SHE HAD left HER BERTH IN BETWEEN THE TWO ROCKS AND FLOATED ON THE WAVES.SHE HAD left HER BERTH IN BETWEEN THE TWO ROCKS AND FLOATED ON THE WAVES.
"Now, what's to hinder you coming aboard and towing the rowboat astern? The engine is all right and capable of twelve miles an hour, so we can go with this blow easily enough," he suggested.
Darry was quite willing, for his arms felt a bit weary after his exerions, and the launch did look comfortable, even though fairly drenched just then, as a result of the waves breaking over the stern while she was held a prisoner in the jaws of rock.
The transfer was made without any particular trouble, and once Darry had secured his boat to the brass cleat in the stern of the launch he set to work throwing some of the surplus water overboard.
"Working your passage, eh?" laughed Paul, who seemed to be in unusually high spirits, such was the re-action that had come over him.
Meanwhile they drew in toward the land.
What with the rain that was falling both of them were wet through; but this was such a chronic condition for a sailor lad to be in that Darry, for one, paid little attention to it.
CHAPTER XIXTHE PART OF AN ELDER BROTHER
"Come," said Paul, after the boat had been tied up where the waves could not reach them and things had begun to assume a more comfortable aspect; "Here's a fine little cabin and an oil stove on which to make a hot pot of coffee, besides assisting to dry us out. I insist on you staying to keep me company for a while. We are both cold and wet. Say you will, Darry!"
Darry did not need much urging. He was wet and chilled, and it did look cozy after Paul had started the stove going.
"Besides," continued Paul, misconstruing his silence; "I am under heavy obligations to you for coming to my assistance when you did. You saved my life and you are a regular life saver like Mr. Peake. There must be some way in which I can partly cancel that debt. You are allowed salvage by law when you save a vessel, Darry, did you know it? But for your coming my poor littleGriffinmust have gone to pieces, not to mention what would havebecome of her owner. Now, how can I settle for this indebtedness."
He was laughing as he spoke, but Darry considered the moment had come for him to put in a plea for his friends.
So he swallowed what seemed to be a lump in his throat, for after all it was no easy thing to ask such a favor from one who was hardly more than a stranger.
"Mr. Singleton, I was just wishing I could meet you somewhere soon," he began.
"Well, that is queer, since I was thinking about you too, and hoping you would not go back on me, for somehow, I seem to have set my mind on having you with me. And besides, there was another reason why I wanted to keep track of you, which I may tell you some day soon, Darry. But why were you wanting to see me?"
"To ask a great favor?"
"Not to let you off from your promise?"
"Oh, no, I'll be only too glad of a chance to be with you. It would be glorious to spend some time aboard this fine little boat. What I wanted to say—that is, the favor I wanted to ask was not for myself."
"Come, that's rather strange, Darry. Not for yourself—a favor for another? Let's hear whatit's about. You've certainly excited my curiosity, and don't hesitate a bit about it. I shall be only too willing to do anything that lies in my power, if it pleases you."
The words were most kind, and the smile that accompanied them even more so.
Darry flushed with a sense of coming victory, for something told him he was in line to win out, and that the money-shark would be cheated of his prey.
"I want to borrow a hundred dollars, sir," he said, slowly.
Paul laughed as if amused.
Immediately taking out his pocket-book he withdrew from it a bank bill of a large denomination and handed it to his companion, who received it in an embarrassed way.
"There you are, Darry, and there is no loan about it. I owe you many times that much for your assistance. Now, don't say anything about it, for I am not used to being crossed. It's a mere bagatelle to me, as you must know. Some time if you feel like it you may tell me the circumstances that have arisen; but not until you're good and ready. I'm only too delighted to be of a little help."
"I'm going to tell you all about it right here. It's only fair you should know where your money is going, sir. As soon as I get my breath you shallhear," went on Darry, fingering the hundred dollar bill as though he could hardly believe his senses.
Never did a bill of like denomination seem to carry more happiness in its touch; he could easily picture the light that would dawn upon the worried features of Mrs. Peake when he handed her that mortgage, canceled, and Abner, too, how he would be likely to throw up his hat in the air and shout like a boy.
Paul Singleton had been observing him curiously, but with kindling eyes, as if he saw more and more in this boy to admire; he could give something of a guess as to what was coming, and hence was not much surprised a little later when he heard the story of Darius Quarles and his long-slumbering revenge.
He laughed heartily at the quaint way in which Abner had hinted about Nancy tumbling overboard on purpose, in order to discover which of her lovers was the better man.
"I've met the lady, and to tell the truth I really believe she would have been equal to such a prank some years back. There's a lurking spirit of mischief in her eyes to this day, though I know she has met with a great grief lately, for I heard all about poor little Joe," Paul said, after Darry had finished.
"You can never understand how glad I am to be able to bring a little joy to this poor couple. Theyhave not known much happiness, sir. Even now, Abner is compelled to be away from home all the time in order to earn bread for his family."
