What a welcome it was which Benny received from Fluff when they finally arrived at the station and the beach-wagon had been hauled into the boat-house! The tiny dog capered, and barked, and yelped until it seemed as if he realized how great had been the danger to which his master was exposed, and so violently loving were his demonstrations that Benny could not make any headway at changing his clothing until after having devoted a certain time to his pet. Then the dog greeted each of the men in turn, and Joe Cushing said as he took him almost affectionately in his arms: “You an’ No. 8 make up such a team, small though you are, as I never had the good fortune to see before.” [Illustration] A pot of steaming coffee was on the stove, and the cook spread on the table such provisions as were most conveniently at hand, in order that those who were forced to go out on the coast again to do patrol duty might refresh themselves without waste of time. Once the men had put on dry clothing it was as if all previous dangers were forgotten, and Sam Hardy suggested that they man the surf-boat in order to go in search of the life-boat. “She’ll pound herself to pieces on the rocks ’twixt now an’ mornin’, whereas by a bit of hard work at this time we may save her, an’ in so doin’ prevent it from bein’ said along the shore that we allowed such a craft to be wrecked.” Tom Downey hesitated; he questioned whether he was warranted in risking human lives to save what might be replaced by an expenditure of dollars and cents, and perhaps would have turned a deaf ear to Sam’s suggestion, but that every other member of the crew evinced a strong desire to make the attempt. Their record for saving life and property was exceptionally good at the Department, as every man knew full well, and to get such a black mark as must be set down against them in case the life-boat should be lost, was anything rather than pleasing to contemplate. “I claim that we are not warranted in taking the chances,” Downey said slowly and thoughtfully; “but if you fellows are so set on it, we’ll make the try.” As he spoke Benny began to overhaul the spare oil-skins--the suit he wore when they set out before having been thrown off when he with Hardy leaped into the water--, and Downey asked sharply: “What are you about, lad?” “There’s another small coat here somewhere,” and Benny hurriedly tossed over the assortment of waterproof garments. “Well, and what if there is?” “Didn’t you say we were to go for the life-boat, sir?” The crew laughed heartily, as if there was something exceedingly ludicrous in this question, and Benny looked around in astonishment. “Do you count on going with us?” Downey asked, as soon as he could control his mirth sufficiently to speak. “I thought you would let me, sir, seeing as how I went the first time.”