“Because we were so foolish as to take you then, there is no reason for committing the same fault again. You are to stay here with the cook and Fluff C. Foster. Once in a night is enough for you to risk your life when there’s no especial call for so doing.” Benny appeared positively pained, and Sam Hardy whispered to him while the others were making their preparations: “It wouldn’t be right, lad, for us to take you, even though it might be convenient, which it isn’t. We’re goin’ in the surf-boat, and there will be snug stowin’ when the full crew is aboard. If it was a case of fair weather an’ smooth water you’d have to stay behind, because we couldn’t pack you in; so look cheerful, an’ see to it that we have plenty of hot coffee on our return.” This explanation comforted the boy greatly, and he at once set about doing what he could to assist in the preparations for departure. Then, after the boat had been launched and the men pulled off on their perilous work, with Fluff in his arms he stood at the entrance of the boat-house, watching until the tiny craft was swallowed up in the darkness, and when it was no longer possible to distinguish any object upon the heaving waters the lad returned to the mess-room, there to make ready an appetizing meal for his comrades. The cook had taken advantage of the opportunity to go to bed immediately the crew returned with the beach-wagon, and Benny was in sole command of the kitchen with, as he said, “Fluff acting as mate.” Not until two hours had elapsed did the life savers return, and then they brought the life-boat with them, none the worse, so Dick Sawyer declared, for the pounding she had received upon the rocks. Benny met them at the door of the boat-house, and, as might have been expected, was eager to learn whether any serious injury had been wrought. As soon as the two boats were housed, and before they entered the mess-room, Sam Hardy gave an account of the work by saying: “We found her just inside the broken water near where you an’ I went overboard. It’s likely she’s been flung against the cliff a good many times; but, so far as we can make out, scratched paint is the only damage done. It wasn’t a wonderfully easy job to get hold of her, but once we were there for that purpose you can make certain, No. 8, that none of us were minded to let any ordinary difficulties put an end to the work. That’s all there is to the story, and it can be seen that you didn’t lose anything, except a disagreeable time, by not going with us.” While Sam was speaking the remainder of the crew had entered the mess-room, and an exclamation of pleasurable surprise burst from the lips of all as they saw the meal which Benny had made ready. “I’ve said before, an’ this proves it, that the time ain’t so far off when No. 8 will be able to pass examination as our cook,” Joe Gushing exclaimed, and Tom Downey added gravely: