Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-28

wave. drifted In the sea. whose current
bore him on toward the fatal rocks.
CHAPTER XXI.
"To Be God and Able to Do Things"
When the swimmer saw tho light he
looked UP: even at the distance they
could see the lift of his face: but he did
not seem to realize that there was any
intention in the lighting. or that Il was
created for his benefit. He was manifest
ly spent with his tremendous exertions.
and with his long. heavy swim in the tur-
bulent sea. Stephens heart went cut to
him in a wave of infinite pity. She began
to shout. but her voice seemed to be
taken by the wind and thrown back high
over her head. She tried to use the trum-
pet. but-.in vain. One Of the young men
said:
LET me try it. my LADY," But it was
OF no avail; even his strong lungs and
lusty manhood availed nothing in the
teeth of the furious gale. The roof and
the whole house was now we'll alight. and
the flame roared, and leapt Stephen be-
gan to make gestures bidding the swim
mer! in case he might see her and under
stand. move round the rocks. But he
made no change in his direction, and was
fast approaching point In the tide race
when to avoid the sunken rocks would
be an impossbility. The old spectioner
accustomed to use all his wits in times
of difficulty said. suddenly:
How can he understand when we're
all atwixt him and the light. We are
only black shadows to him: all he can Sc
are waving arms. His sons caught his
meaning and were already dashing to-
ward the burning house. They came
back with piles of blazing wood and
threw them down on the very edge of the
cliff: brought more and piled them up.
f1inging heaps of straw on the bonfire and
pouring on oil and pitch till the flames
rose high. Stephen saw what was neces-
sary and stood out of the way. but close
to the old spectioner where the light fell
on both of their faces as they looked in
the direction of the swimmer. Stephens
red dress stood out like itself a flame.
The gale t@aring up the front of the cliff
had whirled away her hat: in the stress
of the wind her hair was torn down from
its up-pihning and flew wide. itsalf like
leaping flame.
Her gestures as she swept her right arm
round. as though demonstrating the out
ward curve of a circle. or raising the
hand above her head motioned with wida
palm and spread fingers back, back"
seemed to have reached the swimmers
intelligence. He half rose in the water
and looked about. AS II seeing something
that he realized. he sank back again and
began to swim frantically out to sea. A
great thrOb of JOY made Stephen almost
faint. At last she had been able to do
something to help this gallant man in
such sad straits. In half a minute the
mans efforts seemed to tell in his race
for life. He drew sufficiently far away
from the dangerous current for there to
be a hope that he might be saved, if he
could last out the stress to come
The fire began to lose its flame. though
not its intensity: and in the moderated
light Stephen only saw the white face
for one more instant ere 1t faded out of
her ken. when, turning. once again. the
man looked toward the light and made a
gesture which she did not und arstand.
He put fer an instant both hands before
his face.
Just then there was a wild noise on the
cliff. The rocket cart, drawn by sixteen
horses. came tearing up the slope, and
with 1t many men on horseback and
afoot. Many of the runners were the gen.
tlemen who had given their horses for the
good work. Thank God. the rocket cart
never lacks horses. There is no need to
use the lawful power to seize any avail
able.
AS the coast guards jumped from the
stand. the old spectioner pointed out the
direction where the swimmers head could
still be seen by him. Some Of the sailors
could see it. too: though to Stephen and
the laymen it was all invisible. The chief
boatman shook his head:
NO USE throwing a line there, Even
if he got it we could never drag him
alive through these rocks. He would be
pounded to death before twenty fathoms."
Stephens heart grew cold as she lis
Va hn wi n q
bitter cry she almost walled out:
"Oh! can nothing be done? Can moth
ing be done? Can no boat come from
the other side Of the point: Must such
brave man be lost.' and her tears began
to flow.
One Of the young men who had just
arrived. a neighboring squire, proved
wastrel. but fine hOrseman. who had
already regarded Stephen at the few oc-
casioiis. of their meeting with eyes of
manifest admiration. spoke up:
Don't cry, Lady de Lannoy. There's
a chance for him yet. I'll see what can
Bless you! oh. bless you!" she cried.
Then came the chill of doubt. But what
can you do?'' she added. daspairingly.
Hector and may be able to do some
thing together Turning to one of the
fishermen he asked:
rs there any way down to the water
in the shelter of the point?,
SAY! .ay! sir" came the ready answer.
There's the path as We get down by to
our boats. e,-
:. Come on: them he said. "Some of
you chaps show US light on the way
down. II Hector can manage the scram-
bic there's chance You see he said
turning again to Stephen, Hector can
swim like a Ash. When he was racer
I trained him In the sea SO that none OF
the :tou. s could spy out his form. +Many;s
the swim we've had, together. and in
rough water. too, though. IN none SO wild
as this!" ~ So
{ But 1t ds. a desperate chance for you"
said Stephen, womanlike- drawing some
what back from a danger She had hers alf
evoked. The young man laughed lightly:
What of that! ! may do one good
thing before die. That fine fellows life
is worth a hundred of my wasted one!
Here. some of you fellows help me with
Hector. We must get a girth on him in
stead of the saddle. We shall want some
thing to hold on to without pulling his
head down by using the bride"
The horse was soon ready. The young
squire took him by the name and he fol-
lowed eagerly: he had memories of his
own. AS they passed close to Stephen
the squire said to one of his friends:
Hold him a minute. jack He ran
over to Stephen and looked at her hard:
"Good-bye! Wish me luck, and give us
light" Tears were in her eyes and a
flush on her cheek as she took his hand
and clasped 1t hard:
"Oh, you brave gentleman! God bless
you!'' He stopped suddenly and i'm
pulsively kissed her hand and was gone.
The man and horse. surrounded by an
eager crowd of helpers, scrambled down
the rough Zigzag. cut and worn In the
very face of the cliff. Pebbles and broken