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have watched them from this coast； or from that of the Island of
Ascension； can bear witness。 What their aspect was to this shipwrecked
man； supported by a single plank； may therefore be imagined； seen； as
he saw them； in the mysterious moonlight and in utter loneliness。 Yet
his spirit rose to meet the dread emergency； if he were to die； he
would die fighting。 He had grown cold and tired； but now the chill and
weariness left him； he felt warm and strong。 From the crest of one of
the high rollers he thought he saw that about half a mile away from
him a little river ran down the centre of the gorge； and for the mouth
of this river he laid his course。
At first all went well。 He was borne up the seas； he slid down the
seas in a lather of white foam。 Presently the rise and fall grew
steeper； and the foam began to break over his head。 Robert could no
longer guide himself； he must go as he was carried。 Then in an instant
he was carried into a hell of waters where； had it not been for his
lifebelt and the plank； he must have been beaten down and have
perished。 As it was； now he was driven into the depths； and now he
emerged upon their surface to hear their seething hiss around him； and
above it all a continuous boom as of great gunsthe boom of the
breaking seas。
The plank was almost twisted from his grasp； but he clung to it
desperately； although its edges tore his arms。 When the rollers broke
over him he held his breath； and when he was tossed skywards on their
curves； drew it again in quick； sweet gasps。 Now he sat upon the very
brow of one of them as a merman might； now he dived like a dolphin；
and now； just as his senses were leaving him； his feet touched bottom。
Another moment and Robert was being rolled along that bottom with a
weight on him like the weight of mountains。 The plank was rent from
him； but his cork jacket brought him up。 The backwash drew him with it
into deeper water； where he lay helpless and despairing； for he no
longer had any strength to struggle against his doom。
Then it was that there came a mighty roller； bigger than any that he
had seensuch a one as on that coast the Kaffirs call 〃a father of
waves。〃 It caught him in the embrace of its vast green curve。 It bore
him forward as though he were but a straw； far forward over the
stretch of cruel rocks。 It broke in thunder； dashing him again upon
the stones and sand of the little river bar； rolling him along with
its resistless might； till even that might was exhausted； and its foam
began to return seawards； sucking him with it。
Robert's mind was almost gone； but enough of it remained to tell him
that if once more he was dragged into the deep water he must be lost。
As the current haled him along he gripped at the bottom with his
hands； and by the mercy of Heaven they closed on something。 It may
have been a tree…stump embedded there； or a rockhe never knew。 At
least； it was firm； and to it he hung despairingly。 Would that rush
never cease？ His lungs were bursting； he must let go！ Oh！ the foam was
thinning； his head was above it now； now it had departed； leaving him
like a stranded fish upon the shingle。 For half a minute or more he
lay there gasping； then looked behind him to see another comber
approaching through the gloom。 He struggled to his feet； fell； rose
again； and ran； or rather； staggered forward with that tigerish water
hissing at his heels。 Forward； still forward； till he was beyond its
reachyes； on dry sand。 Then his vital forces failed him； one of his
legs gave way； and； bleeding from a hundred hurts； he fell heavily
onto his face； and there was still。
The boat in which Benita lay； being so deep in the water； proved very
hard to row against the tide； for the number of its passengers
encumbered the oarsmen。 After a while a light off land breeze sprang
up； as here it often does towards morning； and the officer； Thompson；
determined to risk hoisting the sail。 Accordingly this was donewith
some difficulty； for the mast had to be drawn out and shipped
although the women screamed as the weight of the air bent their frail
craft over till the gunwale was almost level with the water。
〃Anyone who moves shall be thrown overboard！〃 said the officer； who
steered； after which they were quiet。
Now they made good progress seawards； but the anxieties of those who
knew were very great； since the wind showed signs of rising； and if
any swell should spring up that crowded cutter could scarcely hope to
live。 In fact； two hours later they were forced to lower the sail
again and drift； waiting for the dawn。 Mr。 Thompson strove to cheer
them； saying that now they were in the track of vessels； and if they
could see none when the light came； he would run along the shore in
the hope of finding a place free of breakers where they might land。 If
they did not inspire hope； at least his words calmed them； and they
sat in heavy silence； watching the sky。
At length it grew grey； and then； with a sudden glory peculiar to
South Africa； the great red sun arose and began to dispel the mist
from the surface of the sea。 Half an hour more and this was gone； and
now the bright rays brought life back into their chilled frames as
they stared at each other to see which of their company were still
left alive。 They even asked for food； and biscuit was given to them
with water。
All this while Benita remained unconscious。 Indeed； one callous
fellow； who had been using her body as a footstool； said that she must
be dead； and had better be thrown overboard； as it would lighten the
boat。
〃If you throw that lady into the sea； living or dead；〃 said Mr。
Thompson； with an ominous lift of his eye； 〃you go with her； Mr。
Batten。 Remember who brought her here and how he died。〃
Then Mr。 Batten held his peace； while Thompson stood up and scanned
the wide expanse of sea。 Presently he whispered to a sailor near him；
who also stood up； looked； and nodded。
〃That will be the other Line's intermediate boat；〃 he said； and the
passengers； craning their heads round； saw far away to the right a
streak of smoke upon the horizon。 Orders were given； a little corner
of sail was hoisted； with a white cloth of some sort tied above it；
and the oars were got out。 Once more the cutter moved forward； bearing
to the left in the hope of intercepting the steamer。
She came on with terrible swiftness； and they who had miles of water
to cover； dared hoist no more sail in that breeze。 In half an hour she
was nearly opposite to them； and they were still far away。 A little
more sail was let out； driving them through the water at as quick a
rate as they could venture to go。 The steamer was passing three miles
or so away； and black despair took hold of them。 Now the resourceful
Thompson； without apologies； undressed； and removing the white shirt
that he had worn at the dance； bade a sailor to tie it to an oar and
wave it to and fro。
Still the steamer went on； until present