The Florida agriculturist., 1889-08-21
CHAPTER XVI.-Continued.


all circumstances, her horror and despair
at the situation-the real gravity Of
which she was, however. probably far
from recognizing-had relapsed into
sort of lethargic state, half reclining on
the narrow seat, motionless, and seem
ingly unconscious of the water that was
dashing over her. This passive attitude
was doubtless the best for all concerned
that she could possibly have assumed.
The Judge perhaps suffered more than
any of the party; for he felt himself
mainly responsible for the affair, and the
idea of death stepping between him and
Pauline at such juncture was almost
more than he could bear. Pauline, alone,
was apparently perfectly cheerful and
composed. She even felt pleasant ex-
hilaration in the face Of the imminent
danger Theexertion Of bailing had put
her in warm glow from head to foot;
and though she saw that her labor was in
effectual she maintained it with unfalter-
ing resolution. They were now within a
mile of the light house, and as soon as they
passed under the lee Of it they would be
comparatively safe. But 1t was ques-
ton whether the boat would hold out SO
long, and just then an unforeseen catas-
trophe occurred.
AS Pauline stopped to fill the bailer,
the little vessel gave a sudden lurch to
leeward. throwing the girl forward on
her knees in the bottom Of the boat.
The judge reached out quickly to save
her from going overheard; in doing so,
the tiller was thrust over: the boat came
directly before the wind, the sail jibed,
and the boom, as it swung to starboard,
struck the Judge on the head, and
Knocked him into the water. At the
same moment wave came over the
stern and deluged the seat room. The
end seemed to be at hand.
But Pauline was not woman to be
vanuuished without a struggle. AS she
sprang up and seized the tiller. her
mind was perfectly clear as to what
should he done The boat had already
fallen off, and was broadside to the
wind; she put down the helm, and
brought her up in the winds eye, rap
idly hauling in the sheet as she did so,
and giving it a turn round the cleat.
Then she bent her gaze on the dark con-
fusion Of waters in which the judge had
sunk
1t was ten to one that he had been car
ried to leeward and out of reach But
one circumstance, Of which Pauline was
not aware, operated in her favor. There
was strong tide running out against
the wind; and when the judge rose his
head appeared within foot Of where
Pauline sat- She stretched over toward
him, grasped him by the sleeve of the
coat and drew him toward her. Though
half stunned by the blow he had re-
ceived, he managed to get his arm over
the gunwale, and, wave coming to his
assistance. he half scrambled. half was
thrown into the bottom of the boat
Once there. his remaining strength for
sock him. and he lay unconscious. Pau
line did not attempt to relieve him; she
had her hands full of other matters The
boat was almost in sinking state, and
they were still more than half mile
from port.
She watched her chance heedfully to
come about for to ship another wave
like the last one might be fatal The
boat obeyed her helm promptly, and set
off with plunge and roll towards her
destination. During the pause she had
drifted some distance to leeward, SO that
she was now sailing with the wind very