Tom held his nerves steady, although he was somewhat shaken. His first business was to send a response to the ship in distress. He did not know what the facilities might be for receiving on board the steamer, but he followed usage. He had no means of knowing what other stations had caught the flying cry for help. The lifesaving station was twenty miles to the north. Station Z was the nearest wireless to Garvey Rocks by some thirty miles, and everything depended on him in the present crisis.
Tom ran to the window and looked out at the storm. It was truly a fearful night. The strong blast was bending the trees almost to the ground and sending the gravel scudding along the beach like hailstones.
Aloft the heavens were one constant glow of liquid fire, and the thunder crashes reverberated as in a hollow vault. The sea was lashed into a tremendous fury, the waves sweeping mountain high and breaking with a detonating roar that added to the babel of the night.
“I wish Ben was here,” murmured Tom in deep concern. He could picture the disabled steamer vividly in his mind’s eye, the more readily because his fond girl friend was in peril.
“Y-3”—again the call came, less distinct this time, but more frantic and urgent—”ship aleak and sinking.”
“Will get help to you somehow,” flashed back Tom.
He was in a tremor. Amid the strain of undue excitement Tom’s thoughts ran rapidly. Only for a moment, however, did he remain inert and undecided.
“Something must be done!” he cried, in an excess of frantic anxiety and apparent helplessness. “But what? There is not a boat on the beach that could live in those waters—except the Beulah!”
The addendum was a shout. Tom sprang to his feet, electrically infused with a sudden suggestion.
Beulah was the name of the big pretentious gasoline launch in which Bert Aldrich had arrived in state at Rockley Cove. He had bragged mightily concerning its possibilities. Tom had seen him do things with it, too. The Beulah was a wonder as to speed and staunchness. A thrilling resolution fixed our hero’s mind. He would arouse the people, reach Aldrich and influence him to loan the boat for an attempted rescue at sea.