Paul Singleton seemed to consider.
"We'll talk that over later on, Darry, when we have plenty of time," he answered. "Perhaps I may be able to suggest a remedy. I have shares in several properties down this way, and possibly Abner can be given a steady job as keeper at the club, or put in charge of a farm I own not far away from here. Depend upon it, some means can be found to help your benefactor out. I'd rather talk about you, just now, and what you have seen in your adventurous past. In fact, I'd like to know everything that ever happened to you, if you don't mind," he continued.
Again Darry had that queer sensation pass over him, and he could not but remember what Abner had said about the possibility of his finding out something connected with his childhood, and that this young gentleman would be the means of supplying the missing link.
So as they sat there and sipped the delicious coffee and dried out in comfort, he answered all the questions Paul could think of asking.
They covered his entire past, from his earliest recollection, and especially about the old man whohad finally deserted him in Naples, for he naturally occupied a prominent place in the recital.
Darry had called him uncle, but thought the man could not have held that relationship toward him. He never knew what had become of the old man, but suspected that he must have met with some fatal accident in the Italian city.
Then he narrated how he had supported himself by playing the violin, and at the same time learned to speak Italian as well as a native.
Finally came the scene in the café, when Captain Harley rescued him from the cruelty of a bully, and after that there was very little to tell up to the time the brigantine was lost and his best friend vanished from the scene, never to appear again on earth.
Paul Singleton harked back to his earliest recollections, and with the skill of a lawyer asked questions that put Darry's memory to a strain; he examined the singular mark upon the boy's arm with deepest interest and seemed impressed.
"That will undoubtedly prove one thing or the other, as soon as I can see her," Darry heard him say, as if to himself.
Evidently Paul Singleton knew nothing of the mark and was depending upon some other party to settle the identification.
It was noon before either of them realized it.
Darry declared he must hurry off so as to catch the lawyer at his office and settle matters before going home.
"Hark, Darry," said Paul, holding his hand as they parted; "promise me that if there is anything else I can do to please you I'm to know it right away. Confide in me, my boy. It makes me happy to share, even to a limited extent, in your little affairs. And you know we are going to be great chums all winter, you and I. Look on me then as a sort of elder brother or a cousin, if you please."
And Darry thought as he looked into the clear laughing eyes of Paul Singleton that nothing would give him greater happiness on earth than if he could claim relationship to this fine manly fellow.
He seemed to be walking on air as he left the cove and headed into the village.
Upon calling at the office of Darius Quarles he was disappointed to learn that the lawyer had gone off in his closed buggy early that morning, and would not be back all day—he had to foreclose a mortgage the clerk remarked, and never allowed that duty to be performed by a subordinate, for it gave him too much satisfaction to attend to it personally.
Even his employees had a secret contempt for his mean ways, it seemed.
"He expects to be home to supper, and if yourbusiness is pressing you might call at his house, which is just out of the village on the road to Harden," the young clerk said in concluding.
"Thank you, I believe I shall call, as I wish to see him very much," replied Darry, and left the place.
He made his way along the rather lonely road that led to the humble home of the Peakes, bowing his head to the storm, and yet with a song of thanksgiving swelling in his heart, for he knew he was carrying with him the means of lifting the load that had for some time oppressed his kind benefactors.
Suddenly something struck him a stunning blow and looking up as he staggered he heard a chorus of shrill laughs, and realized that a rope had been thrown around him in such a way that his arms were pinioned down at his sides.
At the same moment several impish figures sprang out of the dense brush and fell upon him with vicious blows, as though bent upon knocking him down.
Though they had their faces concealed after a ridiculous fashion he recognized the malicious laugh of one as belonging to Jim Dilks.
CHAPTER XXBAD LUCK AND GOOD
Of course Darry knew what this attack meant.
His enemy had been brooding over matters for a long time, and despairing of accomplishing his end while Darry was armed with a gun, during his daily visits to the big marsh, he had finally decided to lie in wait and have it out on the road from the village.
Jim wisely backed himself up with a couple of allies in thus undertaking to give his enemy that long-delayed whipping.
He had tried it once by himself and apparently had no relish to repeat the experiment.
Perhaps it would have been the part of wisdom on the part of the young life saver to have taken to his heels and beat a masterly retreat.
Great generals have done this same thing and considered it no dishonor to save their army for another day.
To a high-spirited lad, however, it is the last thought, and many a fellow will stand the chances of a beating rather than to turn his back on the foe.
Of course there was no time to consider the matter.
The three disguised boys attacked him on all sides, and almost before Darry knew what he was doing blows were being exchanged with a vim.
He fought gallantly and well, sending in just as many hard hits as his knowledge of the game permitted.
Whenever he saw an opening he was quick to take advantage of the same, and as a consequence first one of Jim's supporters and then the other temporarily bit the dust, with a galaxy of stars floating before their mental vision.
