Part 28 (2/2)

Cora and the girls went on to the life-saving station not far from their bungalow. They were much interested in the method of launching the boat, and the captain explained how it would right itself if capsized, and also bail out the water that entered in a storm.

”What do you do when you can't launch a boat?” asked Belle.

”Use the breeches buoy,” answered the grizzled old salt. He showed how by means of a mortar a line was fired aboard the wreck, and how, by a sort of pulley arrangement, the persons in danger could, one at a time, be pulled ash.o.r.e, sitting in the ”breeches buoy.”

”It's just like some of those apartment house clothes lines on high poles,” said Bess; ”isn't it?”

”I never heard it called that afore,” remarked the captain of the coast guard, ”but I s'pose you could call it that if you was a mind to. If you'll stay around a bit you'll see our drill.”

The girls were delighted, and eagerly watched while the mortar was fired, the cylindrical shot carrying the line out to an imaginary wreck. Then one man played the part of a s.h.i.+pwrecked mariner, and was hauled over the sand, while Cora took several photographs of him.

”We've got her!” exclaimed Jack, as the girls returned to the bungalow.

”She isn't much for looks, but she can beat the _Pet_!”

”Who?” asked Cora, thinking of something else.

”The motor boat we hired. Come on out and we'll give you a race.”

”Let's!” exclaimed Belle.

”My, but you're getting brave!” observed Ed. ”The time was when a race frightened you even if you read of it in the papers.”

”I did not!”

”She can swim now,” commented Bess.

Motor maids and motor boys went out on the bay in the two motor boats.

The craft Jack and his chums had hired was not very elegant, and she seemed to be rather uncertain about starting, and when she did the engine appeared to be protesting most of the while. But the boat made good time, and though it did not really beat the _Pet_ (much to the disappointment of boastful Jack) it kept well up with Cora's speedy craft.

For a week or more the young people enjoyed to the utmost the life on the coast. More people came to the little summer resort, and several social affairs were arranged.

There were swimming races, in which the girls and boys partic.i.p.ated, even Belle entering in the novice cla.s.s. But she won no prize, nor did she expect to.

”I just wanted to show Jack Kimball that I didn't have to wear a life preserver nor be anch.o.r.ed to the sh.o.r.e!” she declared with spirit.

”I humbly beg your pardon!” said Jack, with a bow.

Then there were motor boat races, in which the _Pet_ did herself proud, coming in first in her cla.s.s. The boys had great hopes of the _Duck_, as they had re-named the boat they hired, but when they were doing well, and not far from the finish line, with every prospect of winning, something went wrong with the ignition, and they were out of it.

There were affairs on sh.o.r.e too, several dances to which the girls and boys went. Then there was a moving picture performance semi-occasionally, and some other plays. Altogether the summer was a happy one, thus far.

Nothing was heard of Mrs. Raymond, though her brother wrote a number of letters, and of course the missing Nancy Ford was not located. Though Jack and the boys insisted on staring at all the pretty strangers they met, playfully insisting that Nancy might be one of them.

”Of course she's bound to be good-looking,” said Ed.

”Naturally,” agreed Jack.

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