CHAPTER XIX.
THE DECISION.
Although Mr. Bradford's advice and willingness to take charge ofBenny's business had given great relief of mind to all concerned, thefears of the crew concerning the future were by no means dispelled.
When the gentleman had stated so positively that several weeks mustnecessarily elapse before the question could properly be settled, evenBenny felt as if a great load of care had suddenly been removed; but onthe following morning, after the men had had time to view the matterfrom every point, there appeared much in it which was not pleasing.
"It's just like this," Sam Hardy said to Joe Cushing when the two metbehind the engine-house for a private conversation on the morningfollowing Mr. Bradford's visit. "It's just like this: If Andrew Fosterturns out to be some crusty old curmudgeon who's bound to have his ownway, he'll insist on Benny's goin' to him the very minute he finds outwe want to keep the lad, therefore it stands us in hand to keep mightyquiet as to our wishes."
"Well, supposin' he does claim the lad?" Joe Cushing replied hotly."I've thought this thing over a good bit since Mr. Bradford left, an'have made up my mind that, so far as I'm concerned, No. 8 is at libertyto stay with us if he says the word. What's the reason he won't make asmuch of a man while stoppin' here as if he was in York State? I go infor tellin' Andrew Foster that we haven't got the time to run aroundhuntin' up his relations; but we count on keepin' the boy who was givento us by the sea."
"The rest of the crew wouldn't agree to anything quite so strong asthat," Hardy suggested thoughtfully.
"What's the reason they wouldn't? Dick Sawyer, Henry Robbins, andHenderson said not half an hour ago that they'd back me in holdin' onto the lad, never mind how many uncles flashed up."
"What about Downey?"
"He wants to keep Benny with us, an' would come out strong except thathe's afraid it will work the boy some harm in the future."
"Was that why you wanted me to come out here?"
"Yes; I counted that you'd agree with us, an' we might settle thequestion without waitin' for what Mr. Bradford may pick up in the wayof information."
"I reckon it'll be wiser to wait, Joe. There's plenty of time to take abold stand after we know whether Andrew Foster really wants the boy, orif he's sayin' so simply because he thinks folks will make queer talkif he don't."
Joe Cushing was by no means satisfied to follow this advice; buthe could not persuade Sam Hardy to do as he had proposed, and theinterview came to an end.
During the week which ensued the members of the crew talked often,one with another but not in a body, regarding what should be done incase Benny's uncle demanded that the boy come to him, and the generalopinion appeared to be that the decision ought by right to be left toNo. 8 himself.
As a matter of course no one suggested such an idea to Benny. He wasgiven to understand that everything depended upon the informationprocured by Mr. Bradford, and a most anxious time it was to him.
More than once he referred to the matter when alone with Sam Hardy, butthe surfman refused to discuss it, and only to Fluff could he pour outall that was in his heart. That he would run away rather than go tothis uncle, who had written concerning him as if he was no more thana bale of merchandise, he told Fluff again and again, and in order tobe prepared for such a move, Benny questioned the cook concerning thesurrounding country, until the latter believed it his duty to informthe keeper.
"The lad is makin' ready to give us the slip if it turns out that thecrew believe he should leave," the "captain of the kitchen" said to TomDowney. "From what I've seen of him there's no doubt in my mind butthat he'll do it rather than go to this uncle of whom he never heardbefore."
Because of the fear that Benny might be tempted to do somethingdesperate in case the information Mr. Bradford received was of such anature as warranted a careful consideration of Andrew Foster's claim,it was decided that the lad be kept in ignorance regarding what thegentleman might succeed in learning until the crew could weigh thematter well in joint discussion.
It so chanced, however, that Benny himself was the first to hear fromMr. Bradford, and the crew were thwarted in their good intentions bythat piece of mechanism known as the telephone.
The boy was alone in the station on the fifth day after Andrew Foster'sletter was received, and, hearing the bell ring, answered the call.
"Hello!" he cried, replying as he had often heard Mr. Downey, andthen, placing the receiver to his ear, he awaited the message.
"Is this the Life-Saving Station?"
"Yes, sir."
"Who's at the 'phone?"
"It's me--Benny Foster."
"Hello, Benny, how is young Foster? It is Bradford who is speaking."
"Fluffy is very well, thank you. All the crew, and even the cook, areoutside, sir. Shall I call any one?"
"Perhaps it will be as well if I speak with you first, and then we'llhave a word with the keeper. Heard anything from your uncle?"
"No, sir, and I hope I sha'n't. Say, Mr. Bradford, would you go tohim if you were in my place and had such a good home as this, whereFluffy can do almost whatever he wants to? You know some folks think adog ain't nice to come into the house, and I don't know what the poorlittle man would do if he was sent into the shed or a barn to sleep."
"So you're having it very comfortable out there, eh?"
