"Lumber-laden, boys and her deck load's broke loose!" shouted one man.
The surf roared in upon the sands, and then sucked out again with a whine which made Ruth shudder. The sea seemed like some huge, ravening beast eager for its prey.
"How can they ever launch the boat into those waves?" Ruth asked of Heavy.
"Oh, they know how," returned the stout girl.
But the life savers were in conference about their captain. He was a short, sturdy old man, with a squarely trimmed "paint-brush" beard. The girls drew nearer to the group and heard one of the surfmen say:
"We'll smash her, Cap, sure as you're born! Those planks are charging in like battering rams."
"We'll try it, Mason," returned Cap'n Abinadab. "I don't believe we can shoot a line to her against this gale. Ready!"
The captain got in at the stern and the others took their places in the boat. Each man had a cork belt strapped around his body under his arms. There were a dozen other men to launch the lifeboat at into the surf when the captain gave the word.
He stood up and watched the breakers rolling in. As a huge one curved over and broke in a smother of foam and spray he shouted some com-
