Orange and Green | Page 9

torrent of
foam.
"Now, Larry, keep her steady. We are as near as we dare go."
Then Walter stood up in the boat, took the keg and a foot or two of line
in his hand, and waited till the next wave passed under the boat. He
swung the keg round his head, and hurled it towards the shore. Then he
dropped into his seat, and gave two or three vigorous strokes, and,
when safely beyond the line of breakers, sat quiet and watched the
result.
"They have missed it the first time," he said. "Look! They are going to
run into the surf for it."
The group on the shore joined hands, and the next time the keg was
borne forward, in the tumble of foam, Considine ran forward and seized
it. The back rush took him from his feet, but the others held on, and
before the next wave came, the line was safely on the beach. A strong
cable was soon pulled ashore and firmly fixed. A light line was
attached to it, and the sailors at once began to pass along.
"Shall we turn back now, Master Walter?"
"We will keep near the wreck for a few minutes longer, Larry. She can't
hold together long, and maybe we can pick somebody up."
The vessel was indeed breaking up fast. Her stern was burst in, and the

waves, as they poured in at the opening, smashed up the deck. Many of
the crew had been washed overboard, and had instantly disappeared.
As the boat approached the wreck, an officer, who had climbed the
shrouds, shouted out:
"Will your boat hold another?"
"Yes," Walter shouted back. "She will hold two more."
"I will try and swim to you," the officer said.
He threw off the long cloak, in which he was wrapped, and unbuckled
his sword and let it drop, unbuttoned and took off his military coat, and,
with some difficulty, got rid of his high boots.
"Can you come a bit nearer?" he shouted.
"We daren't," Walter said. "A touch from one of those floating timbers
would send us to the bottom."
The officer waved his hand, and then sprang head foremost into the sea.
So long was he in the water, that Walter began to think he must have
struck against something, and was not coming up again; when suddenly
he appeared, within twenty yards of the boat. They rowed towards him,
instantly.
"You must get in over the stern," Walter said.
The officer was perfectly cool, and, placing his hands on the stern,
drew himself partly over it, and Walter, grasping his hand, dragged him
in. No sooner was he in, than Walter again hailed the wreck.
"We can carry one more."
But those who were still on board were huddled up in the bow, waiting
their turn for the rope.
"There is a big un coming now," Larry exclaimed. "That will finish

her."
A wave, towering far above its fellows, was indeed approaching.
Higher and higher it rose. There was a wild cry from the wreck as it
surged over it. When it had passed, the sea was covered with floating
timbers, but the vessel was gone.
"We can do nothing now," Walter said. "We daren't go in among that
wreckage, and any who get hold of floating planks will drift ashore.
"Now, Larry, back quietly, and let her drift down round the Nose. We
must keep her head to the waves."
Ten minutes, and they were abreast of the reef. As soon as they were
past it, Walter gave the word, and they rowed along, under its shelter,
to the point where they had embarked.
"Now, sir," Walter said, "we will back her up to that rock. When we are
close enough, you must jump."
This was safely accomplished.
"Now, Larry, row alongside when the next wave comes. We must both
scramble out as well as we can."
But by this time help was at hand. The boat had been anxiously
watched from the shore, and when, on the disappearance of the wreck,
she was seen to be making her way back to the Nose, Mr. Davenant,
with Considine and the priest, and the boys who had assisted in getting
her afloat, hurried along the shore to meet her, the rest of the fishermen
remaining behind, to aid any who might be washed up from the wreck.
As soon as it was seen that they intended to land at the spot where they
had started, Considine and Mr. Davenant made their way along the rock,
and joined the officer just as he leapt ashore. The boat came alongside
on the top of the wave, and as this sank it grazed the rock and capsized,
but Walter and Larry grasped the hands stretched out to them,