The life savers, two stalwart youths, so bronzed as to glisten in the sun like copper models--sat on the high bench under the big beach sunshade. They could see above the heads of the crowds, far out past the danger line, and theirs was the responsibility of keeping track of every foolish boy, or more foolish girl, who ventured beyond the ropes.
At last the scouts did get together, and made a run through the wet sand, along the edge toward the fishing pier, and from there it was only a matter of crossing the street to reach the life saving station.
In a trot, popular as exercise after bathing, all four girls, Louise, Grace, Cleo and Julia started off. The far end of the bathing beach was now deserted, the hour approaching lunch or dinner always exacting the dressing process, hotel guests especially, being obliged to report in the dining-room on time.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute," begged Cleo. "I thought I saw a piece of pink coral."
"Pink coral doesn't grow around here," protested Grace. "You likely saw a blushing fish bone. Don't bother with it. You know how we made out with the pink crabs."
"Yes," put in Julia. "Let's change our color scheme. Here's a lovely amethyst shell."
The trot was started up again, heads erect, shoulders back, and elbows in--regular marathon for the beach on this perfect summer's day.
"Look here!" called Cleo. "Here's another message about--fire-bugs. See it spells: 'L-O-O-K O-U-T'" she figured it out in the sand. "There, would you ever think one would be so daring?"
They all paused to read the letters so crudely forked in the wet sand.
"Yes," insisted Julia. "There's 'bug.' Guess they didn't dare write the word 'fire'."
A lone figure on a lone bench up near the boardwalk attracted their attention at the same moment.
"If there isn't our boy!" exclaimed Louise. "Now, doesn't that almost prove him guilty?"
"No, it doesn't," objected his champion, Grace. "He's too far away--besides----"
"Any one could make letters in the sand," put in Julia. "Think of the hundreds of children who played here all morning. Come on," and she started the race again.
But they had scarcely gone a hundred yards when she stopped very suddenly.
"Oh, mercy!" she screamed. "I stepped on----"