"Indeed we are, Mr. Bradford. Maje has got through bothering Fluff, andthe men are as kind to me as if we was own folks. I'd feel awful bad togo away; but that's what I'll have to do if Andrew Foster says I mustlive with him."
"Ain't thinking of running off are you, Benny?"
"That's just what Fluff and I have made up our minds to do, sir, thoughI wouldn't like for you to tell Mr. Downey. We'll never go off withfolks we don't know."
"Your uncle might give you a much better home than you have now, Benny."
"He couldn't do it, sir. No one would ever be as good to me as are themembers of this crew, and, what's better than all the rest, I can earnmy own way here--everybody says I do."
"Then you've quite made up your mind not to leave the station?"
"Oh, sir; I'll have to leave if the men decide that I must, but neitherFluff nor I will go to Andrew Foster."
"Then where do you count on going?"
"That's what we don't know, sir. I was coming in first to ask you wherewe might find a place to work for enough to pay our way."
"Would you like to hear what your uncle has to say regarding thematter?"
"It won't make any difference to us, sir; we won't go to him."
"What I mean is, would you like to hear the letter read which I havejust received from him?"
"Does he say I've got to go where he lives?"
"Listen while I read, bearing in mind that I wrote the day afterleaving the station, explaining how you were situated, and asking if hebelieved it was best to take you from those who were willing to assumeall charge. The letter has just been received, and you shall hear it:'I am in receipt of your favor of the 4th, and it pleases me to learnthat my nephew, for I have no doubt as to his being my brother's son,has found such good friends. I am not really in a position to give ayoung boy that care which he should have, and would never have writtenasking that he be sent on, but that I deemed it my duty. I am an oldman, living alone with servants, and of such a disposition that evenmy only brother could not agree with me. If the boy is comfortableand happy, and I can be assured the life savers will give him propercare, he shall receive from me the sum of two hundred dollars eachyear in quarterly payments, dependent only upon his writing me atruthful account of his situation at least once every twelve months,but not oftener. In case you are willing to burden yourself with thetransaction of the business, I shall be glad to leave everything inyour hands, agreeing to do in the premises whatever you may believe tobe right, providing I am not called upon for more than I have statedherein.' That is the letter, Benny, exactly as he wrote it, and I haveread every word."
No. 8 stood with the receiver pre
ssed tightly to his ear, a look ofperplexity on his face, and after a long pause asked hesitatingly:
"Didn't he say anything more, sir?"
"I can't see but that he has covered the subject fully, my boy."
"But does he still think I must go where he lives?"
Benny could hear Mr. Bradford laughing, and he wondered why thegentleman should have thought there was anything comical in a questionso important to him.
"Are any of the crew within call?" Mr. Bradford asked at length.
"I think Mr. Hardy is in the oil-room, sir."
"Tell him I am at the 'phone."
Sam was coming toward the station when Benny opened the door, andon being told who desired to speak with him, he hurried forward, anexpression of anxiety appearing on his face.
There was a decided change in his countenance five minutes later, andthen he dropped the receiver very suddenly to grasp Benny's hands.
"It's all right, No. 8! The whole matter is settled in great shape, an'I'm beginnin' to think Andrew Foster is a decent sort of an old fogyafter all."
"Am I to stay here?" Benny cried, trembling violently because of theprolonged suspense.
"That's exactly what you are to do, my boy, and your uncle will pay twohundred dollars a year towards puttin' you through school in propershape."
"I don't want him to pay us anything so long as we can stay here,"Benny replied quickly, tears of joy and relief welling up in his eyes.
"But it's right he should do it, No. 8, an' it shows that he's got adecent heart, even though it may be moss-grown. Now you are one of us,an' it'll be strange if seven able-bodied men can't provide one littlelad with food, lodgin', an' schoolin', particularly since he earns agood deal more'n he costs."
Then Sam ran to the door, shouting for the members of the crew at thefull strength of his lungs, and in a few moments all were gathered,waiting to learn the reason for the sudden summons.
It was a difficult matter for the surfman to tell the storyintelligibly; but after a time he succeeded in making his comradesunderstand that there was no longer any cause to fear that No. 8 mightbe taken from them, and then ensued such a merrymaking as, perhaps, nolife-saving station has ever witnessed.
The men congratulated each other, then Benny, and, finally, Fluff, whohad been sitting up begging for information--or sugar; and when thishad been done, went through the same ceremony again and again, untilTom Downey declared that such "crazy antics must come to an end," lestsome visitor should suddenly appear and think the crew had gone mad.
Nor were they wholly quieted down when Mr. Bradford arrived early inthe evening, and then the reading of Andrew Foster's letter arousedthem to yet more noisy hilarity.
Amid all the confusion Benny was strangely quiet. He held Fluff pressedtightly in his arms, and gazed first at one and then the other in sucha serious fashion that Mr. Bradford finally asked:
"What is it, Benny? You don't seem to be as happy as I had expected?"
