Once on deck he let down a length of rope, and Sam Hardy was soon released from his temporary prison. “I reckon I’d better get back to the station right away, or I’ll be getting into more mischief, like some youngster,” the surfman said grimly as he shouted to the crew of a small boat at hand to take him ashore. The captain of one of the wrecking tugs came alongside at this moment, and, seeing Sam, cried. “Don’t be in a hurry, Hardy. I’m going to have a look at the cargo, and you’d better go with me. It’ll be interesting to find out how well it was stowed.” “Do you know what she’s loaded with?” “Pig-iron.” “It won’t interest me to see it, and, besides, I’ve been down in the hold quite a spell already.” “How are things there?” “To tell the truth, I didn’t see very much; I had business of my own before I’d been there many minutes. You’ll need a lantern.” Then Sam went over the rail into the boat which had come alongside to take him off, Benny following close behind as a matter of course, and when the two were on shore again the surfman said: “It would have been odd if I’d dropped onto that metal without doing myself some serious injury. There’s no longer any question, lad, but that you pulled me out of a bad place.” “I’m glad,” Benny replied emphatically. “Accordin’ to my way of thinkin’ there’d be more reason for gladness if I had never been such a bloomin’ idiot as to go down there.” “Perhaps so, sir; but, so long as you did, I’m glad I was the one who pulled you out, for it’s likely to be the only chance I’ll ever have of doing you a favor.” “I’m not so certain of that, No. 8, if you stay around the station as long as we’ll be glad to have you. In this life of ours there are many times when a fellow’s mate can do very much toward savin’ his life, an’ you’re just the kind of a comrade who can be depended upon to do pretty near the right thing at the right time.” Never since the morning when he first found himself in the life-saving station had Benny felt so proud and happy as at this moment, and he walked by Sam Hardy’s side unable to speak because of the great joy in his heart. CHAPTER XV. LIVELY WORK. When Sam Hardy and Benny returned to the life-saving station no mention was made regarding the misadventure on board the wreck, although the former described in detail to his comrades all he had seen on or around the steamer. Benny’s greatest fear was lest the cook might question him so closely that it would become necessary to remain silent or betray the secret, and then the crew would understand that the two had had some unpleasant experience. Fortunately, however, all hands applied to Sam for information, and he was able to lead the conversation into some other channel whenever anything was said regarding the hold of the steamer. Then some sailors from one of the tugs came into the station, and the crew no longer showed any desire to learn what Hardy and No. 8 had seen, much to the relief of the latter.