Darry the Life Saver | Page 7

save others.
There's some satisfaction in that. But there sits Abner on that old keel
of a wreck; suppose you go and tell him your story, and see what he
says."
When the boy joined him Abner Peake looked up, and the solemn
expression on his face changed to one of kindliness.
"Set down, lad. Are yuh feelin' all right agin after your rough time?" he

asked.
"A little sore in the arms still, but that will pass away soon. Mr. Frazer
told me you wanted to hear my story."
"If yuh don't mind tellin' me. I reckoned as how yuh must 'a' had a hard
time. Now, I ain't never been away from this here coast, but I feels for
boys what's out in the wide world. Still, there's some hope o' them
comin' back tuh the nest agin, some day. Now, go on, lad," with a
long-drawn sigh.
Again did the homeless Darry start in to narrate his brief career, so far
as it was known to him; and the old surfman listened with a tear in his
eye, as he told of his abandonment in a foreign port, and the hard time
he had getting enough to eat.
Finally it was all told, and Abner Peake laid a hand on his arm, saying:
"Don't say yuh ain't got a home, any more, Darry, if so be yuh'd care to
stay at my place. The missus ain't the easiest one in the world tuh get
along with, but soon as she sees what a likely chap yuh be I know she'll
like yuh, same as I do. Try it awhile, lad, until yuh kin make your mind
up. My Joe used tuh make a tidy lot of money trappin' animals in the
swamp for ther skins, huntin' turkles like them terrapin they pay sech a
big price fur, an' actin' as guide fur the shooters as come down along
the coast after ducks and snipe and bay birds. No reason but what you
could do the same. Only try and git on the good side of the ole woman,
to begin with, lad. She's got a heart, tho' there's some as don't believe it.
I know she's still a feelin' bad because Joe was taken from us."
"It was hard to lose him, your only boy," said Darry, consolingly.
The man shook his head dolefully, and bent a wistful look toward the
open sea.
"Yes, it was tough; but I reckon he's safe in the harbor long afore now.
What say, lad, be yuh of a mind to try it with us?" he continued eagerly.

"I will, and only glad of the chance. It is kind of you to make me the
offer, and I only hope I may be able to please your wife. I'll do
everything I can to take the place of Joe, although, of course, I couldn't
expect to do that altogether," replied Darry.
"Say, yuh make me feel better, already. Seems to me as if I heerd little
Joe aspeakin' to me from somewhere. I'm goin' crost the bay to-night,
lad. It's my turn for a day off, an' I'll take yuh with me. I reckons his
clothes'd just about be the right fit fur yuh."
So it was settled.
Darry felt easy in his mind now, much more so than he had been ever
since finding himself adrift on shore, like a vessel without an anchor.
No matter how humble, it would be home to him, for he had no
memories to haunt him, and bring about discontent.
There was the village near by, where possibly he might meet boys of
his own age; and what Abner had said about the pursuits by which Joe
had been accustomed to making odd bits of money appealed to him, for
he believed he had something of a love for outdoor sports in his nature,
since he had never neglected to take advantage of a chance to use a
fishing line, when the brigantine happened to be in one of the world
ports to which business called her.
But above all he gloried in the fact that occasionally he would have the
opportunity to visit the station on the outer beach, where those hardy
men patrolled every night, and stood ready to go to the assistance of
any imperilled mariners.
After supper he accompanied Abner to the little landing where a stout
rowboat was fastened.
Into this they dropped, and Darry immediately seized upon the oars, to
the secret amusement and satisfaction of the life saver, who was quite
willing to let him display his ability in this important line.

"Yuh sure pull a good, strong stroke, lad," he declared, after they had
been upon the bay for some time, Darry taking his bearings from a
bright star