The National tribune., 1881-09-24

thought of the dear friends who at this moment
were probably looking towards them. The sun
set of evening was everything save the re-
lentless breakers whose thunder came more and
more loudly on the ear.
"Ha" cried Jack suddenly, "what an idiot
have been-the stone!" and he hurriedly caught
up from under seat where it had lain hid the
great stone which they used as an anchor when
fishing. Until that moment it had been un-
needed. The rope was loose, but he fastened it
to the seat, and flung the stone, which was now
almost their only hope, over the side with all
possible speed. Down. down it went through the
gray-green water checking the boats progress
in some degree before the rope became taut.
Would it reach the bottom? and if it did, would
it drag or become fixed? and would the old rope
stand the strain of the current? Nellie watched
him with heaving Breast, one hand clutching the
seat while the other mechanically waved the sig
nal of distress. No; Jack gave a grOan as he saw
that the rope was not long enough; the stone
was not at the bottom; still, it very much stayed
their progress. They were now being carried
along at quarter of their former speed. Yet he
saw that nearly all hope was gone. There were
sails in sight, but at great distance, while the
white line Of foam was not three hundred yards
away He could do no more he did not know
how to say anything cheering to her. At last he
told her that there was some chance yet, for
nearer the breakers the water might grow more
shallow, and the anchor find holding ground.
From which Nellie knew that all other hope was
gone and gave shuddering glance at the waves,
that more and more boisterOusly leapt up against
Of baH
in the still water nearer the shore. Nearer and
nearer, until the thunder of the waves falling on
the sunken rocks seemed to fill the air. and the
boat rocked up and down perilOusly. Vaguely
she saw her companion writing something inside
some leaves of his pOcket-bOOk, and mailing the
little packet to the seat of the boat with his knife
Then he leant over towards her. where she
crouched rather than sat, her eyes fixed upon the
waves, that struck the side with more and more
violence.
Nellie, let me take your hand. My darling"
he went on, holding the cold trembling hand
firmly in his own, it will not be very bad. Shut
your eyes and don't watch the water"
The girl did as she was told, and bowed her
pale set face at the white line now close at hand
dark up above, but beyond the reef, the CLEAN
of the lighthouse now appearing and disap-
pearing So they sat a few moments waiting for
the end, while the darkness gathered. and the
thunder of the breakers grew louder and louder.
Then COlwyn noticed that they were getting
nearer Had the anchor caught? No. The hope
died away almost soon conceived, and he
saw that the current was carrying them no lon
ger straight upon, but rather across the front of
the reef and towards the centre of the mouth of
the harbOr. 1t gave them few more minutes
before the end; the struggle in the rough water
might last little longer than in the foaming
surge, but the end would come and it would be
the same. He did not tell Nellie of the change
She still sat- and he clasped her hand trying only
to comfort her by his presence, until he saw that
the boat would certainly clear the reef.
1--WE have passed the breakers, Nellie; but we
are going into the broken water. The boat must
soon be swamped, yet we may cling to it for some
time, and may possibly be saved yet"
She looked up at his first words with a white
quiveripg face but he could not give her look
abreast of them and the great rollers which raised
1ne DOlI up anu uONl Ike 1t COchltSucIl anu ulu
at times everything from them but the dim gray
stretch of heaving water and the revolving light
above she shudderingly said:
"GOod-by."
Then, with the faintest pressure of his hand
she bent her head again upon her knees.
He passed one hand round her, that they /
might not be parted when the boat went from
under them-and then he saw that they were /
saved There, there, hardly two hundred yards I
from them and coming down through the gloom
looking twice its size, was fishing smack. The /
keeper of the light house had observed them and
their signal, and given the alarm at BOddam
HarbOr the rescung smack had stolen upon its .
errand of mercy, hidden from them by the .
breakers until the little boat passed beyond the .
latter Colwyn doubted if his craft would ride .
until the other came up, though he hoped to be
able to keep Nellie and himself afOat. But he |
was not to save her life. The little vessel flOated
bravey until the other was within few yards;
then Colwyn turned to his companion.
"There is hope; there is life. Thank God,
Nellie! Look up!"
She did and tainted; she was but a woman
after all.
The rescuers pitched rope to them, and soon /
they were safely on board. Nellie recovered in
no long time and in a couple of hours they were
being driven back to Peterhead and their friends /
The road was difficult and the drive long; and /
NolI;o l,oI +;ma to thipl- with n Of +I,oco