Part 31 (2/2)

There was a flash in the sky. It was not lightning, for there was no thunder storm.

”See!” exclaimed Eline.

”The lighthouse,” ventured Norton.

”The light is over there,” and Ed pointed to the flas.h.i.+ng beacon in a different direction.

”Then it's a rocket from some s.h.i.+p in danger,” declared Walter. ”There goes another!”

It was unmistakably a rocket that went cleaving through the blackness.

It came from off the lighthouse point.

”Some s.h.i.+p is in danger, or maybe off her course,” spoke Jack. ”Well, we can't do anything, and there's no use getting any wetter. Come on to bed, fellows.”

”Oh, the poor people--if that is a wreck,” murmured Bess.

”If it was only daylight we might witness some rescues,” said Cora. ”But at least let us hope it is nothing serious.”

It was Rosalie who brought the news next morning. Through the driving rain she came to the girls' bungalow, her face peering out from beneath a sou'wester that was tied under her chin, her feet barely visible beneath the yellow oilskin coat.

”There's a wreck ash.o.r.e!” she cried. ”I thought maybe you might like to see it! It's out in front of our light, and they're bringing the crew ash.o.r.e!”

”Can they save them?” asked Cora, clasping her hands.

”Most of 'em, I guess. Want to come?”

”Of course we'll go!” cried Eline. ”The boys won't want to miss this!”

CHAPTER XXII

THE RESCUE

Green ma.s.ses of foam-capped water hurling themselves on the sand--thundering and pounding. A spray that whipped into your face with the sting of a lash. The wind howling overhead and picking up handfuls of wet sand, scattering them about to add to the bite of the salt water.

The rain pelting down in torrents. A dull boom, repeated again and again. The hissing of the breakers. And, out in the midst, out in a smother of water, gripped on the sharp rocks that now and then could be seen raising their black teeth through the white foam was the s.h.i.+p--a wreck.

It was this scene that Cora, the other girls, and the boys saw as they hurried out to the lighthouse point. And it was one they never forgot.

They had hurried out when Rosalie brought the news that in the storm of the night a three-masted auxiliary schooner had come too far insh.o.r.e despite the warning of the light.

”Father was up all night tending the lantern, too!” she shouted--she had to shout to be heard above the roar. ”I helped him,” she added. ”But in spite of it the schooner worked in. She couldn't seem to steer properly.

We could see her red and green lights once in a while. Then the current caught her and nothing could save her. She went right on the rocks. Her back's broke, Captain Meeker of the life guards said.”

”Can they save the people?” Cora inquired, as she pulled her raincoat more tightly about her, for the wind seemed fairly to whip open the b.u.t.tons.

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