They did not put the boat about,
they only lay upon their oars and kept her head to the seas.
The old man in the bow peered out into the gloom. He was shaking, not
with cold but with agitation.
Presently he turned his head with a yell.
"Give way--give way! there's something on the wave."
The men obeyed with a will.
"Back," he roared again--"back water!"
They backed, and the boat answered, but nothing was to be seen.
"She's gone! Oh, Goad, she's gone!" groaned the old man. "You may put
about now, lads, and the Lord's will be done."
The light from the lantern fell in a little ring upon the seething
water. Suddenly something white appeared in the centre of this
illuminated ring. Edward stared at it. It was floating upwards. It
vanished--it appeared again. It was a woman's face. With a yell he
plunged his arms into the sea.
"I have her--lend an hand, lads."
Another man scrambled forward and together they clutched the object in
the water.
"Look out, don't pull so hard, you fool. Blow me if there ain't another
and she's got him by the hair. So, _steady, steady!_"
A long heave from strong arms and the senseless form of Beatrice was on
the gunwale.
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