The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-09-10

But the wine of the sea was in Kath-
crimes blood. She rounded another
fat rock triumphantly.
"Carefulr' cautioned Ashton.
"AfraidT' she tainted, with upllfted
chin, and then laughed as scarlet
surged across his keen young face
N'Saii where you likel 1 don't care!
he cried.
you think" she scoffed recklessry,
chat just because I'm a girl I can't
manage my own boat Why, round
ing these rocks is perfect game for
me! I've done 1t lots OF times. OF
course know the summer people are
warned against 1t. But I'm not sum
mer person at heart. I'm what Cap
tain Davy calls regular salt. and l
allow no mutiny on the part of my
crew. So there. And whoever ac-
cepts my invitation to sail accepts the
risks that accompany it. Sing no.
sing no, for sailors life. sing no.
sing no, for a.
They both knew what had happened
when the boat Jared from bow to
stern, knew 1t before the bitter sea wa
ter dashed In their faces as they strug-
gled toward a fat rock that uprose
from the sea. When they reached it. it
was the girl who spoke first.
'WellY' she said gamely, and then
beneath her breath, IF l had had
sense enough to obey!'
If l had only jerked the tller from
your he said In answer. But neither
OF them spoke what was uppermost in
their minds.
No hope to try for the shore, with
its steep cliffs where the water rolled
and eddied, and the rock on which they
stood was always covered at high tide.
Already the water ooZed and gurgled
about its crevices. With every wave
1t rose a fraction higher. The tide
was coming in.
"If only some one would see us"
whispered the girl some passing boat
or The words died in her throat.
The lonely expanse of water showed
no hopeful sail. Ashton was staring
at a speck that showed in the far dis
tance-Deerhave island. When he
spoke all the boyishness was gone from
his voice.
There's only one way, Katherine.
Would you rather l tried for 1t. or
shall we stay here together"
I'D rather you tried for It," she
said bravely, seeing as well as he that
there was not moment to lose.
you can watch my coat and shoes
till l come back" His voice rang
cheerfully. I'm in splendid practice
swan couple Of miles only the da y
before yesterday" He did not add
that Captain Davy had followed with
a dory. Keep up your heart, girl"'
he cried. with a touch of his old gay
ETY..
and you She would have cheer
ed him on. but words failed her.
"I'll remember that It's for you I'm
swimming, The biggest breakers in
the world won't make me forget
that"
He waved her goodby as If he were
off for a pleasure jaunt, and she
watched him as he struck out square
ly, making every stroke count.
The long swing of the seas rolled
between them, widening the space un-
til her straining eyes could discover
him no longer. The water Tapped aud
gurgled about the rock on which she
stood. rising ever higher. There WAS
hungry in the way the lit
tie waves crept up, reaching greedily.
She tried to think of other things, to
watch for sail From far away
came the sound Of surf breaking slow
~ against the reefs and now and
again the mournful lonely note OF the
bell buoy.
Slowly the water rose. 1t touched
her ankles, her knees. The lift of
each oncoming wave nearly took her
off her feet At that new panic seized
her. If she were swept from the rock,
what then? Gropingly and numb with
cold she reached for the long growths
of sea Weed with which the rock was
covered. Heightened out they came
almost to her shoulders. She twisted
her hands In them and waited.
There came the moment when the
water reached her shoulders, and each
new wave made her shut her eyes and
breathe gaspngly. She had long since
given up hope of rescue. There re-
manned but one thought-that what
ever came she must stay where they
would find her
After all. drowning was not so bard
After the first deep strangling breath
she felt herself slipping into uncon-
Snatches of past events.
trivial and vivid, shone' before her for
& moment; then all merged into the
blackness that closed her round.
When she opened her eyes she met
the anxious gaze of Ashton bending
over her She wondered dimly If he
belonged to the old life, and then his
voice. perturbed and human. came To
her ms from great distance
"a moment more" he was saying
land we would have been too late"
Then with a start 1t all came back
to her-al that had occurred She
raised her head. Captain Davy was
sitting In the stern of the rescuing
boat looking both triumphant and con.
cerned
Guess your aunt will be pretty glad
to have you back" he beamed And