They were very much surprised.
True, they may have heard something about the fighting abilities of this wonderful new boy; but Jim had kept declaring that only for his lame hand he would surely have easily come out victor on that memorable day of the first meeting, and they were forced to believe him.
Artful Jim was wise enough to do a great deal of jumping about, but seemed quite willing his allies should meet with the brunt of the battle while he saved himself for the finishing touches.
When Darry had tired himself out against Sim Clark and Bowser then his time would have arrived.
Darry anticipated being whipped in the encounter.
It was not to be expected that one boy could hold his own against three such tough customers as those opposed to him, since they would wear him out.
Nevertheless, he declined to run at the beginning, and after a little it was entirely out of the question for him to do so, since he lacked the wind to conduct a flight.
So there was really nothing to do but stand and take what was coming to him, at the same time give as good as he knew how.
They would never be able at any rate to say they had won an easy victory.
By this time they were beautifully daubed with mud, as each appeared to be the under dog while the minutes crept along.
Darry's only hope lay in the possibility of some one passing that way, and as the day was so stormy, and few people ever took this road, his chances were indeed slender.
Now the whole bunch seemed to be upon the ground alongside the road, struggling like a pack of Kilkenny cats, the three aggressors having their hands on Darry at one time in the endeavor to subdue him.
Suddenly Jim gave a hoarse cry.
"Haul off dere, fellers; somebody's comin'!" was what he ejaculated.
Immediately the other two sprang to their feet like a couple of deer, afraid lest they be caught at their game; perhaps a vision of old Hank Squires flashed before them, with the penitentiary in the background.
Darry, out of breath, but game to the last, made an ineffectual attempt to hold one of his tormentors, catching the flying end of his jacket; but such was the moment of Sim's upward movement, and the flimsy character of his wearing apparel, that the entire section came away, remaining in the grip of the enemy as he went tearing after his mates.
The three of them plunged into the bushes alongside the road, and were lost to sight, leaving Darry half sitting up on the road, plastered with mud, and ruefully surveying the strip of cloth in his hand.
After all it proved to be a false alarm, for no one came in sight.
Darry was not foolish enough to invite a further attack by remaining on the ground after the enemy had temporarily withdrawn, so he gathered himself together and continued along the road, feeling of his limbs to ascertain just how seriously he had been bruised, and trying to scrape some of the mud from his clothes.
He felt ashamed to let Mrs. Peake see him in thiscondition, for the clothes had been Joe's, and naturally she would feel badly to discover how they were now treated to a coating of mud.
But then the fact of his having such a joyful surprise for her would discount any bad effect of his appearance.
Thinking thus, Darry put his hand eagerly into the inside pocket where he had so carefully stowed the little leather pocket-book in which the hundred dollar bill given him by Paul, as well as the amount which his muskrat pelts had fetched at the hardware store, had been lodged.
The pocket-book was gone!
Poor Darry shivered as if someone had struck him a blow.
Could he have lost it while upon the shore with Paul Singleton and had the angry sound claimed it as passage money for having allowed a victim to escape?
No, he recollected very distinctly feeling it there as he started from the office of the lawyer, after learning that Mr. Quarles was away.
Then it must have fallen out during his struggles on the road, for several times he had been on his back, with those "wildcats" clawing at him.
Despite the chances of meeting them again, and having the struggle renewed, he deliberately turnedback and quickly ran to the spot where there were plain evidences to be seen of the free-for-all fight.
How eagerly he searched every foot of that territory, his heart, figuratively speaking, in his throat with anxiety. But as the minutes passed and he realized the hopeless character of his hunt it seemed to drop like lead into his shoes, the change was so great.
Then there remained only one solution of the mystery—one of those young rascals must have inserted a hand in his coat while they were struggling there on the road and stolen the pocket-book with its contents.
His heart seemed almost broken, and he even contemplated rushing after them to renew the battle and tear the prize from their possession; but a little thought caused him to understand how foolish such a move would be, for he had no idea as to what quarter they could he heading for when they left him, unless it might be that shack in the swamp, and it would be rash indeed for him to go there alone.
He tried to pluck up courage enough to go home, basing all his hopes on Paul, who had seemed so very kind, and ready to help him out.
Of course Mrs. Peake was astonished at his appearance, but the rising anger vanished when she learned who had been the cause of his misfortunes—at least it was turned in the direction of Jim Dilks,and she vowed that before another day had passed she would swear out a warrant for his arrest, and go personally to see that Hank Squires did his duty.
Depressed in spirits Darry crept away to change his clothes for some others she brought him, also once belonging to Joe.
Mrs. Peake advised that the muddy garments be hung up until they dried, when by a vigorous brushing they might be restored to something like their former condition of cleanliness.
Accordingly, Darry first of all picked up the trousers and placed them on a line in a corner of the room, where they could drip without soiling the floor, he having spread a newspaper beneath.
