Red Key, on which the Life Saving Station stood, was virtually an island, half sand, half coral reef. It was about one-quarter of a mile in length, very irregular in its general formation, and commanded an extensive sweep of shore,—being one of a group of Keys which are so small that they rarely appear on ordinary maps. Yet it was a fairly important post, one which required the presence of a regular crew on duty at certain seasons of the year.
In addition to the building which housed two surfboats, a big chest full of signal flags, another of rockets, a Lyle gun,—used for shooting coils of rope out to a floundering ship,—and a heavy cart on which the gun could be mounted like a piece of artillery when it was necessary to drag it to another part of the shore,—in addition to this building, there was a small cabin occupied by Peter Anderson, his wife, their son Mark, and their young daughter Ruth, who, however, spent most of the time with her aunt at Santario. The men of the crew were quartered in the loft of the main building, above the beach apparatus, and they took their meals at Anderson’s cabin.
From this loft a steep and narrow staircase led up into a little tower which served as a lookout, and, in case of emergency, as a lighthouse. A big lamp, seldom lighted, hung on chains fastened to the roof of the tower.
All these details the boys learned on their first visit at the station, two days after Hugh’s arrival. Anderson himself took them over the boathouse and explained everything to them, much to their satisfaction. Hugh was impressed with the practical efficiency of such equipment, as well as with the orderly readiness for instant service which marked both the apparatus and the men in charge. Chester admired the boats which were built for contending with the roughest surf, yet capable of being easily managed by the brawny men who wielded the heavy oars. Alec and Billy, glancing at the surf guns or carronades and then at the rows of life-preservers hung upon the walls, expressed a wish that they might some time have a chance to go out in those boats to the rescue of a ship in distress, or, at least, to see the crew in action, even if they should not be permitted to join in the work.
“So you’d like to, eh?” said Anderson, chuckling grimly. “Well, I’ll remember you said so. You may have a chance one of these days,—if there’s not too much danger. Anyway, since you know all about signaling, you might be able to work the flags and communicate with a vessel in distress. Here’s a chart showing the complete flag signal code. Just run your eye over that.”
They did so, and their interest in his explanations made them indifferent to the passing of time. All the while the tide was rising steadily and, before they realized it, they found themselves cut off from the mainland by several feet of rough water which covered the connecting sandbar.
“Here’s a nice fix we’re in!” exclaimed Alec. “What can we do now? Swim ashore?”
“It’s not much of a distance,” observed Chester, measuring it with level gaze. “But the water’s pretty rough, and there’s a strong set toward the ocean. Better not risk it, I say.”
It was quite unusual for Chester to be so cautious. His companions looked at him in surprise.
“I second Chester’s motion,” remarked Billy, who had had quite enough strenuous swimming for the present.