ll
Hannah to fetch a rope, and call the other women. If we could only have
got a coble out it would have been all right, but there's nobody to pull
except a few daft wives and old Adam."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'll swim off, and you women folk can haul me in with the lass. After
that I'll maybe try for _him_."

Then this rare fellow had the rope fastened under his armpits, flung off
his sea-boots and his sleeve-waistcoat, and struck off with a breast
stroke that made never a splash. The spray cut his face, the lashing
feathers on the tops of the waves half-blinded him, but he held doggedly
on, and presently hung on to the bladderweed that fringed the Cobbler's
Seat. He climbed lightly up, and spoke to the girl.

"You'll lie quiet, my bonny woman, and don't be frightened if you get a
mouthful or two. Let me have you under the arms, and look smart."

He waved and shouted, then let himself lightly down into the sea, while
the women ran up the beach with the straining rope. When his feet ground
in the shallow water, he was bleeding at the mouth, but he carried the
girl past the foam.

"Take her up to our house, and send for Bella to put her in bed. She's
nigh done for. And now, my lasses, give us that dry rope; this one's
over stiff."

He struck off again, and was not long in getting to the stone; but it
was difficult work to climb up, for the wind was fairly whistling by
this time, and the waves had got a heavy impetus. Ellington was blue
with cold, and chattering at the teeth. He had cramped his fingers in a
hole bored by the common mollusc, which honeycombs the rocks, and as he
crouched he looked not particularly noble.

"Now, my man, there isn't much time, or else this would be a fine place
for us to have a talk. I've saved your lass for you, and I wish you had
done the same to mine for me. Now, come on; and mind, if you struggle,
I'll fell you like a stirk."

Once more the women ran to the high end of the beach, and then Ellington
was handed to them, limp and sick with sea water.

This was how Mr. Casely revenged himself.

* * * * *

Chiswick Press:--C. Whittingham and Co. Tooks Court, Chancery Lane.

* * * * *

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROMANCE OF THE COAST***

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