Adventure, June 1911 — page 29: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

O'Donnell, Surfman Number Six: It had happened-as they were drilling with the surf-boat. A wave, and just an ordinary sized wave at that, had rolled up on the beach at a most inopportune moment and, like many other waves, had carried before it everything in its path, incidentally throw- ing the heavy boat on to Edward Baker, Surfman No. 6, and breaking his leg. This leg at that time was doubly precious, for it furnished a good part of the power which enabled Baker to kick his way through the water to many victories in various swim- ming contests. Besides his ability as a swimmer, Baker was able to cover a foot or so more at the standing broad jump than the average man, and consequently was a man valuable for other purposes than those for which he was drawing pay from Uncle Sam. But while it may seem to you a matter of little moment—this accidental breaking .of a surfman’s leg, which would mend in the course of a month or so at the least—it was a matter of great importance to the members of the Zachs Inlet crew. If they had not already made their boasts regard- ing the capture of a certain cup, presented by a retired lieutenant of the Revenue Cutter Service who had once been the Assistant Inspector for their district and was still interested in the service, which was to be contested for on the first day of the inactive season by the three crews on Oak Island, they would not have taken it to heart so badly, and now—well, they might finish a poor third. They could do no worse. At first, when they had hauled Baker ashore and discovered the broken leg, their chance had not seemed so seriously im- paired. To be sure, they were sorry that he had been so unfortunate, but broken tegs are not dangerous, and they knew ofa man who could replace the injured man. That was one oftheir first thoughts. Get Charley Suydam to substitute, for substi- tutes were eligible to contest, and there would be no weakness in their team. But then along came the Superintendent’s let- ter, coldly stating that as Baker would be off-fer-an-.indefinite period, he was inclosing ‘the list of eligible surfmen for Keeper Rorke to select from, and would thank the Keeper to make his selection immediately. And that eligible list! Of the five men on it none was*known to the crew of Zachs Inlet Station, which made matters worse, if they could be any worse. It was simply a question of choosing blindly, and after hearing the views of the crew, Keeper Rorke and the No. 1 man, Jim Reynolds, had gone into executive session in the Keeper’s office. Finally the scraping of chairs being pushed over the floor was heard and then the office door opened and the Keeper stepped into the boat-room, followed by Reynolds. Forestalling the questions that were sure to come, he said: “Well, boys, Jim and I have done the best we could, There were two Swedes, one Dutchman, and two Amer- icans on the list and we’ve picked one of the Americans. nell. He must have Irish blood in him. That’s about the only reason we took him. I never saw an Irishman, or a half-Irishman for that matter, who wasn’t good at some- thing.”” Perhaps the Keeper was influenced by his own ancestry, for he boasted that many of his ancestors had kissed the Blar- ney Stone. So it was eetiled, and forthwith the list was returned to the Superintendent with the information that William O’Donnell had been selected by Keeper Rorke to fill the vacancy at the Zachs Inlet Life-Saving Station. e§ O’Donnell had been notified to report for duty, never had a new surf{man’s arrival excited so much interest. Even Charley Hulse, the most irresponsible and happy-go-lucky member of the Zachs Inlet crew, gave up the pleasures of twenty- four hours’ leave ‘on the mainland in order to be present when he appeared. Numerous were the conjectures as to his size, weight, and ability. Somehow the im- pression had arisen that this latest addition to their ranks would be a great, husky six- WHEN the day came upon which ‘footer, although their reasons for assuming so could not have been given; and hopes had even been expressed that he would be able to handle the hammer and shot, two of the events in which thé Zachs Inlet crew were not particularly good, but for which _they were compelled to make entries in the coming contest. Great was the disappointment, then, to those who had been watching a small-sized sailboat as it gradually neared the beach and was finally anchored in front of the Go DOOLKS ANUC (C@ a15= Name, William O’Don- _