Part 16 (1/2)

”In less 'n an hour after we got 'em ash.o.r.e the tug capsized 'n' went to pieces. The old schooner stood it out better, but she was pretty much a wreck, too, when the weather cleared. We'd our work to do, 'n' we done it. Jest the same, I've allers had a feelin' as if there was as much to be said for the fishermen, 'n' the train-hands, 'n' the cap'n o' the tug, 'n' all the rest that j'ined in.

”It's the biggest rescue on the lakes, but there's nothin' more wonderful in it to me than the way it shows how everybody gets in 'n'

gives a hand when help is needed. Don't ye ever forget, in times o'

need, that ye've only got ter call, 'n' some one's goin' to hear. An'

ye're like enough ter need help in the life-savin' business. I ain't saying as storms is as bad now as they was, but there's enough of 'em still ter keep any crew right on the jump.”

”I'll remember, Mr. Icchia,” the boy replied, ”and I'll be mighty proud if I can ever do half as well. I'm proud enough, now, just to be given the chance.”

The old man knocked the ashes from his pipe on his h.o.r.n.y and weather-beaten hand and answered,

”As long as there's life-savin' to be done, there's goin' ter be life-savers to do it. I don' hold with none o' this nonsense ye hear sometimes about the world gittin' worse. If ever I did get that idee, I'd only have to go 'n' look at a surf-boat, 'n' I'd know different.

It's a good world, boy, 'n' the goodness don't lay in tryin' to be a hero, but jest in plain bein' a man.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: GOLD LIFE-SAVING MEDAL.

Given only in recognition of heroism wherein loss of life was risked by the rescuer.

Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard.]

CHAPTER V

SAVED BY THE BREECHES-BUOY

The last words of the old keeper, ”Goodness don't lay in tryin' to be a hero, but jest in plain bein' a man,” rang through Eric's mind, many and many a day after, when, on his own Coast Guard station, he had to face some difficulty. His post chanced to be in a somewhat sheltered spot, and thus gave him an opportunity to become a good oarsman. His work with the volunteer corps had made him a first-cla.s.s swimmer and a fair boatman. The government service, however, he found to be a very different matter. There, efficiency had to be carried to the highest degree.

He s.n.a.t.c.hed every opportunity, too, to get ahead with his studies, and luck came his way in a most unexpected shape. It happened that quite near the Coast Guard station was the hut of a queer old hermit sort of fellow, called ”Dan.” He had been a life-saver many years before, but in a daring rescue had injured his back, and could never enter a boat again. In those days there were no pensions, so for forty years and more he had made a living by inventing riddles and puzzles, tricks of various kinds, and clever Christmas toys. His especial hobby was mathematical puzzles. He used to drop into the station quite frequently, for he was very popular with the men.

”Dan,” said Eric to him one day, ”I don't see how you can be so interested in that stuff. It's the bane of my life. I'm nailing as hard as I can to try and get in shape for a Coast Guard exam., and I simply can't get hold of the mathematics end of it.”

”Why for not?”

”Don't know enough, I guess,” the boy answered. ”I'm right up on everything but mathematics, but that gets me every time. I know there's some sense in it, but I can't see it. Everything else I've got to study I can find some interest in, but mathematics is as dull as ditch-water.

How you can find any fun in it, I can't see!”

This was like telling a painter that color had no emotion, or a scientist that science had no reasonableness. The old puzzle-maker gasped.

”No fun!” he exclaimed. ”It is the mos' fun in the world. I show you!”

Pulling from his pocket a pencil and an old envelope he drew a baseball diamond, and marked the positions of the players. Eric's interest arose at once, for he was a keen baseball fan. As the sketch grew the old man talked, describing a queer entanglement of play.

”Now!” said the old man, ”what shall he do?”

The boy, judging from his knowledge of the game, made a suggestion, which the other negatived. As soon as the boy made a guess, the other showed him to be wrong. Eric, really interested in the baseball problem, cudgelled his brains, but could find no way out.

”I show you!” the old man repeated.