After the apparatus had been repacked in the wagon, the casting-line carefully rewound on the pegs that it might be in perfect order when it should again be needed, and orders were given to make ready with the boat, Benny returned to the kitchen, where the cook was already at work preparing dinner.
“You’ll soon get used to that sort of thing, for it’s pretty much all drill out here, except when the weather is bad.”
“I should think they’d soon know it so well that there wouldn’t be any need of doing so much work,” Benny replied, as he set about paring the potatoes.
“They do,” the cook said with a laugh; “but just read these ’ere rules and regulations on ‘Drill and Exercise,’ an’ you’ll see that men at life-saving stations ain’t allowed to spend very much idle time. All that’s set down there is to be gone through with every day, in addition to patrolling the shore, which, as you have seen already, ain’t child’s play. Not that I’m grumblin’ about the work, for it’s well the boys are kept out of idleness; but this will show how hard they’ve got to work.”
The cook handed Benny a thin, black-covered book bearing the title Revised Regulations, and on the page exposed to view the lad read the lines given below:
“168. The following weekly routine of drill, etc., will be observed during the first month of the active season at all regularly manned stations in the Service:
“Monday.—Practice with beach-apparatus and overhaul and examine all apparatus and gear.
“Tuesday.—Practice with surf and life-boat.
“Wednesday.—Practice with signals.