E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 22998-h.htm or 22998-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/9/9/22998/22998-h/22998-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/9/9/22998/22998-h.zip) JANET OF THE DUNES by HARRIET T. COMSTOCK Author of Joyce of the North Woods, A Son of the Hills, Etc. [Illustration: JANET. _Frontispiece_] Grosset & Dunlap Publishers :: :: New York Copyright, 1907, By Little, Brown, and Company. All rights reserved LOVINGLY I Dedicate this Book TO CARRIE LOUISE SMITH. HER FRIENDSHIP WAS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, A LIGHT TO ME UPON MY WAY. THE CHART SHE SAILED BY WILL GUIDE MY COURSE AND BRING ME, I HOPE, AT LAST, TO THE HARBOR WHERE SHE HAS GONE. HARRIET T. COMSTOCK. FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN, N.Y. June 15, 1907. PREFACE In this story of the dunes, the Hills and the Light, I have not attempted any character drawing, although on the easterly shore of Long Island there are many people who have retained, together with the plain old English names which they brought with them by way of Connecticut and Rhode Island, a simplicity and sturdiness of character not to be found elsewhere, I believe, so near the great cosmopolis, and which is worthy a place in song and story. It has been my good fortune to mingle for many summers with these kindly folk, and particularly with a little group of gentle, rather bashful and silent men forming a crew, with their captain, of one of the United States Life Saving Stations. It is my hope that this story, if it does nothing else, will in some small measure enhance the not-too-strong interest in which the poorly paid, obscurely enacted heroism of the men in this service is held by the general public. They have not the advantages, like our soldiers and firemen, of dressy uniforms and frequent parade before us. They would be greatly embarrassed by anything like public homage; yet how beneficent is their service! The lonely isolation of the Government Houses; the long, ofttimes dangerous patrols every night from sunset to sunrise; their detachment from home and social ties,--all speak for the dignified bravery of these men along our coasts, and should call forth from us a grateful and appreciative tribute. HARRIET T. COMSTOCK. FLATBUSH, BROOKLYN, N.Y. JUNE 12, 1907. ILLUSTRATIONS Janet Frontispiece page "The two men stood spellbound before the easel" 117 "'What do you know of my mother?'" 187 "'They're on the outer bar! Two rockets! I've answered!'" 267 JANET OF THE DUNES CHAPTER I