riet Burrell. She
turned Tommy over on her back and, placing a hand under the little
girl, began swimming slowly. The added burden was almost more than
Harriet, in her benumbed state, was able to handle. She knew that she
could not support Grace and herself through the rest of that long,
dark night. She knew, too, that unless they were rescued, her
companion would be past help by the end of another hour. It already
seemed hours since they had slipped into the sea and rode out on the
crest of a receding wave. Now her movements were becoming slower and
slower. She seemed not to possess the power to move her limbs. It was
not all weariness either; it was that dragging numbness that was
pulling her down.

Harriet fought a more desperate battle with herself than she ever had
been called upon to fight before. She did not now believe that they
would be rescued, but that did not prevent her keeping up the battle
as long as a single vestige of strength remained. It was sheer grit
that kept Harriet Burrell afloat during that long, heart-breaking swim
among the Atlantic rollers on this never-to-be-forgotten night.

But at last the girl ceased swimming. Her limbs simply would not move
in obedience to her will; her arms seemed weighed down by some
tremendous pressure; her head grew heavy and her senses dulled.

"I believe this is the end," muttered Harriet. One great struggle,
then her weary muscles relaxed. For a few moments she floated on her
back, turned over with a great effort, then settled lower and lower in
the water, all the time fighting to regain possession of her
faculties, but growing weaker with each effort.

Then Harriet Burrell went down, dragging Tommy with her.

CHAPTER IX

A SURPRISE THAT PROVED A SHOCK

It could not have been very long, not more than a few seconds, before
Harriet Burrell's benumbed senses began to perform their natural
functions. Deep down in her inner consciousness was the feeling that,
though the surf was breaking over her, underneath her was something
solid, immovable. In a vague sort of way she wondered at this, but for
the time being was too weary and dulled to reason out the cause of the
phenomenon.

After a time the girl began to feel little pains shooting up her arms,
reaching to her shoulders and down along her spine. Again was her
wonderment aroused. Little by little her heavy eyelids struggled open.
But her eyes saw only black darkness and water. Harriet, by a supreme