240 THE JERSEY COAST. 



over the sand hills in imitation of a ship's light, and 

 thus inveigling vessels ashore." 



" I 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'd stave it in for them pretty quick 

 if I was there, law- or no law." 



" It 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 



