Part 34 (2/2)

”A girl!” echoed Belle.

”Yes; can't you see her long hair?”

All the girls were standing up--even Cora, who had to bend over to maintain her grip on the steering wheel. They all peered anxiously toward the floating object.

Certainly that was a figure on it--a figure of a girl--sea-drenched and washed over by each succeeding wave.

”She's tied fast to that raft!” cried Bess.

”And her head is up on a sort of box--that keeps her mouth out of the water,” added Eline. ”Oh, but she looks----”

”Don't say it!” commanded Cora, sharply, and Eline stopped.

”Oh, if only the boys were here!” breathed Bess. ”They could help us--help her,” and she motioned to the limp figure on the raft.

”We don't need the boys!” exclaimed Cora, sharply. ”We can make the rescue ourselves. That is if----”

”Don't say it!” commanded Eline, thus ”getting back” at Cora.

”Oh, do steer over there!” begged Bess, as Cora did not seem to be bringing the motor boat quickly enough toward the raft of spars. ”We must get to her!”

”I am going to,” answered Cora.

”Oh, do you suppose she can be from the wreck?” asked Belle.

”I think very likely,” spoke Cora.

”Those spars--they are from the s.h.i.+p,” declared Rosalie. ”They are broken pieces of the masts, perhaps. Some one must have made a raft before the vessel broke up, and she lashed herself to it. I have often heard my father tell of such things.”

”Oh, do get her, Cora!” exclaimed Belle, clasping her hands.

”Don't go too close,” warned the lighthouse maid. ”Some of those spars have jagged ends, and a b.u.mp would mean a hole in your boat, Miss Kimball.”

”Don't, for mercy's sake!” voiced Bess, clutching Cora's arm.

”And don't you do that to my arm or I can't steer,” came the retort. ”I'll be careful.”

As the motor boat came nearer the girls could see more plainly the figure on the raft. It was that of a young girl, with light hair, that was now darkened by the sea water. She seemed to have wrapped herself in some blankets, or rugs, tying them about her waist, and then had lashed herself fast to the spars, or some seaman had done it for her.

She sat with her head against a box, which seemed to be nailed to the raft, and several turns of rope were pa.s.sed about this in such a manner as to maintain the girl in a half-reclining position.

The waves broke over the lower part of her body, but her head was out of the water, though whether this had been the case when the raft was in the open sea was a question. Clearly much water must have washed over the raft, and perhaps the buffeting of the waves had rendered her unconscious.

”Look out!” warned Rosalie, as Cora sent the boat in a graceful sweep toward the raft. ”Don't go any nearer.”

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