he has to dive for the drowning one, he merely unbuckles the life belt
and when he comes to the surface the buoy is right there for him to seize
hold of, or, if he chose to, he could strap it fast to the one he is
trying to save. The wire cable is very light, but very strong, and when
the buoy is made fast to any one, the man on shore hauls away and drags
the body out, just as he would haul out a big fish."

"Jove, but _that's_ an outfit for you," exclaimed Romper.

"Well, I'm glad you like it, Scouts. The outfit in the north station is
identically the same. I didn't spare any money to have your equipment
the finest."

"That's mighty good of you," said Bruce.

"Why, it's to my own interest, lads. A single life saved is worth more
to me than all the money I've put into this scheme. Now it's up to you
boys to make good my investment."

"We'll do it," shouted the scouts in unison.

"Alright, boys, that's all I ask. I'll leave you now. You can organize
your own patrols and select your own leaders without my help. When you
get hungry, go to the Pine Grove Hotel I've arranged to have all your
meals served to you there.

"You can spend the rest of the afternoon becoming familiar with the
apparatus, and I guess you'll have all the time you want to practice
during the next two or three days, for while the races are on no bathers
will be allowed on the beach. Well, good-by and good luck to you."

And the genial bath house proprietor left the scouts to their own devices.

"Jiminy, fellows, I can't believe it. Some one pinch me, please. I want
to see if I'm awake. Just think of being in charge of such an outfit,"
said Gordon after Mr. Herrick had left.

"It does seem like a dream, doesn't it?" said B