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

and childS voice that sounded harsh
through the monotonous hum of bees:
ITO be God. and able to do things!
Oh! to be God. If but an hour. and be
able to do things! To do anything to help
brave man! A wild prayer sursed up
In the girls heart:
It to me to atone for the other de-
stroyed! Let me but help him. and do
with me as Thou wilt
The passion of her prayer seemed to
help her. and her brain cleared. Surely
something could be done. She would do
what she could. but first she must I'M
derstand the situation. She turned again
to the old harbor master:
How long would ii take him to reach
the headland. IL he can swim so far?"
ton. bearing hope with l.:
The wind and tide are wi him. an
he's a strong swimmer. Perhaps half an
hour will take him there. He's: all right
alack. it's when he gets there his trouble
will be. when none can warn him. Look
how the waves are lashing the cliff. and
mark the white water beyond. What
deeps? How could he see if even one
were there to warm"
Here was a hope at any rate. Light
and sound were the factors of safety.
Some good might be effected If she could
get a trumpet, and there were trlmpets
in the rocket cart Light could be had
must be had. II all the fences round the
headland had to be gathered for bon
fire! There was not moment to be lost.
She ran to the rocket cart and got a
she ran to where she had left her horse.
She had plenty of escort. for by this
time many gentlemen had arrived on
horseback from outlying distances, and
all offered their services. She thanked
them and said:
I,a f,,1 oil
these are ashore send on the rocket cart,
and come yourselves to the headland as
quick you can. Tell the coast guards
that all those saved are to be taken to
the castle. have given orders for their
housing. In the rocket cart bring pitch
and tar and oil, and anything that will
flame. Stay!' she cried to the chief boat
man. Give me some blue lights" His
answer chilled her:
I'm sorry. my lady, but they are all
used. There are the las. of them burning
now. We have burned them ever since
that man began to swim ashore
Then hurry on the rocket cart" she
said. as she sprang to the saddle. and
the cliffs. following in bold curves the
windings of the shore. The white Arab
seemed to know that his speed was max
ing for life, and covered the rough road
understanding the groom. who followed
on quickly as he could. Stephens heart
went out in silent words. which seemed to
keep time to the gallop:
''Give me this mans life. oh. God! Give
me this mans life. to atone for that noble
one which l destroyed!
Faster and faster. over rough road, cat
tie track and grassy sward; over rising
and falling ground; now and again so
close to the edge Of the high cliff that the
Ike snowstorm, the Arab swept round
the curve OF the bay. and came out on
the high headland. where stood the fish
er's house On the very brink of the
cliff all the fisher folk. men. women and
children. stood looking at the far-off
burning ship, from which the flames rose
in columns. The black smoke, pressed
down by the storm. covered the white
topped waves as with mantle Of mourn
ing.
So intent were all on the cliff that they
did not notice her coming; as the roar
Of the wind came from them to her. they
could not hear her voice when she spoke
from a distance. She had drawn quite
close, having dismounted and hung her
rein over the post of the garden paling.
when one Of the children saw her. and
cried out:
1.-The lady. the lady! an she's all in
red" The men were SO intent on some
Thing that they did not seem to hear.
They were peering out 70 the north. and
were arguing in dumb show as though on
something regarding which they. did not
agree She drew closer. and touching the
old fisherman on the shoulder. called out
at his ear: ia -
What is it," He answered without
turning. keeping his eyes fixed:
II say it's a man swimrnin'.' Joe and
Cargo here say as it's only piece o
wood or sea-wrack. But I know I'm
right. Would I ha' been aspectioner In
the old Greenland days had l ,no been
able to tell pack o sea-wrack from a
fioatin' spar. an either from a head. be it
of seal or walrus or sea-iioE. or man! No!
No! That's a man swtmnin'. or my old
carried convictions: the seed of hope in
her beating heart grew on the instant
into certainty. The thought. Gained her.
and she said quietly so as not to disturb
him:
1T is man. / saw him swim off to-
ward here when he had taken the rope
on shore. Do not turn, round. Keep your
eyes on him SO that you may not lose
sight of him in the darkness" The old
man chuckeld.
no differ to spectioner between light and
dark. But I'll watch him. It's yons my
lady! l shan't turn round to do MY rev
erence as you tell me to watch. But.
The Skyres will have him. sure enow."' /
I'VE can warn him. she said. when
he~ccmes close enough have trumpet
here!" He shook his head. sorrowfully:
"Ah! my lady. what trumpet could
sound against that storm an from this
height. The only trumpet he'll ever hear
will be Gabriel's. calling him." Stephen $
heart sank and she grew cold. But there
was still hope. II the swimmers ears
could not be reached. his eyes might.
Eagerly she looked back for the coming
OF the rocket cart. Far off across the
deep bay she could see its lamp sway as
1t passed ever the rough ground; but.
alas! 1t would never arrive in times With
a note of despair in her voice she asked:
How long befers he reaches the
rocks?" Still without turning the old
man answered: =. '-5~- .Sas,a
"At the rate he's going he will xbe in
the sweep Of the current through tile
rocks within three minutes. If hes tosbe
stream grips him." .5''-+->'
would there be time to build a bon
f1re?''
mo. no. my lady The wood couldn't
catch in the time!' ~
For an instant a black film of despair
seemed to fall on her and shut out all ma
ture to her eyes. The surging of the
blood in her head made her dizzy. and
once again the prayer of the old memory
rang in her BRAIN
"Oh. to be God. and to be able to do
things!''
On the instant an inspiration flashed
through her. She. too. could do things
In a humble way. She could do some
thing at any rate. If there was no tim
to build fire. there was a fire already
built. The house would burn!
The two feet deep of old thatch held
down with nets and battened with wreck
timber would flare like a beacon. Forth
. with she spoke.