sea nymph, enjoying
its bracing freshness. For many successive mornings she went down, in
company with several other girls of various ages, to bathe and sport
with glee in the bright waters of a little bay, sheltered on either side
by high rocks from the gaze of passers by.

One morning the sea, though still bright, came rolling in with greater
force than usual, dashing the sparkling spray high up against the dark
rocks. Several of the other girls exclaimed that they should enjoy a
delightful bath, and Janet, unaware of the treacherous character of the
ocean, did not hesitate to allow Margaret to join them. Now a wave came
rolling in, sweeping in a snowy sheet of foam high up the beach, now it
receded with a murmuring sound over the rounded pebbles. The girls,
taking each other's hands, ventured in as far as they were accustomed to
go, waiting till they saw a wave approaching, when they hurried back
again up the beach, where they could escape its force. Margaret, as the
last comer, was the outer one of the line. Not comprehending the
necessity of caution, she let go her companion's hand at the moment the
rest of the party were making their escape from the coming sea. In an
instant she felt herself lifted off her feet; she endeavoured to spring
forward, but the wave had her in its grasp, and, as with a loud roar it
receded, she was carried away towards the entrance of the bay.

For the first moment Janet did not perceive the danger of her darling.
"Oh my bairn! my bairn!" she shrieked out, when she discovered what had
occurred, and throwing down the sheet she rushed into the water vainly
attempting to reach her. Several of the elder girls, horror-stricken,
held her back, scarcely conscious of what they were doing. Louder and
louder she raised her imploring cries for help, as she endeavoured to
break loose from the agitated group surrounding her.

Margaret continued floating on the surface; but was every instant being
borne further away towards the white-topped waves which rose outside the
bay. At that instant a lad was seen to run along the top of the rocks
till he neared the end, when, without a moment's hesitation, he sprung
off into the water, and swam boldly towards the little girl. She had
not from the first struggled, and she lay perfectly quiet, while he
grasped her dress with one hand and struck out with the other towards
the beach. The danger of both was great. Now they appeared to have
made good