In it were piled
various utensils of equipment. One man went with it, and several
more on its next trip, until nearly the whole crew were aboard the
wreck.
Carroll and Mina stayed until dusk and after, watching the long
heavy labour of rescue. Lines had to be rocketed from the schooner
to the other vessels. Then by their means cable communication had
to be established with the shore. After this it was really a matter
of routine to run the crew to the beach, though cruel, hard work,
and dangerous. The wrecks were continually swept by the great seas;
and at any moment the tortured fabrics might give way, might
dissolve completely in the elements that so battered them. The
women making the hot coffee found their services becoming valuable.
Big fires of driftwood were ignited. They were useful for light as
well as warmth.
By their illumination finally Orde discovered the two girls
standing, and paused long enough in his own heavy labour of
assistance to draw Carroll one side.
"You'd better go home now, sweetheart," said he. "Bobby'll be
waiting for you, and the girls may be here in the crowd somewhere.
There'll be nobody to take care of him."
"I suppose so," she assented. "But hasn't it been exciting? Whose
vessels were they; do you know?"
Orde glanced at her strangely.
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