"Happy, Mr. Bradford! Fluffy and I are so happy that we don't dare tomake much noise for fear we'll wake up and find it's all been a dream.No dog and boy in this world ever had it so nice as Fluffy an' I, andit makes us almost frightened for fear we shan't do enough to keep thecrew glad all the time 'cause we're here."
"We're not afraid that you won't do enough, No. 8," Tom Downey saidgravely. "The greatest trouble is that you may try to do too much. Weare the ones who should fear lest we fail in giving you all the chancesother boys enjoy. We count on seein' that you have a good education,and then if it so happens that you believe the life-saving service isgood enough for you, we'll be satisfied; but we're countin' on yourmakin' such a mark in the world as will puff us all up with pride."
Benny made no attempt to reply; he did not dare trust his voice, and atsuch a time tears would have shamed him; but he put Fluff on the floor,ordering him to "stand up," and the two remained erect for severalseconds, silently giving thanks for the great kindness and lovingtenderness displayed toward these homeless ones.
* * * * *
It would be a pleasing task to depict Benny as he advances throughlife, winning the praise and admiration of those around him for thesterling qualities displayed; but as yet he has not made very muchprogress in carving for himself a name.
He is now at school, and Fluff remains at the station, happy all thetime, but particularly so from Friday night until Monday morning, whenhis young master "comes home" to the station.
No. 8's teachers report that he is a studious, well-behaved boy, andboth Sam Hardy and Joe Cushing declare whenever the subject is broughtup, that if he so desires, Benny shall "get all the schoolin' that's tobe had for money."
Yes, he received the medal of honor for life-saving, when hissuccessful work on the night the crew were taken from the strandedsteamer had been properly represented at headquarters, and every Sundayhe and Fluff wear their decorations, much to the satisfaction of theirguardians, the men of the Life-Saving Service.
DECK-PLAN OF A SELF-RIGHTING LIFE-BOAT, SHOWING THE MANNER IN WHICH THE GEAR IS STOWED.
_Boat and Gear._]
_List of Articles Shown._
1. Anchor. 2. Cable. 3. Bow heaving-line or grapnel-rope and grapnel. 4. Drogue-rope. 5. Stern heaving-line. 6. Veering lines. 7. Veering lines. 8. Jib outhaul or tack. 9. Mizzen-sheets. 10. Drogue. 11. Life-buoy. 12. Loaded cane, heaving-line, and tub. 13. Tailed block. 14. Pump-well hatch. 15. Deck ventilating hatches. 16. Deck ventilating hatches. 17. Foot-boards for rowers. 18. Side air-cases. 19. Relieving tubes and valves. 20. Samson's post. 21. Thwarts. 22. Central batten, to which the masts and boat-hooks are lashed.
GENERAL RULES OBSERVED IN STOWING THE ABOVE GEAR.
1. Every rope made securely fast to a thwart by one end, the other endbeing kept clear for immediate use.
2. Each rope coiled, as much as possible, under a seat.
3. Each rope coiled in a loose coil, so as to allow the air to haveaccess to all parts of it.
REGULATIONS.
1. The keepers of life-boat stations will be held responsible to theGovernment for the proper care and order, cleanliness, and efficiencyof the life-boat, and everything pertaining to her.
2. The keeper of each life-boat station will frequently open thedoors and windows of the boat-house; keep the pump-well hatch andventilating-hatches of the boat open when the boat is not in use; andoften examine such of her gear as would suffer injury from dampness,and dry it by exposure to the sun or wind. He will exercise properprecautions against the warping of the oars by their remaining long inone position, and see that they are not left supported only at the ends.
3. The keeper will keep all the boat's gear as far as possible in theboat, except the lantern (which has first to be trimmed and is onlywanted for night service) and the life-belts, so that no delay maytake place in handing gear into the boat when going on service, and norisk be run of leaving anything behind.
4. The ropes and other gear of the life-boat must on no account be usedfor private purposes, nor, where avoidable, for any other purpose thanthat for which they are provided.
5. Whenever any small articles are injured or destroyed, they shouldbe instantly repaired or replaced, and the Superintendent of thedistrict informed accordingly; and when any ropes or other articles ofimportance are worn-out or destroyed, the fact should be made known atonce to the Superintendent.
6. Whenever the life-belts have been wet through with salt water,they should be dipped and washed in fresh water if practicable, andperfectly dried as soon as possible, their durability, without repair,much depending upon this being done.
7. Where there is a carriage to the boat, the wheels should betaken off at least twice a year and the axle-arms greased and theroller-skids should be kept in good order by oiling their axle-boltsoccasionally.
8. The life-boat will be manned by the keeper, a bowman, and as manyboatmen as the boat pulls oars, and the keeper will have charge of theboa
t as coxswain.
Transcriber's Notes:
Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominantpreference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.
Many words are in dialect and have not been changed.
Simple typographical errors were corrected; occasional missing andextra single- and double-quotation marks remedied.
Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained.
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