“When we came alongside Downey explained to the skipper what was like to be the condition of affairs an hour later; but couldn’t beat any sense into his head. He refused to allow a single passenger to leave, although many of them were anxious to do so; but asked again that we send another message into the city for tugs,” Joe Cushing replied. “It seems that the craft hasn’t taken ground so badly but that she could be pulled off with her own engines, by the aid of a couple of tugs, an’ the master declares she’ll stand more poundin’ than she’s likely to receive this night, all of which may be true. Just as we were leavin’ he asked the keeper to have the crew on hand in case he decided later to land with his own boats.” “With his own boats in this surf!” Sam Hardy exclaimed. “Ay, that’s what he allowed. Of course Tom Downey told him it couldn’t be done, an’ said all a man might to dissuade him from makin’ such an attempt. Then we came away, an’ Sam, you know as well as I, that now there’s no crew in this or any other country that can put out across the shoal an’ get back with their boat.” “Know it, of course I do!” Sam Hardy cried, and then for ten minutes or more the two surfmen discussed the situation angrily, but without making matters any better, save perhaps it might be that their own minds were relieved by much talking, after which Joe Cushing went on patrol again. When he was gone Benny asked: “Are we to stay here, sir?” “Ay, lad, until we starve, unless Tom Downey orders us in.” The wind was piercing cold, and the two on the shore were exposed to its full force while they remained where it was possible to keep the steamer in view. Sam urged Benny to find a sheltered spot where he might be partially screened from the wind; but the lad refused, saying decidedly: “I have been ordered here, sir, the same as you were, and I’ll do what any other member of the crew would in my place.” “All right, No. 8; but I hold to it that there’s such a thing as havin’ too much grit. You want to toughen up; but you’re goin’ too strong at the start. If you’re bound to hold on, keep pace with me while I trot around here a spell.” Then the two paced back and forth along the rocky coast nearly an hour when, although constantly expecting it, they were startled by the steamer’s shrill whistle. Three blasts blown, and Sam Hardy exclaimed: “He’s come to his senses at last; but when it’s too late! Now, whatever happens, he’ll say he was ‘unlucky,’ although we know it was nothin’ but sheer willfulness.” “What are we to do?” Benny asked, as if thinking they must immediately set to work in an attempt to answer this call for assistance. “That’s for the keeper to say. If I was in his place I’d get the beach-wagon over here, for the boats are of no use.” “Sha’n’t I run back toward the station so’s to help them in case they’re comin’ with the cart?” “No, Benny. Our orders were to stay here, an’ here we’ll wait.”