Then he proceeded to attend to the coat in the same way.
While engaged in this he felt something bulky in one of the pockets and smiled faintly as he remembered thrusting that portion of Sim's torn coat there.
This he had done under the impression that Hank might consider it conclusive evidence, calculated to convict the young ruffian beyond a possibility of doubt.
It might just as well hang alongside the other garments, though Darry did not intend removing the incriminating mud stains from the fragment.
As he drew the offending piece of cloth out he was thrilled to feel something in the folds, and with trembling fingers he opened it out.
It seemed that with the portion of the coat that had come away in his hands was one of the pockets, and out of this receptacle Darry quickly drew something at which he stared as though he fancied he were dreaming.
His pocket-book!
Sim had undoubtedly snatched the same from his person as they wrestled upon the ground, and having no other place in which to hide it at the moment, had thrust it in the very outside pocket of his coat that a minute later remained in the grip of the boy he had robbed.
Darry stared at it until he realized the amazing fortune that had so kindly returned him his property, and then rolling over on the floor he shook with wild laughter, so that Mrs. Peake came to the door in alarm to see if he were ill.
CHAPTER XXISATISFYING THE MORTGAGE
While Darry was gurgling with laughter, still clutching the fragment of coat and the precious pocket-book, he felt a hand seize his arm.
Looking up he saw the puzzled and anxious face of Abner's wife.
"What ails you, boy? Did they injure you more than you told me?" she asked, as if fearful that he were going out of his mind.
To the further astonishment of the good woman the boy climbed to his feet, suddenly threw his arms around her neck and gave her a vigorous hug.
"It's all right, mother, after all; they didn't get it!" he exclaimed.
"What's all right? I don't understand at all," she replied, looking at the dirty strip of cloth he was holding, and the pocket-book as well.
"Why, what do you think, while we were struggling there on the road, with me underneath part of the time, that sneak thief, Sim Clark, managed to steal my pocket-book out of my inner pocket. Thatwas what made me seem so blue, for I had something in it I meant to show you. But when he tried to run away I held on and part of his coat ripped away. I stuck it in my pocket, thinking Hank would like to see it as evidence, and when I took it out here, don't you see I found what I had lost in Sim's pocket! Did you ever hear of such luck in your born days."
Mrs. Peake herself laughed.
"You do seem to be a fortunate boy. And they would have robbed you of what little you have. I'm glad you got it back, and I'm determined to see Hank Squires to-morrow about this thing. It has gone far enough."
"But I've got something else to tell you. Come and sit down where we can talk," he continued, feeling happier than ever before in all his life, for he knew he was in a condition to chase away the clouds that had been bringing anxiety to her mind for months.
So he told first of all about his visit to the hardware man, and how he obtained fourteen dollars for his muskrat skins.
After that came the call upon the lawyer and what followed in connection with his offer to pay the interest due, and how Mr. Quarles had absolutely refused to accommodate him.
Nancy sighed as she heard what the cold, grasping man of law had said about settling old scores.
Perhaps she was sorry now she had given him such cause for hatred; but better the life she had led than one as the wife of a cruel money shark of his breed.
From this Darry soon branched out and spoke of his trip to the shore, and how on his return a kindly fate had allowed him to be of material assistance to the very young man with whom he expected to spend the winter on his launch.
Mrs. Peake began to listen more eagerly now, for she surmised that something of a pleasant nature was coming.
When Darry finally placed the money in her hand, she looked at it in bewilderment, never having touched so much at one time in all her life; then she turned her tear-stained eyes upon him, and drawing him into her motherly arms kissed him again and again.
And Darry never felt so well repaid for any action of his life as that.
There was sunshine in the Peake house the balance of that day, even though the weather without was dark and overcast, for light hearts carry an atmosphere of their own that does not depend upon outside influences.
The woman would not hear of Darry's going to see the lawyer that night.
Something might happen to him again, with those malicious boys still at large, and it would be wiser she thought, to wait until morning, when the two of them could take the money to Darius Quarles and satisfy the mortgage.
Besides, Nancy thought she would like to see what the money-lender looked like when finding his plans frustrated so neatly.
"Thank goodness that relative of his will have to wait some time before this house falls into his clutches," she remarked, for the fourth time, since it was impossible, just then, to talk about anything else.
So when another day dawned, while the weather was still heavy they walked to the village and astonished the lawyer by appearing in his office soon after his arrival.
Supposing that Nancy had come to beg for more time, he set his face in its hardest lines, even though pretending to be sympathetic—times were out of joint, collections difficult to make, and he absolutely needed every cent he could scrape together in order to meet his obligations—that was the way he put it, when she announced she had come in relation to the mortgage.
"Then I suppose you will be glad to receive thismoney, Darius, and return the mortgage canceled to me. And you can be sure that Abner will never trouble you in the same way again," she said, thrusting the full sum, with interest toward him.
