Company, and Amy Russell went regularly to sea with
her husband. Bluenose was afterwards appointed coxswain to a lifeboat
on the coast of Kent where he rendered good service in many a wild
storm, and was the means of snatching many a fellow-creature from the
devouring sea. His friend Coleman happened to be on the coast-guard
station near him; and many a pipe did these two smoke together, under
the lee of the boat-house--spinning yarns of other days, chiefly
connected with the sea and shipwrecks. Old Coleman had had considerable
experience in rough, coast life, and was well able to speak on such
subjects. The records of the Lifeboat Institution show that about
one-third of the medals and rewards granted for meritorious services are
awarded to men of the coastguard. Old Coleman was one of those who had
taken his full share of the dangerous work of saving life. He was also
gifted with that rare quality--the power of telling a story well, so
that he and Bluenose became fast friends and constant companions during
their residence on the Kentish coast.

Similarity of tastes and desires drew other members of our tale
together, besides Coleman and Bluenose. Old Mr Summers and Mr
Clelland, the dark passenger in the "Trident," found such a strong bond
of sympathy existing between them, that they took cottages in
juxtaposition in the town of Deal, and went about continually "doing
good." Mrs Foster, Lucy, and Guy were allies, as a matter of course.
Rodney Nick improved somewhat in his character, and became a respectable
boatman. People said that Mr Burton, the missionary to seamen, had
something to do with this improvement. It is not improbable that he
had. But Long Orrick died as he had lived,--a notorious and
incorrigible smuggler.

Peekins was changed from a tiger into a clerk; and, in process of time,
came to keep the books of that celebrated firm in which he had
originally figured as a spider in blue tights and buttons.

Bax and Tommy sailed together for several years. They also engaged in
mercantile ventures to China on their own account, and were so
prosperous in their career that they realised ample fortunes, and
finally settled near each other on the coast of Kent.

Here they resumed their old career of saving human life. They became
noted as men who were ready to devise and prompt to act in cases of
emergency. They helped to man the lifeboat in their neighbourhood when
occasion required. They were the m