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 assumed that he failed to
realize the gravity attending the passage 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 shore 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 sturdy 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 mus