He slowly counted it, and found that every cent, as he had written it down for Darry, was there.
"Ahem! this is an unexpected pleasure, Nancy. I congratulate you, indeed I do, on your success in finding someone to take over the mortgage," he stammered, as his face turned from red to white, and his little eyes glittered.
"You are mistaken. There will be no mortgage on my home after this. The money has been earned by this brave boy here, not borrowed," she said, coldly.
This caused him to look at Darry, and his mouth told that he was gritting his teeth wrathfully.
"Ah! yes, indeed, truly a remarkable boy. What has he been doing now—taking the rats of the swamp by wholesale, I presume? Let me see, only yesterday he had sold twenty-six skins for fourteen dollars, and now a hundred dollar bill follows. It is amazing. Pardon me if I doubt my eyes. I suppose the bill is a good one?"
"We will wait here until you go and find out. You might ask Mr. Paul Singleton, who has a little launch down at the docks, and is a member of theclub above," replied Mrs. Peake, with stinging emphasis.
"Did Mr. Singleton give him this money?" demanded the lawyer, suddenly.
"He did, for saving his launch out in the bay yesterday. And what is more, Darry expects to cruise with him the balance of the winter. He has taken a great fancy for my boy. You can find him easily if you wish to ask him about this."
It was wonderful how quickly the lawyer changed his manner.
He knew who Paul Singleton was, and what wealth he represented in the exclusive sporting club near Ashley.
"That alters the complexion of the whole thing. Now I congratulate Darry on his good fortune in making such a good, easy friend. Of course the bill must be all right if Paul Singleton gave it to him. I will immediately attend to the mortgage for you, and also see that it is satisfied on the books at the county office. Meanwhile I shall write you out a receipt in full, showing that it has been paid."
Mrs. Peake said nothing more.
She felt the utmost contempt for this man, and having been enabled to defeat his scheme for humiliating herself and husband, wished to remain in his company no longer than was absolutely necessary.
So she and Darry presently went forth, and how pure even the stormy atmosphere seemed after being for half an hour in that spider's web of a lawyer's den.
On the strength of the improved prospects Mrs. Peake felt that she was privileged to spend a portion of the small sum of money she had been hoarding against paying the interest, though as it had not amounted to the full sum she had not dared approach Darius with an offer.
Mr. Keeler, being a good friend of the Peakes, and inclined to be hostile to the lawyer, she naturally confided her late troubles to his sympathetic ear, feeling that she could not keep silent.
He shook the hand of the boy with sincerity, and declared that it was a great day for Abner and his brood when the surf man helped to pull the cabin boy of theFalconout of the sea.
Being a modest lad, Darry escaped as soon as he could, and waited around until Mrs. Peake was ready to go home, when he showed up to carry her parcels.
The family feasted that night most royally.
Darry himself had purchased a steak in the store as his donation, and this was a luxury the little Peakes seldom knew.
Ducks and fish were all very well, together withoysters, when they could get them; but after all there was a sameness in the diet that rather palled on the appetite, and that beefsteak with onions did smell mighty fine, as even the good cook admitted.
The future looked very rosy to both Darry and Abner's wife.
When the latter heard what Paul Singleton had said about getting some place for the life saver ashore, where he could be with his family right along, the poor woman broke down and sobbed; but it was joy that caused the tears to flow, and Darry felt his own eyes grow wet as he realized how she must have suffered while compelled to live in this mean way.
Nancy having been a teacher had looked to better things, no doubt; but Abner thus far had lacked the ability to provide them for his family. Now, however, the current had changed.
"And to think it all comes through you, boy. God sent you to us, I believe, just when things were at the worst. How different it looks now. I am the happiest woman in Ashley this night," she declared, and it seemed as though she could hardly take her beaming eyes off his face during that whole evening as they sat and built air castles for the future.
It can be set down as certain that Darry found it hard to get to sleep after so much excitement. Longhe lay there and went over all the recent experiences, to wonder again and again why Providence was so good to him, the waif who had until the last few years known only cuffs and trouble.
The morning showed no improvement in the weather, for which Darry was sorry, because he wished to cross the sound in order to carry the glorious news to Abner and relieve his mind of the worry that must even now fill it.
And as the prospect was that even worse weather might follow before it would improve he determined to go, though Mrs. Peake was rather loth to grant permission.
CHAPTER XXIIABNER HEARS THE NEWS
When Darry reached the village and was making for the place where his boat was tied up, he remembered that Paul Singleton was close by with his motor-boat.
Perhaps he was aboard and would be interested in hearing what had happened to Darry since they parted.
Accordingly he walked that way and was accosted by a genial voice calling:
"All hail, comrade, what news? Come aboard. Just thinking about you, and if you hadn't hove in sight soon I meant to don my raincoat and saunter up to find out what was in the wind. Here you are, just in time to join me at my lunch, such as it is—coffee, a canoeist stew and some fresh bread I bought from a good housewife in the village. Sit down right there; no excuse, you must know sooner or later what sort of a cook I am, for we expect to share many a meal in common."
