The volunteers ran in till those ahead were neck deep in the sea. Then
the boat floated clear and, with a mighty shove from behind the surfmen
pulled out.
Lawford and his mates staggered back with the gear. The lifeboat
lifted to meet the onrolling breakers. The men tugged at the oars.
Somebody screamed. Those ashore saw the white gash of a split oar.
The man in the bow went overboard, not being strapped to the seat. His
mate reached for him and the banging broken oar handle hit him on the
head.
The boat swung broadside and the next instant was rolling over and over
in the surf, the crew half smothered.
The spectators ran together in a crowd. But Lawford and some of the
men who had helped to launch the boat rushed into the surf and dragged
the overturned craft and her crew out upon the beach.
"One of the crew with a broken arm; another knocked out complete with
that crack on the head," sputtered Cap'n Jim Trainor. "Two of my very
best men. Come on, boys! Who'll take their places?"
Lawford was already putting on the belt he had unbuckled from about one
of the injured surfmen.
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