is coat.

As the words fell from his lips Tod's quick eye caught a sudden gleam
like that of a search-light flashed from beneath the heavy eyebrows of
the speaker.

"That's his name," answered Tod. "Want to see him? He's inside." The
surfman had not yet changed his position nor moved a muscle of his
body. Tiger cats are often like this.

Captain Holt's burly form stepped from the door. He had overheard the
conversation, and not recognizing the voice had come to find out what
the man wanted.

"You lookin' for me? I'm Captain Holt. What kin I do for ye?" asked the
captain in his quick, imperious way.

"That's what he said, sir," rejoined Tod, bringing himself to an erect
position in deference to his chief.

The stranger rose from his seat and took his cap from his head.

"I'm out o' work, sir, and want a job, and I thought you might take me
on."

Tod was now convinced that the stranger was a foreigner. No man of
Tod's class ever took his hat off to his superior officer. They had
other ways of showing their respect for his authority--instant
obedience, before and behind his back, for instance.

The captain's eyes absorbed the man from his thick shoes to his
perspiring hair.

"Norwegian, ain't ye?"

"No, sir; Swede."

"Not much difference. When did ye leave Sweden? You talk purty good."

"When I was a boy."

"What kin ye do?"

"I'm a good derrick man and been four years with a coaler."

"You want steady work, I suppose."

The stranger nodded.

"Well, I ain't got it. Gov'ment app'ints our men. This is a Life-Saving
Station."

The stranger stood twisting his cap. The first statement seemed to make
but little impression on him; the second aroused a keener interest.

"Yes, I know. Just new built, ain't it? and you just put in charge?
Captain Nathaniel Holt's your name--am I right?"

"Yes, you're just right." And the captain, dismissing the man and the
incident from his mind, turned on his heel, walked the length of the
narrow porch and stood scanning the sky and the blurred horizon line.
The twilight was now deepening and a red glow shimmered through the
settling fog.

"Fogarty!" cried the captain, beckoning over his shoulder with his head.

Tod stepped up and stood at attention; as quick in reply as if two
steel springs were fastened to his heels.

"Looks rather soapy, Fogarty. May come on thick. Better take a turn to
the inlet and see if that yawl is in order. We might have to cross it
to-nig