Part 23 (1/2)

”I know,” was the brief answer. ”That's my business as well as yours, my friends; so I'll take my chance.”

”There talks a man!” said the keeper, heartily. ”Give him a sou'wester, and let him take his chances, as he asks, in Ford's place.”

And, in briefer time than we can picture, the two lifeboats were swung out of their shelter in the very teeth of the driving gale, and manned by their fearless crews, including Father Tom Rayburn, who, m.u.f.fled in a huge sou'wester, took his place with the rest; and all pushed into the storm.

At Last Island all hope seemed gone.

”One last shot, my boy!” daddy had said, as the gun dropped from his shaking hand. ”And no one has heard,--no one could hear in the roar of the storm.”

”Oh, they could,--they could!” murmured Freddy. ”G.o.d could make them hear, daddy,--make them hear and come to help us. And I think He will. I have prayed so hard that we might not be drowned here all alone in the storm.

You pray, too, daddy,--oh, please pray!”

”I can not,--I _dare_ not,” was the hoa.r.s.e answer.

”O daddy, yes you can,--you must! The waters are coming on us so fast, daddy,--so fast! Please try to pray with me. Our Lord made the winds and waves go down when He lived here on earth; He walked on the waters and they did not hurt Him. Oh, they are coming higher and higher on us, daddy!

What shall we do?”

”Die,” was the hoa.r.s.e, fierce answer; ”die here together, my boy,--my little boy! For me it is justice, judgment; but, O my G.o.d, why should Thy curse fall on my boy,--my innocent boy?”

”O daddy, no! That isn't the way to pray. You mustn't say 'curse,' daddy.

You must say: 'Have mercy, dear Lord; have mercy! Save me and my little boy. Send some one to help us.' Oh, I am trying not to be afraid, but I can't help it, daddy!”

”My boy,--my poor little boy! Climb, Freddy! Try to climb up on the roof--the broken shaft! Leave me here, and try to climb, my boy! You may be safe for a while.”

”O daddy, no, I can't climb and leave you,” and Freddy clung piteously to his father's breast. ”I'd rather die here with you, and G.o.d will take us both to heaven together. I haven't been a very good boy, I know; and maybe you haven't either; but if we are sorry He will let us come to Him in heaven--O dad, what is that?” Freddy's low tone changed to one of wild alarm. ”What is it now,--what is it now?”

For the dogs, that had been crouching and cowering beside their master, suddenly started up, barking wildly, and dashed out into the rising waters; new sounds blended with the roar of the storm,--shouts, cries, voices.

”Here,--_here_!” daddy feebly essayed to answer. ”Call to them, Freddy! It is help. G.o.d has heard your prayers. Call--call--call--loud as you can, my boy!”

But there was no need. Rex and Roy had already done the calling, the guiding. On they came, the st.u.r.dy rescuers, plunging waist-deep through the waters that were already breaking high on the beach and bramble growth, surging and swelling across the broken wall that had once guarded the Old Light, and lapping the low cabin floor. On the brave life-savers came, while Rex and Roy barked in mad welcome; and Freddy's clear, boyish cry, ”Here,--here! Daddy and I are here!” pierced through the darkness and turmoil of the storm. On they came, strong and fearless,--G.o.d's angels surely, thought Freddy, though in strange mortal guise. And one, whose m.u.f.fling sou'wester had been flung loose in his eager haste, led all the rest.

”Here, my men,--here!” he cried, bursting into the ruined hut, where a little figure stood, white-faced, breathless, bewildered with the joy of his answered prayer. ”They are here! G.o.d have mercy!” broke in reverent awe from his lips. ”Freddy, Freddy,--my own little Freddy here!”

”Uncle Tom,--Uncle Tom!” And Freddy sobbed outright as he was clasped in those dear, strong arms, held tight to the loving heart. ”How did G.o.d tell you where to come for me, dear Uncle Tom?--Daddy, daddy look up,--look up!

It's Uncle Tom!”

And what daddy felt as he looked up into that old friend's face, what Uncle Tom felt as he looked down on the ”derelict” that had drifted so far from him, no one can say; for there was no time for words or wonderment.

Life-savers can not stop to think, much less to talk. Daddy was caught up by two or three big fellows, without any question, while Uncle Tom looked out for Freddy.

It was a fierce struggle, through surging waves and battering wind and beating rain, to the waiting lifeboats; but, held tight in those strong arms, pressed close to the true heart whose every pulse was a prayer, Freddy felt no fear. Even when the stout boat, fighting its way back to the other sh.o.r.e, tossed like a cork in the breakers, when the oar snapped in Blake's hand, when all around was foam and spray, in which earth and heaven seemed lost, Freddy, nestling in Uncle Tom's sou'wester, felt as if its rough, tarry folds were angel wings.

And so safety and shelter were reached at last. Father Tom gave his little drenched, s.h.i.+vering, white-faced boy into Ford's friendly care.

”Put him to bed somewhere, to get dry and warm.”