The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-04-22
I'LL TIL I'M
CHAPTER v.-(Continued.)


At the rate they were going, Eric
calculated that two hours would brint
them abreast Eddy's islands. II they
passed to the north, the light keeper
would see them. Joan's dress was
white. II they went to the south. oil
between the two, there was small
chance Of their being seen, unless thu
keeper was watching the sea CLOSELY
with his glass. Their brightest hope
lay in the possibility that they might be
driven into the shallow waters covering
the unseen approach to the reefs. Eric
knew the waters we'll. He had gone
there dozens Of times with the FISHING
boats.
The sky was now clear. and a hot sun
beat down upon them; the storm was
rollicking far ahead OF them. A steady
wind from the shore vas blowing, and
soon the tide would come out. Waves
still ran high. but they were not SO
angry as they had been.
Eric could see that the girl was
growing weak from the strain and ex-
posture. He was no longer able to
cheer her with his heartiest cries, She
looked wan and ready to give up the
struggle to keep her head from falling
forward. limp with fatigue.
To his despair, the current caught
them up and drew them toward the
passage between the Islands. He be-
gan to pray. His whole soul cried out
to God, imploring Him to send them
onto the shoals where he could have q
| chance to save the girl whose life was
more to him now than anything else In
all the world. His own strength and
vitality were fast departing; his limbs
were chilled n numb, his senses
dulled and sluggish with h drug OF
weariness.
He could see that they would drift
past the upper end OF Little Eddy, per
haps 100 yards from the visible rocks.
The broad, heaving ocean lay directly
beyond. 1t was clear to him that they
had not been observed by the light
keeper. ust as he was In the deepest
despair. the impulse to u loose from
the boat and try for the ock came
over him. He could easily swim that
distance alone, but was his strength
sufficient to do 1t with the almost dead
weight OF the girl as a burden?
Eric was always quick to act. He
| was cool, but he was daring. The
thought was father to the act. He
drew up his stiffened legs and began
TO unlace his shoes, first rolling his
trousers up to the knees. Kicking off
the heavy shoes, he clambered Owe the
boat and set to work releasing Joan.
She was faint. but conscious Of his
action.
I'm going to swim In with you, Joan.
Don't be afraid. Do just as 1 tell you,
and well soon be safe. Well be able to
wade after we get within 20 yards OF
the rock"
She followed his instructions to the
best Of her ability, and soon he was
struggling frantically toward the ugly,
f~orbidding wall of rock, swimming with
all the power that was left in his racked
young body. Many a stronger SWIM
er that he would have failed in the at
tempt, but a strange, unnatural vigor
came to his aid. born Of pride n des-
peration. - ~. P
Just as he realized that he could not
swim q stroke farther, and the goal still
many yards away, his numb feet struck
against hard substance. He involun-
tarily, even recklessly, allowed them to
sink In the hope Of touching bottom.
He was on the shelving rockl
Still there were many yards to ira
verse, and he would have to carry her
all the way, battling against the small
but stubborn breakers. How he COW
cred the distance, stumbling, falling.
scrambling, he never could have told,
but after what seemed an hour, he
crept out of the breakers and fell ex-
hausted on the rock, dragging Joan aft
er him. Scarcely able to move his
tired limbs, he pulled and tugged until
they were well out of the baffled waters
and then he rolled over OF his back and
gasped for breath. ,
It was the girl who first showed signs
of recuperation. She raised herself to
a sitting posture. supporting her body
with her hands, n studied the limp
figure at her side through bewildered.
half understanding eyes. Her mind
worked slowly, so slowly that q full
minute passed before she realised that
he was a. motionless as death itself.
Then her hand ven out, timorously,
dumbly. to touch the pallid face. The
fear that was growing in her family
beating heart was dispelled almost in
stantly, quite before 1t was fully
formed; he opened his eyes at her
touch. For a long time they looked
smile broke on his lips. .
"Gee," he said, In very shaky tones,
ST CUES you've got q right to think
I'm an awful duffer."
I'll though you were-Oh, Eric, you
are not dead! I am so glad-so glad!"
b sobbed, clasping her hands to her
breast, w.. ~.
"I-T didn't dare to look at you,
JOAN" he murmured hoarsely. a spasm
OF pain convulsing his face. Il was
afraid you hadn't come through all
right. oh. If you had not touched me
when you did l should have died. I
believe / held my breath for an hour.
Thank God, thank God!"
He sat up beside her, touched her
hands, her face with his fingers. A
smile Of relief, OF actual glee, spread
over his face like an illumination. He
drew a deep breath, as she smiled. wan
ly in return, and then staggered to his
feet to shout and dance like one bereft
OF his senses.