THE JERSEY COAST. 119 
over the sand hills in imitation of a ship’s light, and 
thus inveigling vessels ashore.” 
“IT can only say I have never heard of it. As 
quick as a vessel comes ashore, the insurance agent 
is telegraphed for, and he takes charge of everything. 
Why, we even buy the wrecks and pay well for 
them, too. Now and then something is washed up 
like that coal in front of the house, but it is not 
often.” 
“ What do you mean by the stations ?” 
“They are houses built by the Government and 
placed at regular distances along the beach. The 
gun, and rope, and life-boat, and life-car, and all 
other things that are needed in case of shipwreck, 
are kept in them. Then there is a stove and coal 
ready to make a fire, for if a poor wretch got ashore 
in mid-winter he would soon freeze if he couldn’t get 
to a fire. And if the man who has charge of the 
station lives two miles off across a bay that he can’t 
cross in a bad storm, what can the poor half-drowned 
fellows do, if they are too much benumbed to break 
open the door? I dstave it in for them pretty quick 
if I was there, law or no law.” 
‘“‘Tt is a shame that a matter like that should not 
be free from politics.” 
‘So it was once,” Bill went on fluently; for on 
this subject he felt that his family had a right to be 
eloquent ; “at one time some department had it in 
charge that never would either appoint or remove a 
man on political account; but that is all changed 
now, and the men are expected to go out with every 
