rk in the little cove
behind the point.

"Quick, now!" shouted the Captain, in a tone Ralph had never heard him
use before. "Over with her! Lively!"

They obeyed him without question. As the dory settled right side up two
heavy oars, that had been secured by being thrust under the seats, fell
back with a clatter.

"What was it, Captain?" shouted Ralph.

"The lifeboat upset. How many did you make out hangin' onto her, Perez?
Five, seemed to me."

"Four, I thought. Eri, you ain't goin' to try to reach her with this
dory? You couldn't do it. You'll only be drownded yourself. My Lord!" he
moaned, wringing his hands, "what 'll Pashy do?"

"Catch a-holt now," commanded Captain Eri. "Down to the shore with her!
Now!"

They dragged the dory to the water's edge with one rush. Then Eri
hurriedly thrust in the tholepins. Perez protested again.

"Eri," he said, "it ain't no use. She won't live to git through the
breakers."

His friend answered without looking up. "Do you s'pose," he said, "that
I'm goin' to let Lute Davis and them other fellers drown without makin'
a try for 'em? Push off when I tell you to."

"Then you let me go instead of you."

"Don't talk foolish. You've got Pashy to look after. Ready now!"

But Ralph Hazeltine intervened.

"I'm going myself," he said firmly, putting one foot over the gunwale.
"I'm a younger man than either of you, and I'm used to a boat. I mean
it. I'm, going."

Captain Eri looked at the electrician's face; he saw nothing but
determination there.

"We'll all go," he said suddenly. "Mr. Hazeltine, run as fast as the
Lord 'll let you back to the station and git another set of oars.
Hurry!"

Without answering, the young man sprang up the beach and ran toward the
buildings. The moment that he was inside Captain Eri leaped into the
dory.

"Push off, Perez!" he commanded. "That young feller's got a life to
live."

"You don't go without me," asserted Perez stoutly.

"All right! Push off, and then jump in."

Captain Perez attempted to obey. He waded into the water and gave the
dory a push, but, just as he was about to scramble in, he received a
shove that sent him backwards.

"Your job's takin' care of Pashy!" roared Captain Eri.

Perez scrambled to his feet, but the dory was already half-way across
the little patch of comparatively smooth water in the cove. As he looked
he saw it enter the first line of breakers, rise amid a shower of foam,
poise on the crest, and slip