h to speak on. But the
woman, for I could see that it was a woman now, went right straight on,
as if she'd made up her mind to pitch head forred into the sea and drown
herself the first thing.

"This riled me up, and I went on arter her like a tornado, now I tell
you. But jist as I was reaching out both hands to drag her back from a
wave that came roaring along, it broke, and the undertow sucked her in
right afore my face.

"Now some folks might a pitched in arter her, but I knew better'n that.
We should both on us have gone to kingdom come and no mistake if I had.
Not a bit of it; I planted myself firm and waited. Sure enough the
second wave arter that came tearing along, tossing the poor cretur up
and down like a wisp of seaweed, and pitched her ashore right in my
tracks.

"In course the next wave would have dragged her out to sea agin, but I
got hold of her shawl and tried to haul her back, but the tarnal thing
gave way, and I had just time to drop it and make a grab at her clothes,
when it came crashing over us agin. But I held on, and planted myself
firm, so it only dragged us both a foot or two and went roaring off.
Then I got a fair hold of the lady and dragged her up the beach out of
harm's way. But I really thought that she was dead; the daylight broke
while she lay on the sand, and then I saw who it was, and the sight of
her cold face drove me wild. I took her up in my arms and carried her
home. There was a good fire burning, and my darter is used to taking
care of sich cases. So she wrapped her in hot blankets, and worked over
her till the life came back."

"And she's alive--doing well," cried Tom, "at your house; old Benson,
you're--a--a--trump. If I hadn't given away every gold piece I had in my
pocket, you should have a double handful--by Jove, you should! But never
mind, just come along, I must have one splendid hug, and then for the
Cove. No, no, that won't be fair after all," thought the generous
fellow, "Grant must have the first kiss, he must tell her----"

The thought of what must be told her went through the poor fellow's
brain like an arrow of fire. But he dashed into the path which led to
Piney Cove, calling back to Benson, "Don't tell her anything!" and
strode away.

Breathless, eager, forgetful of his own great sorrow, Tom cleared the
distance between the shore and Piney Cove with enormous strides. He
crossed the lawn almost at a run, leaped up the steps two at a time, and
found Mellen l