The two men whom the lad had saved now came forward as if to give words to their thankfulness, but Keeper Downey prevented any further conversation by saying sharply: “Captain, you will get your people together and start them at once for the station. No. 8 will show the way, and see to it that you are provided with dry clothing.” The captain looked around as if asking who No. 8 might be, when Joe Cushing cried: “He’s that whifflet in front of you, captain. It may seem strange that a lad of his size is a member of a life-saving crew, an’ it’s true he don’t figure on the list; but all the same he has his place with us, an’ always will till he himself shall want to leave the service.” Benny’s face was crimsoned when he turned to conduct the rescued party along the coast, and he walked some distance in advance fearing lest further praise might be bestowed upon him. Before having gone a dozen yards he heard Tom Downey say to the cook: “Follow on, my man, for the chances are those people will need something warm; but you’ll remember that No. 8 is in charge until I get back.” This was the height of honor, so Benny believed, and he no longer thought of the medal which might possibly be his, because of the fact that the keeper had shown most conclusively that he was a member of the crew of equal standing with the others. CHAPTER XIII. “NUMBER EIGHT.” Although he had remained on duty since the previous afternoon, and, counting the time spent in the city with Sam Hardy, had been without rest full forty-four hours, Benny insisted on doing his equal share of work in the kitchen when the crew and passengers of the stranded steamer arrived at the station. It was so late in the day, and the crew yet had so much labor to perform, that there would not be time in which to make the necessary arrangements for sending into town until the following day those who had been rescued from the steamer, therefore the station was a scene of bustling activity. The officers and crew of the steamer were to be given a hearty meal before they joined the life-saving crew in patrolling the shore on the lookout for such wreckage as might be driven in from their craft, and after that had been done the passengers must be cared for. “With the addition to our family of thirty-eight, work here in the station will be right lively,” the cook said to Benny when the latter, after providing with dry clothing such of the rescued as were in need, presented himself in the kitchen; “but for all that I can run the concern without calling on a boy who hasn’t been in bed since night before last.” “I’m no more tired than any other member of the crew, and want to do my share,” Benny insisted. “I’d be a pretty poor No. 8 if I couldn’t hold my own with those who have done twice as much work.” “You’ve kept even pace with all hands, accordin’ to what I’ve heard, an’ it’ll please me better to see you in the other room taking care of Fluff C. Foster.”