Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 29, 2025
On descending to the beach the first thing our party saw was the burly figure of Coleman seated on his "donkey" by the "sad sea waves." It must not be supposed that the coast-guard-man was literally astride of a live ass!
"Run, Tommy, to the beach and fetch a friend or two. There are sure to be two of the guard within hail." Tommy was off, as he himself would have said, like a shot, and on gaining the beach almost ran into the arms of a young coast-guard-man named Supple Rodger, to whom he breathlessly told his tale.
It need scarcely be added that the sight of the coast-guard-man was the cause of the smuggler's frown. The gale was now blowing stiffly, and rolling black clouds so covered the sky that the moon was entirely obscured by them, save when an occasional break permitted a few rays to stream down and reveal the elemental strife that was going on below.
No mortal man could cross the surf on the inner rocks; but there's a point o' rocks not far to the nor'ard; does any one know how far the tide may cover 'em just now?" "About half," answered several voices eagerly. "Ay, so't does," observed a coast-guard-man, "but with sich a surf beatin' on 'em there ain't a rock on the whole pint above water this minute."
"Now, then, shove off again," cried Bax, when the last of the passengers was assisted out of her. "Stop!" cried a coast-guard-man, "some of the men are too much knocked up to go off again." This was evident, for when the lanterns were held up to the faces of the brave fellows it was seen that several of the less robust among them were deadly pale from sheer exhaustion and fatigue.
The coast-guard-man was surprised by the warmth of his friend's manner, as well as by his words; but before he could ask him what he meant, the boat was run down the beach and out to sea. An hour later old Jeph was carefully put to bed in his own cottage, by his friend Captain Bluenose.
The smuggler uttered the last sentence in deep exasperation, for the time appointed for signalising his comrades at sea had arrived, and yet that stolid coast-guard-man sat there as if he had become fastened to the shingle. "I've a good mind to run out an' hit ye a crack over yer figure-head," he continued, grasping his pistol nervously and taking a step forward.
Having done so, he asked Coleman what he thought of it. The worthy coast-guard-man scratched his nose and stared at the shingle for some minutes before venturing to reply. "I think," said he at length, "that we'll cook his goose to-night; that's wot it is." Coleman paused, and looked thoughtfully at Bluenose. The Captain nodded his head pleasantly, but said nothing, and Coleman proceeded:
Carrying him into the centre of the yard, they deposited the luckless coast-guard-man flat on his back beside the tomb of George Philpot, a man who had done good service in his day and generation if headstones are to be believed. The inscription, which may still be seen by the curious, runs thus:
It was just as the boat quitted the side of the wreck, as above described, that the rocket was got in readiness to act. "Stand by to fire," said the coast-guard-man who had been engaged for some minutes in adjusting it carefully. "Keep back! clear out o' the road," cried several of the seamen, as they pushed back the more curious among the crowd.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking