st expostulation: "Get some brandy!--some neat brandy!" Some one
went up the beach for it.

In the car, sprawling upon a sort of bed-bench, in an attitude of
elaborate self-abandonment, was a large, blond lady, wearing a fur
coat and a big floriferous hat. Her head lolled back against the padded
corner of the car, and her eyes were shut and her mouth open. "Me dear!"
said Mr. Butteridge, in a common, loud voice, "we're safe!"

She gave no sign.

"Me dear!" said Mr. Butteridge, in a greatly intensified loud voice,
"we're safe!"

She was still quite impassive.

Then Mr. Butteridge showed the fiery core of his soul. "If she is
dead," he said, slowly lifting a fist towards the balloon above him,
and speaking in an immense tremulous bellow--"if she is dead, I will
r-r-rend the heavens like a garment! I must get her out," he cried, his
nostrils dilated with emotion--"I must get her out. I cannot have her
die in a wicker-work basket nine feet square--she who was made for
kings' palaces! Keep holt of this car! Is there a strong man among ye to
take her if I hand her out?"

He swept the lady together by a powerful movement of his arms, and
lifted her. "Keep the car from jumping," he said to those who clustered
about him. "Keep your weight on it. She is no light woman, and when she
is out of it--it will be relieved."

Bert leapt lightly into a sitting position on the edge of the car. The
others took a firmer grip upon the ropes and ring.

"Are you ready?" said Mr. Butteridge.

He stood upon the bed-bench and lifted the lady carefully. Then he sat
down on the wicker edge opposite to Bert, and put one leg over to dangle
outside. A rope or so seemed to incommode him. "Will some one assist
me?" he said. "If they would take this lady?"

It was just at this moment, with Mr. Butteridge and the lady balanced
finely on the basket brim, that she came-to. She came-to suddenly and
violently with a loud, heart-rending cry of "Alfred! Save me!" And she
waved her arms searchingly, and then clasped Mr. Butteridge about.

It seemed to Bert that the car swayed for a moment and then buck-jumped
and kicked him. Also he saw the boots of the lady and the right leg of
the gentleman describing arcs through the air, preparatory to vanishing
over the side of the car. His impressions were complex, but they also
comprehended the fact that he had lost his balance, and was going to
stand on his head inside this creaking basket. He spread out clut