In such a hearty way did Paul Singleton greethim, and of course Darry had to obey orders, even though hardly hungry.
He entertained Paul with an account of his recent adventures, and that young gentleman nearly doubled up with merriment when he heard how a malicious fate had succeeded in cheating Sim Clark out of the reward of his villainy.
"And where are you off to now?" demanded Paul, when they had finished their "snack," as he termed it in Southern style, and Darry seemed to be getting ready to depart.
"Across to the station. Mr. Keeler told me last evening there was some important mail to go over, and I think its going to storm worse before it finally clears up."
"Looks pretty dusty out there even now, for your little tub. Say, suppose we take your boat in tow and go over in the launch? I was wondering what to do only a little while back. Besides, I've wanted to see the surfmen work their boat, and if it comes on to storm hard, perhaps there may be a necessity for them to launch. I'd be sorry to have a wreck occur; but if it does happen I'd like to be on hand. Say yes, now, Darry."
Of course he did, for who could resist Paul Singleton; especially when the passage could be made somuch more quickly in the staunch little motor-boat than with his own clumsy craft.
In a short time they sallied out.
The cedar craft was a model of the boat builder's art, and carried a twelve-horse power engine, so that even though the wind and tide chanced to be against them they made steady progress toward the shore seen so dimly far across the sound.
Nearly every wave sent the spray flying high in the air as it struck the bow; but there was a hood to catch this, and besides both occupants of the motor-boat had donned oilskins before starting.
It was a long trip, nevertheless, for the wind continued to increase in force as the afternoon waned, and Darry, with a sailor's gift of foretelling what the weather was to be, predicted that the succeeding night must witness a storm such as had not visited the coast since the night he was cast ashore.
Abner was delighted to see his boy, and it was not long before the party found shelter in the warm station, for the air was growing bitter.
"A bad night ahead!" said one of the surfmen, after greeting Darry, "and worse luck, poor Tom here has broken his leg. Mr. Frazer is somethin' of a surgeon, and has set it, but as soon as this storm is over he must be taken home. It leaves us short a man if so be we are called out, unless some fellerhappens to run across before night, which is kinder unlikely."
"I'd be only too glad to pull an oar, if necessary, and you couldn't find any better man," said Darry, quickly, looking at Abner, who shook his head, dubiously.
"They may hev to take yuh, lad; but I hopes as how we aint gwine to be called out. It's a cruel night to fight the sea, an' only them as has been thar knows wot it means. Now come an' set down here, both on yuh, an' tell me all the news from hum. I seen somethin' in your eye, lad, thet tells me yuh knows sure a heap wuth hearin'. I hopes it's good news," he said.
"Indeed it is, the best ever," replied Darry, with bursting heart, and then as quickly as he could he told the whole story.
Poor Abner sat there, blinking, and hardly able to comprehend the wonderful change that had so suddenly come over his fortunes.
Unable to speak he could only stretch out his hand to Paul, and then turning to our hero looked at him with his very soul in his eyes.
After a little, when he became calmer, he asked many questions, and even had a quiet little laugh at the expense of Darius Quarles.
"That's the second time yuh see he's ben knockedout a-tryin' to rob me. Nancy done it fust a-fallin' into the water, and this time Darry here cum to the front. Darius he must be concludin' he was borned under an unlucky star, 'specially wen he tackles Nancy Peake. I'd give somethin' to see the gal jest now," he added wistfully as he tried to picture what she must look like when really and truly happy.
Long they talked, until an early supper was ready, and the men gathered about the table, while the wind shrieked and sighed about the corners of the station, telling of the severe labors the coming night would demand.
After the meal was finished nothing would do but that Darry must give them some music ere the first detail went out on their arduous duties in facing the cold storm.
Paul had known nothing of this accomplishment on the part of his new friend.
He sat there as though enthralled while Darry drew such weird strains from the little polished instrument in his hands that this young man, who had doubtless listened to many masters of the violin believed he had never in all his life heard such wonderful music.
Of course the strange surroundings had something to do with it, for there was a constant accompaniment of howling wind, with the surge of the wildsurf beating time to the magic of the bow, and it seemed as though the player selected just such music as would be appropriate to such a setting.
Finally the first detail had to make ready for their long tramp along the beach, and muffled in their oilskins they sallied forth.
Later on Abner and his companions expected to start out, for Paul was determined to learn all he could about this hard life of those who patrolled the coasts while the storms raged, a helpful auxiliary to the lighthouse department.
The men should have sought rest and sleep while they had the chance, but no one seemed desirous of lying down.
Tom, the poor fellow with the broken leg, was bearing up bravely, and only bemoaned the fact that, if there should be any necessity for the launching of the surfboat he could not do his duty.
