"'What were ye thinkin', ye scut?' says I fiercely.
"He dropped one foot on the other and looked me between the eyes. 'I was thinkin' we wud go afther her and save her,' says he, very bould.
"I cast me eyes over the bunch of little felleys and laughed. But me bould Tad didn't wink. 'There's people out there drownding,' says he. 'We've dhrilled and we know all the ropes; but we can't pull our skiff across the bar and the big boat is not for us, bein' the keeper's orders. And we haven't the weight to pull it anyhow.' And he stared me out of me laugh.
"'There's no seagoin' craft in the harbor,' I says, to stop his nonsinse.
"'There is another launch,' he remar-rks casually.
"We looked at each other and he thin says: 'Can ye run a gasoline engine?'
"'I have had to,' I infor-rms him, 'but I dislike the smell.'
"'The owner of this launch is not here,' says me young sprig. 'And he niver tould us not to take it. If you'll run the engine we'll be off and rescue the folks on the Gladys!'
"Be the saints! I laughed to kill mesilf, till the little brat up and remar-rks to his gang: 'These lighthouse officers wear a unifor-rm and have no wor-rkin' clothes at all, not needin' thim in their business.'
"So I parleyed with thim a momint to save me face. 'And how will ye save thim that's dyin' in deep watthers?'