es buoy would travel, others were getting ready
to fire the gun.

In brief, the breeches buoy is operated as follows: A small mortar, or
cannon, is used, and an elongated projectile is placed in it. Attached
to the projectile is a thin and strong line. It is coiled in a box and
placed on the sand near the mortar. The coils are laid around pegs in a
peculiar manner to prevent tangling. The pegs are then pulled out, and
the coils lie one upon the other so that the line may be paid out
rapidly.

When the projectile is fired toward the ship, the aim is to make it
shoot over her deck, carrying the cord with it. This is called "getting
a line aboard." Once this is done the crew on the vessel can, by means
of the small cord, pull aboard a heavy cable. This is made fast to the
highest point possible.

There is now a cable extending from the shore to the ship, the shore end
being made fast to the anchor in the sand. The cable is raised as high
as possible on a pair of wooden "shears," to keep it above the waves.

Running on pulley wheels, on this stout, tight rope, is the "breeches
buoy." This is literally a pair of canvas breeches, into which the
person to be saved places himself, getting into the apparatus from the
deck of the sinking ship. There is a line fast to the buoy, one end
being on shore. When the signal is given those on the beach pull, the
buoy and the person in it are pulled along the tight rope by means of
the pulleys to the beach and saved, though often they are well drenched
in the process. Those remaining on the ship now pull the empty buoy
back, and other persons come ashore until all are saved.

Sometimes, instead of the canvas breeches, a small enclosed car is used
to slide along the rope. In this car more than one person can get, and
they are protected from the waves.

"All ready?" asked the captain of the life saving crew, after he had
inspected what his men and the others helping them had done.

"All ready, sir!" came the response.

"Then fire!"

The mortar boomed, through the wind shot the projectile toward the ship,
carrying with it the swiftly uncoiling rope. All watched anxiously.

"Too short!" cried the captain a moment later, lowering the glass
through which he had watched the effect of the shot. "Use a little more
powder this time."

The projectile was hauled back through the waves, and attached to
another line, coiled in readiness, while some of the life savers busied
themselves reco