Suddenly everyone started up.
Above the roar of the storm a sound had come that could not be anything other than the boom of a gun.
There is nothing that startles more than this sound, heard upon the shore as the storm rages, for it invariably tells of peril hovering over some vessel that has been beaten from her track and is threatenedwith wreck, either upon the reefs or the treacherous sands.
Instantly all was bustle and excitement.
Every man donned his oilskins, and as they had made all preparations there was little time wasted in doing this.
Paul rushed out with the rest, eager to be "in the swim," as he said.
It was a scene never to be forgotten.
The waves were running high and breaking upon the beach with a thunderous roar, while the wind added to the clamor; so that save for the absence of thunder and lightning the picture seemed to be a duplicate of that other so strongly impressed upon Darry's mind.
Down the beach they could catch glimpses of an illumination, and it seemed as though some of the coast patrol might be burning coster lights to signal the vessel on the reef.
Presently they would come back, when the lifeboat would be launched.
With material that was kept ready for just such an emergency a fire was immediately started.
Mr. Frazer was looking anxiously down the beach, and Darry heard him calling to Abner.
"I don't like the looks of things yonder. That fire is none of the work of our men. Jim Dilks andhis wreckers must be over here looking for pickings. I pity any poor wretch who comes ashore and falls into their hands. That scoundrel wouldn't be above robbing a castaway, and even chocking out what little life remained in his body, if so be it looked like he might tell. Keep a lookout for the rascals, boys. And all give a hand here to get the boat out of the shed. We're going to have a hard night of it, I'm afraid."
CHAPTER XXIIIDARRY IN THE LIFEBOAT
The boat was soon rolled out and placed where it could be quickly launched at the word.
Mr. Frazer was not only the keeper of the station but the helmsman of the lifeboat, which latter was a most responsible position, since he must direct the movements of the men who pulled the oars, bring the boat under the vessel in peril, manage to rescue as many of those aboard as could be carried, and finally navigate the craft successfully to the shore.
Darry looked upon him as a wonderful man, a hero, indeed, whose equal he had never known.
There were signs of distress seaward. Through his night glasses Mr. Frazer reported seeing a steamer in trouble. She had evidently gone on the reef, having gotten out of her course in the wild storm, or else because the wreckers further down the coast had deceived her navigator by means of false beacons.
No matter, she was fast upon the treacherous reef and would likely fill and be a wreck beforemorning, since her entire port side seemed exposed to the fury of the waves.
It was a wonder how anything could remain on board and endure so terrific a pounding; if later on she were washed free the chances were there would be holes enough in her by that time to cause her to sink like a shot.
The lifeboat could not get out to her any too soon.
Those on board were burning lights, and sending up rocket after rocket to indicate that their need of assistance was great.
Still nothing could be done until the men on the detail came in.
Already it had been settled that unless assistance came speedily, in the shape of a recruit to take the place of Tom, Darry would have to go.
The boy was in a fever of suspense, fearful that he might be cheated out of the experience, as on the previous occasion.
Paul was quite useless because he knew so little about pulling an oar, while as a sailor, with some years experience on a vessel, Darry was at home on the water in any capacity.
"I certainly admire your grit, Darry," said Paul, shuddering as he looked out at the 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 muscles strained back of them.
Slowly but surely the boat gained against all the fury of the onrushing tide, and foot by foot they began to leave the shore.
Paul was shouting, swinging his hat, as Darry could see while he tugged at his task.
Once fully launched upon the swelling bosom of the sea, the progress of the surfboat was more rapid, though every yard had to be won by the most arduous of labor, the men straining like galley slaves under the lash; but in this case it was a sense of duty rather than the whip of the tyrant that urged them on.
No man but the helmsman saw anything of the steamer that was fast upon the cruel jaws of the reef, for it was against orders for anyone to turn his head.
Such an incautious movement might throw him out of balance in the swing of the stroke and bring about disaster, or at least temporarily disarrange their regular advance; they had to trust everything to the wisdom and experience of the man who hung on to the long steering oar, and blindly obey his shouted instructions.
Many times had he gone forth upon just such ahazard, and thus far his sagacity had proven equal to the task.
They began to hear human voices shrieking through the storm.
That meant they were drawing close under the lee of the steamer, and that those on board must have sighted them, and were consequently filled with new hope.
Above all else came the awful pounding of the sea upon the side of the doomed steamer.
Darry knew the sound well, for many a night had he gone calmly to sleep while the chorus of the elements was beating close to his head.
He had pulled well, and held his own with the brawny men of the crew, just as Mr. Frazer had known would be the case when he allowed him to take the place of Tom in the boat.
Abner was next to him, and the surfman had watched the manly efforts of his adopted boy with secret delight.
Few boys indeed of his size could have proven their worth to the crew of the lifeboat in time of need as Darry had done.
