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No one objected； they seemed too stunned to speak； but Robert thought
to himself that the man was wise。 They began to move； but before they
had gone a dozen yards something dark rose beside them。 It was a piece
of wreckage； and clinging to it a woman； who clasped a bundle to her
breast。 More； she was alive； for she began to cry to them to take her
in。
〃Save me and my child！〃 she cried。 〃For God's sake save me！〃
Robert recognized the choking voice； it was that of a young married
lady with whom he had been very friendly； who was going out with her
baby to join her husband in Natal。 He stretched out his hand and
caught hold of her； whereon the officer said； heavily：
〃The boat is already overladen。 I must warn you that to take more
aboard is not safe。〃
Thereon the passengers awoke from their stupor。
〃Push her off；〃 cried a voice； 〃she must take her chance。〃 And there
was a murmur of approval at the dreadful words。
〃For Christ's sakefor Christ's sake！〃 wailed the drowning woman； who
clung desperately to Robert's hand。
〃If you try to pull her in； we will throw you overboard；〃 said the
voice again； and a knife was lifted as though to hack at his arm。 Then
the officer spoke once more。
〃This lady cannot come into the boat unless someone goes out of it。 I
would myself； but it is my duty to stay。 Is there any man here who
will make place for her？〃
But all the men thereseven of them； besides the crewhung their
heads and were silent。
〃Give way；〃 said the officer in the same heavy voice； 〃she will drop
off presently。〃
While the words passed his lips Robert seemed to live a year。 Here was
an opportunity of atonement for his idle and luxurious life。 An hour
ago he would have taken it gladly； but nownow； with Benita senseless
on his breast； and that answer still locked in her sleeping heart？ Yet
Benita would approve of such a death as this； and even if she loved
him not in life； would learn to love his memory。 In an instant his
mind was made up； and he was speaking rapidly。
〃Thompson；〃 he said to the officer； 〃if I go； will you swear to take
her in and her child？〃
〃Certainly； Mr。 Seymour。〃
〃Then lay to； I am going。 If any of you live； tell this lady how I
died；〃 and he pointed to Benita； 〃and say I thought that she would
wish it。〃
〃She shall be told；〃 said the officer again； 〃and saved； too； if I can
do it。〃
〃Hold Mrs。 Jeffreys； then； till I am out of this。 I'll leave my coat
to cover her。〃
A sailor obeyed； and with difficulty Robert wrenched free his hand。
Very deliberately he pressed Benita to his breast and kissed her on
the forehead； then let her gently slide on to the bottom of the boat。
Next he slipped off his overcoat and slowly rolled himself over the
gunwale into the sea。
〃Now；〃 he said； 〃pull Mrs。 Jeffreys in。〃
〃God bless you； you are a brave man；〃 said Thompson。 〃I shall remember
you if I live a hundred years。〃
But no one else said anything； perhaps they were all too much ashamed；
even then。
〃I have only done my duty；〃 Seymour answered from the water。 〃How far
is it to the shore？〃
〃About three miles；〃 shouted Thompson。 〃But keep on that plank； or you
will never live through the rollers。 Good…bye。〃
〃Good…bye；〃 answered Robert。
Then the boat passed away from him and soon vanished in the misty face
of the deep。
Resting on the plank which had saved the life of Mrs。 Jeffreys； Robert
Seymour looked about him and listened。 Now and again he heard a faint；
choking scream uttered by some drowning wretch； and a few hundred
yards away caught sight of a black object which he thought might be a
boat。 If so； he reflected that it must be full。 Moreover； he could not
overtake it。 No； his only chance was to make for the shore。 He was a
strong swimmer； and happily the water was almost as warm as milk。
There seemed to be no reason why he should not reach it； supported as
he was by a lifebelt； if the sharks would leave him alone； which they
might； as there was plenty for them to feed on。 The direction he knew
well enough； for now in the great silence of the sea he could hear the
boom of the mighty rollers breaking on the beach。
Ah； those rollers！ He remembered how that very afternoon Benita and he
had watched them through his field glass sprouting up against the
cruel walls of rock； and wondered that when the ocean was so calm they
had still such power。 Now； should he live to reach them； he was doomed
to match himself against that power。 Well； the sooner he did so the
sooner it would be over； one way or the other。 This was in his favour：
the tide had turned； and was flowing shorewards。 Indeed； he had little
to do but to rest upon his plank； which he placed crosswise beneath
his breast； and steered himself with his feet。 Even thus he made good
progress； nearly a mile an hour perhaps。 He could have gone faster had
he swum； but he was saving his strength。
It was a strange journey upon that silent sea beneath those silent
stars； and strange thoughts came into Robert's soul。 He wondered
whether Benita would live and what she would say。 Perhaps； however；
she was already dead； and he would meet her presently。 He wondered if
he were doomed to die； and whether this sacrifice of his would be
allowed to atone for his past errors。 He hoped so； and put up a
petition to that effect； for himself and for Benita； and for all the
poor people who had gone before； hurled from their pleasure into the
halls of Death。
So he floated on while the boom of the breakers grew ever nearer；
companioned by his wild； fretful thoughts； till at length what he took
to be a shark appeared quite close to him； and in the urgency of the
moment he gave up wondering。 It proved to be only a piece of wood； but
later on a real shark did come； for he saw its back fin。 However； this
cruel creature was either gorged or timid； for when he splashed upon
the water and shouted； it went away； to return no more。
Now； at length； Robert entered upon the deep hill and valley swell
which preceded the field of the rollers。 Suddenly he shot down a
smooth slope； and without effort of his own found himself borne up an
opposing steep； from the crest of which he had a view of white lines
of foam； and beyond them of a dim and rocky shore。 At one spot； a
little to his right； the foam seemed thinner and the line of cliff to
be broken； as though here there was a cleft。 For this cleft； then； he
steered his plank； taking the swell obliquely； which by good fortune
the set of the tide enabled him to do without any great exertion。
The valleys grew deeper； and the tops of the opposing ridges were
crested with foam。 He had entered the rollers； and the struggle for
life began。 Before him they rushed solemn and mighty。 Viewed from some
safe place even the sight of these combers is terrible； as any who
have watched them from this coast； or from that of the Island of
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