d been just
in time to see the launching of the lifeboat, as the crew put off to the
schooner.

"There ain't nothin' to worry 'bout," observed Captain Eri. "It's no
slouch of a pull off to the Hog's Back this weather, and besides, I'd
trust Lute Davis anywhere on salt water."

"Yes, I know," replied the unconvinced Captain Perez, "but he ought to
have been back afore this. There was a kind of let-up in the storm jest
afore I got here, and they see her fast on the shoal with the crew
in the riggin'. Luther took the small boat 'cause he thought he could
handle her better, and that's what's worryin' me; I'm 'fraid she's
overloaded. I was jest thinkin' of goin' out on the p'int to see if I
could see anything of 'em when you folks come."

"Well, go ahead. We'll go with you, if Mr. Hazeltine's got any of the
chill out of him."

Ralph was feeling warm by this time and, after Perez had put on his coat
and hat, they went out once more into the gale. The point of which Perez
had spoken was a wedge-shaped sand ridge that, thrown up by the waves
and tide, thrust itself out from the beach some few hundred yards below
the station. They reached its tip, and stood there in the very midst of
the storm, waiting for the lulls, now more frequent, and scanning the
tumbling water for the returning lifeboat.

"Schooner's layin' right over there," shouted Captain Perez in Ralph's
ear, pointing off into the mist. "'Bout a mile off shore, I cal'late.
Wicked place, the Hog's Back is, too."

"Wind's lettin' up a little mite," bellowed Captain Eri. "We've had the
wust of it, I guess. There ain't so much--"

He did not finish the sentence. The curtain of sleet parted, leaving a
quarter-mile-long lane, through which they could see the frothing ridges
racing one after the other, endlessly. And across this lane, silent and
swift, like a moving picture on a screen, drifted a white turtleback
with black dots clinging to it. It was in sight not more than a half
minute, then the lane closed again, as the rain lashed their faces.

Captain Perez gasped, and clutched the electrician by the arm.

"Godfrey mighty!" he exclaimed.

"What was it?" shouted Ralph. "What was it, Captain Eri?"

But Captain Eri did not answer. He had turned, and was running at full
speed back to the beach. When they came up they found him straining at
the side of the dory that Luther Davis used in tending his lobster pots.
The boat, turned bottom up, lay high above tide ma