He could indeed be reckoned one of the life savers from this hour on, if so be they came back again to the shore that had witnessed their departure.
Now, as they swung around temporarily the rowerswere afforded their first glimpse of the imperiled vessel.
It was undoubtedly a steamer, one of the coasters that pass up and down the Atlantic seaboard, bound from New York to one of the various southern ports, orvice versa, and usually keeping far enough out to avoid the perils that hover about Kitty Hawk and Hatteras.
She was in a bad position, having gone ashore, or been washed aground, so that her whole quarter was exposed to the sweep of the boiling sea.
Through the flying spray they could see numerous figures along the lee rail of the vessel, hanging on desperately, while now and then the water would sweep over the deck, and at such times a chorus of screams told that there were other than men there, women half frightened out of their senses by the peril.
The surfboat was, after some maneuvering, gotten in such a position under the lee of the steamer that a rope could be thrown aboard.
Then a woman was lowered by means of this, and safely stowed away.
As the rope had been fastened to the boat there was no longer necessity for the crew to strain at the oars, consequently they were at liberty to assist in caring for those sent down by the steamer'screw, working under the direction of a cool, level-headed captain.
Darry had cast off his oilskins, as being in the way.
A wetting was of small moment anyway to one so warm-blooded as he, and the cumbersome garments impeded his movements, since they were meant for a big man.
The sleeve of his shirt had also become torn in some way and flapped loose until he tucked it up out of the way.
All unconscious of the picturesque figure he made he continued to work with all his might, helping to receive the women and children as they were slipped over the side.
Many an eye was attracted toward him as seen by the light of the lanterns that were held over the side of the steamer to aid the workers, and more than one wondered how it came that a mere lad was to be found keeping company with these hardy men of the coast, seasoned to storms, and able to defy the rigors of the cold.
It was no easy task to take on a load of the passengers under such conditions.
Only when the surfboat rose on a billow could they be lowered, for at other times the distance wasso great that the deck of the steamer looked as far away as the roof of a tall building.
Yet, thanks to the ability of the steamer captain, and the experience of the surfmen below, the shipping of the women and children was accomplished with but a single accident.
One child dropped off the rope, having been insecurely fastened, and with the shrieks of the women fell into the sea, but hardly had she reached the water than with a splash Darry was over, and had seized upon the little one.
His companions immediately reached out friendly hands, and both were drawn into the plunging boat, amid frantic cheers from all who had seen the daring rescue.
One woman seized hold of the boy as he pushed his way through the crowd to his place at the oars, and looked wildly in his face.
He supposed she must be the mother of the child he had saved, and not wishing for any scene just then, when he was needed at his place, as they were about to cast off, Darry gently broke her hold, leaving on her knees and staring after him.
Although he little suspected the fact it was something else that had chained the attention of this woman passenger; and even as she knelt in the bottom of the boat, which was beginning its perilouspassage toward the shore, her eyes continued to be riveted upon his face, and she was saying to herself over and over:
"Oh! who is he, that boy? I must see him again if we both live. Can it be possible he had any connection with Paul's telegram? I have come far, but I would go over the distance a thousand times if only a great joy awaited me. Yes, I must see him surely again!"
From which it would appear that the friendly fortune that seemed to be attending the affairs of our young hero of late had again started work; and that even in gratifying his wild desire to serve as a life saver Darry had been advancing his own cause.
Now the lifeboat was headed for the shore, and sweeping in on a giant roller.
Great care had to be exercised lest the boat broach-to, and those in her be spilled out, when some must be drowned, for having taken so many aboard they lacked the buoyancy that had previously marked their progress.
Standing in his place the steersman carefully noted every little point, and high above the rush of the storm his voice rang out as he ordered the crew to cease rowing, or to pull hard.
It was well worth experiencing, and Darry wasglad he had at last found a chance to go out with the crew.
Abner knew that at least one more trip would have to be made, in order to take off the crew of the steamer, and he was determined that if there should have arrived any substitute on the beach while they were away Darry must not be called upon to undertake the second voyage.
The strain was terrific for a mere stripling of his build, and only old seasoned veterans could stand under it.
There was no need of questioning the willingness of the lad to volunteer again; and if it seemed absolutely necessary Abner would give his consent, but he hoped circumstances might change and another hand be provided.
With the women and children they had several of the crew who had come along to relieve any oarsman who might give under the great strain; the more sent in this load the less remaining for the next, and among these Abner had picked upon a certain husky fellow who seemed able to do his part if called upon.
Now the shore was close by.
The fire burned brightly, fed by Paul, and the steersman could see several other men at the water's edge, proving that they had crossed the sound insome sort of staunch craft, or had come down from above, knowing the wreck was close to the life-saving station.
At last the boat mounted the last billow on which she was to continue her voyage to the beach.
The crew pulled heartily to keep her perched high on its foamy crest, and in this fashion they went rushing shoreward.