Part 15 (1/2)

Directly after that the chug of the _Dixie_ was heard.

Then it was all storm! Raging! Roaring! Which way could two small motor boats hope to plough their way in such a fury of wind, rain and lightning?

The waves had a.s.sumed the proportions of billows, and every time a boat lifted with the crest, a huge bank of water would break over it.

Jack clung to the steering wheel, and Cora never took her eyes off the engine. But how they whirled and twirled! There was the _Dixie!_ It was keeping near--one good thing. The canoe had broken loose and was soon lost to sight. No one bewailed it; there was too serious work at hand for that.

”Let me look after the gas!” begged Kent of Cora. He was at her elbow, but she had insisted on personally attending to the machine.

”I know it better, perhaps,” she shrieked back, ”but stay close. If I cannot manage I will let you know!”

One terrific clap, then a roar sounded in the ears of all, but seemed to paralyze Lottie.

She fell in a heap and lay speechless. Up to this time she had been half sitting in the bottom of the boat.

”She's struck!” shrieked Belle. Then Cora left the engine to Kent and took charge of the senseless girl.

CHAPTER XI

THE RESCUE

The coffee that stood on the still warm electric stove proved a valuable aid in restoring the stunned Lottie. She had not been struck; her nerves had simply given out, and she had collapsed.

Finally she opened her eyes.

”I'm all right now,” she said faintly, and it was evident the shock had dulled her terror, at least.

”Just lie still,” whispered Cora, encouragingly. ”The storm will soon be over.”

”The storm?” Lottie repeated. Then she closed her eyes again, but this time it was only exhaustion, not faintness.

The other girls had been roused to activity by Lottie's condition.

They could now see a rift in the clouds, and one after another hurried to say that the storm was breaking, and it was not so bad; that boats could be seen, and perhaps they would soon sight land.

But those at the wheels of the boats knew how little they could do in the way of steering. Every time the wheel was turned one way the force of the rollers would wash it completely around. In fact they were making absolutely no progress, and might almost as well have allowed the powerless craft to submit to the fury of the waters.

Cora realized this, as did the boys, but the other girls, except perhaps Bess, felt more secure as the sound of the motor indicated motion. The clouds were lifting, but the force of the storm seemed to be coming in from sea, and had little to do with the appearance of the sky.

”Oh, if help would only come!” Cora whispered to Bess. ”I'm afraid another and worse storm is gathering!”

”Don't give up,” replied the girl, her own face gray in the mist and spray that covered the deck even under the awnings.

”I--see--something bobbing up and down over there!” Cora continued.

”See! It is--a big, strong boat, perhaps a lifeboat!”

”Let us hope so,” answered Bess, fervently.

Not one word could Cora exchange with Jack, he was too far from her to hear her voice. The _Dixie_ was still near enough to be sighted, but how the boys managed to keep her so was as remarkable to themselves as to those on the _Chelton_.