“Sartin. Let’s come down now.”
From the kitchen or living–room, on the first floor, one passed directly into the large boat–room; and that immediately proclaimed the nature of the building, and also the work of its occupants. In the center, was the surf–boat, twenty–six feet long. At the stern and bows, were air–chambers.
“That long steering–oar is twenty–two feet long, isn’t it? Somebody said so.”
“This was worn about the body under the arms”(p. [197]).
“Yes. Walter. It gives me a tremendous purchase when I set in the starn to steer.”
“Of course you have six oars, and then there are two spare ones.”
“Jest so.”
Each oar was stamped, “U. S. L. S. S.,” whose translation is United States Life Saving Service. On each seat was a cork jacket, consisting of two rows of cork blocks secured to a belt of canvas. This was worn about the body under the arms.