Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-04-21
CHAPTER V.-(Continued.)

Al the rate they We're going, Eric
calculated that two hours would bring
them abreast Eddy's islands. II they
passed to the north, the light keeper
YOU see them. Joan's dress was
white. If they went to the south, or
between the two, there was small
chance OF their being seen, unless the
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 was blowing. and
soon the tide would come out. Waves
still ran high. but they were not S o
angry as they had been.
Eric could see that the girl was
growing weak from the strain and ex-
posure. He Was no longer able to
cheer her with his heartiest cries, She
struggle to keep her head from falling
forward, limp with fatigue.
To his despair. the current caught
them up n drew them toward the
passage between the islands. He be-
gan to pray. His whole soul cried out
w Iva AlS I'M lO SCllu -VtlSlll
onto the shoals where he could have a
chance to save the girl whose life was
more to him now han anything else in
all the world. His own strength and
vitality were fast departing; his limbs
were chilled and numb, his senses
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
keeper. Just as he was in the deepest
despair. the impulse to cut loose from
the boat and try for the rocks came
over him. He could easily swim that
distance alone. but was his strength
sufficient to do it 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 over 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 I tell you,
and we'll soon be safe. Well be able to
WduS dICeI we SeI MIIIlIl ~ yuFOS VI
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 and des-
peration.
Just as he realized that he could not
swim a 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 rock!
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 n fell ex-
hausted on the rock, dragging Joan aft
err him. Scarcely bile to move his
tired limbs. he pulled and tugged until
they We're Well out of the baffled waters
and then he rolled over on his back and
gasped for breath.
1t was the girl who first showed signs
of recuperation. She raised herself to
h SlIllllS poSIufe. supporting HeF DOOy
with her hands. and studied the limp
figure at her side through bewildered,
half understanding eyes. Her mind
worked slowly. so slowly that a full
minute passed before she realised that
he was as motionless as death itself.
hen her hand went out, timorously.
dumbly, to touch the pallid face. The
fear that was growing in her family
beating heart was dispelled almost i'm
stantly, quite before it was fully
formed: he opened his eyes at her
touch. Flo A long time they looked
into each others eyes, and then q wry
smile broke on his lips.
Gee" he said, in very shaky tones,
Il guess you've got a right to think
I'm an awful duffer."
are not dead! am so glad-so glad!"
she sobbed, clasping her hands to her
breast.
II 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, IL you had not touched me
when you did 1 should have died. I
believe I 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 var
feet to shout and dance like one bereft
of his sense
CHAPTER vi.
THE REVEALING OF SEVERAL