forcefully for the shore, and with my unconscious, perhaps dead,
burden in my arms, I scrambled up the face of the rocks and into the
house.

"Quick! For God's sake! Hot water,--blankets!" I cried to Miss
Grant's semi-petrified companion.

She stood and looked at me in horror and bewilderment. Then I
remembered that my shouting was in vain, for she was stone-deaf.

But this good old lady's helplessness was short-lived.

"Lay her down," she cried; "I know how to handle this. If there's a
spark of life in her I can bring her round."

I laid the limp form on the bed, on top of the spotless linen.

As I did so, I looked upon the pale face, with its eyes closed and the
brine rolling in drops over those long, golden eyelashes; then upon the
glorious sun-kissed hair now water-soaked and tangled.

I cried in my soul, "Oh, God!--is this the end and she so beautiful."

Already the elderly lady had commenced first aid, in a businesslike
way. It was something I knew only a little about, so I went into the
kitchen in a perspiring terror of suspense,--and I stood there by the
stove, ready to be of assistance at any moment, should I be called.

After what seemed hours of waiting, I heard a moan, and through the
moaning came a voice, sweet but pitiful, and breathing of agony.

"Oh! why did you bring me back? Why did you not let me die?"

Again followed a long waiting, with the soothing voice of Miss Grant's
able companion talking to her patient as she wrought with her.

There was a spell of dreadful nausea, but when it came I knew the worst
was over.

The elderly lady came to the door, with a request for a hot-water
bottle, which I got for her with alacrity.

At last she came out to me, and her kindly face was beaming.

"My dear, good boy," she said, as tears trickled down her cheeks, "she
is lying peacefully and much better. In an hour or two, she will be up
and around. Would you care to see her, just to put your mind at ease?"

"Indeed I would," I responded.

She led the way into the room, and there on the bed lay Miss
Grant,--breathing easily,--alive,--life athrob in her veins.

A joyful reaction overwhelmed me, for, no matter how humble had been my
part, I had been chosen to help to save her.

As I stood by her, her eyes opened;--great, light-brown eyes, bright
and agleam as of molten gold. They roved the room, then they rested on
me.

"What!" she groaned, "you still here? Oh!--go away,--go away."