The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-16
CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VI
 Hours passed, and now the swirl ing waters reached almost to theil waists. At II o'clock the tender re- turned to the ship with passenger; from shore, it's red and green lights tantalizing as mirage as the boat passed beyond the range of theil voices. It was as if their last vestige of hope had vanished. Through the long hours, Dick had held out that promise of salvation. The tender, or it's way back to the boat, would pick them up. They would call with all their might and someone would hear them. Someone, surely. But the wind from the shore blew their cries back in their faces and the tender chug- ged on out of sight.
 Now he started to pull off his shoes. I'm going to swim for it, he told them. We can't wait here forever"
 Joyce put out a restraining hand ssWe'll all go together, Dick. You can't risk it alone"
 He took off his coat, laid it over her outstretched arm. You must stay here, Joyce. Don't come after me. In that midstream current the three of us would be swept ir every. direction. Let me go alone so that I'll know where to find you later"
 "But where will you go, Dick?' Her voice was edged with hys- teria. You can't make it to the ship.
 T won't go that way, against the current" He was taking of his vest and shirt, unbuckling his belt, q can make Hamilton. It's only half mile"
 More like a mile, boss" Oba- diah corrected.
 But Dick grasped Joyce's hand chung to it for second and then he was gone. The black waters swallowed him, and presently there was no sign of him save the sound of his swimming. And then that too was intermingled with the sounds of the night.
 Minutes they stood there, shiv- ering and more frightened now, as the inky water crept slowly higher. High in the sky star weuld now and then burn little more brightly, but it's light sent down no clarifying ray.
 Suddenly, in the stiffness, Joyce heard once more the chug-chug of the ships tender, and she knew it was returning to the shore emptied o9 its passengers. She held her breath as a quick new hope dawned. In another few minutes the boat would round the bend. Perhaps now they would hear the shouts.
 "Dicki" she called quickly Dick! The tenders coming back! If only he could get abreast Of 1t, out in the channel!
 But he did not answer; perhaps he had not heard her. He would be swimming, with his head down in the water, and he would hear nothing, not even the tender.
 "Dick!" she cried again. "The tender! Dick!"
 Once more she watched its red and green lights appear, two in- finitesimal dots in world of blackness. She felt them draw closer to the reef, only to disap- pear an instant as the boat swerved round the buoy. Slowly it chugged its way along; soon 1t would be opposite them, in mid- stream.
 "Obadiah! We must both shout now - together!" She took deep breath, opened her mouth
 Simultaneously another call came to her ears. She stopped, listening. Was it only the echo of her own voice?
 "Ahoy! A-hoy-y"
 But no. It was Dicks voice! He was out there in midstream; he was within calling distance Of the tender! Again she heard it, clear and strong on the cold night breeze Soon there were other sounds too, other voices answering his call, and she knew that the tender had sighted him. She heard its engine ston. then resume at slower mace. She saw that the red ana green lights were stationary now.
 And then she did what she had want to do all along. She let down inc barriers of fortitude and reserve and she cried. She loosed the hard sobs that were choking her; she cried long and lustily, enjoying every Later. perhaps an hour, after r,ick and two of the men from the tender had rowed out and taken them off the reef, she was back on inc Empress, it's stout, strong decks secure beneath her feet with her own kindly steWardess wrapping her in warm snip 5 h,anket and whispering words of cheer. Dick was beside hel, wrapped in a similar blanket ana exhausted though he was, ms eyes were shining with deep ne" tenderness. ,,,,o @you're the best sport girl could be
 pr. Gray stopped in to see her the first thing next morning. It was after g o'clock but she was just oe- ginning to open her eyes.
 "Well, young lady, how do you feel this morning." Her eyes widened slowly, ana memory began to dawn in them aI'm fine, thanks"