keep it steady, and the steersman
standing at his post, every muscle strained to hold the craft from
broaching to.

It was a wild sight, and every nerve in Darry's body seemed to thrill as
he kept his eyes glued upon that careening boat.

On it came, sweeping in with the wash of the agitated sea, until finally
it was carried far up the beach, where men, rushing in waist deep,
seized hold and prevented the undertow from dragging it out again.

Then the crew jumped out to lend their aid.

Darry saw that quite a number of strangers were aboard, who had
undoubtedly been taken from the vessel.

They were passengers, the captain and crew refusing to abandon their
craft.

The steamer being head on, was not in as bad a condition as might
otherwise have been the case; and as the storm promised to be
short-lived, the commander had decided to try and await the coming of
tugs from the city to drag his vessel off.

The telephone to the mainland was immediately put to good use, and a
message sent to a salvage company that would bring a couple of strong
sea-going tugs to the scene inside of ten hours.

Abner had labored with the rest.

He was more or less tired when Darry found him, after the boat had been
drawn up on the beach, but not housed, since it might be needed again;
but this sort of thing was an old story in his life, and in comparison
with some of his labors the adventure of the night had been rather tame.

In the morning Darry started across the bay again, homeward bound.

He was sorry to leave the beach, so much was his heart wrapped up in the
work of the life savers.

The day was bright and fine after the short storm which had seemed to
clear the air wonderfully.

He could see a few boats moving about, some of them oyster sloops or
dredgers, other pleasure craft belonging to the rich sportsmen who had
already commenced to drift down in pursuit of their regular fall
shooting.

Occasionally the distant dull boom of a gun told that a few ducks were
paying toll on their passage south.

Darry looked longingly at a splendid motor-boat that went swiftly past
him.

The young fellow on board seemed to be having a most delightful time,
and it was only natural for any boy to envy him.

It was noon when our hero arrived home. Mrs. Peake was interested in
all he had to tell about the trip of the life savers.

"We get used to hearing these things," she said, "but all the same it
keeps the wives of the life sav