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terror absorbed the less。
Lady Barbara Sinclair was there from Leith； and； seeing Lord Ipsden
standing in the boat with a fisherman； she asked him to tell her what it
was； neither he nor any one answered her。
〃Why doesn't she come about； Liston ？〃 cried Lord Ipsden； stamping with
anxiety and impatience。
〃She'll no be lang；〃 said Sandy； 〃but they'll mak a mess o' 't wi' ne'er
a man i' the boat。〃
〃Ye're sure o' thaat？〃 put in a woman。
〃Ay； about she comes；〃 said Liston； as the sail came down on the first
tack。 He was mistaken； they dipped the lug as cleverly as any man in the
town could。
〃Hech！ look at her hauling on the rope like a mon；〃 cried a woman。 The
sail flew up on the other tack。
〃She's an awfu' lassie；〃。 whined another。
〃He's awa；〃 groaned Liston； 〃he's doon！〃
〃No！ he's up again；〃 cried Lord Ipsden； 〃but I fear he can't live till
the boat comes to him。〃
The fisherman and the viscount held on by each other。
〃He does na see her； or maybe he'd tak hairt。〃
〃I'd give ten thousand pounds if only he could see her。 My God； the man
will be drowned under our eyes。 If he but saw her！！！〃
The words had hardly left Lord Ipsden's lips； when the sound of a woman's
voice came like an AEolian note across the water。
〃Hurraih！〃 roared Liston； and every creature joined the cheer。
〃She'll no let him dee。 Ah！ she's in the bows； hailing him an' waving the
lad's bonnet ower her head to gie him coorage。 Gude bless ye； lass； Gude
bless ye！〃
Christie knew it was no use hailing him against the wind； but the moment
she got the wind she darted into the bows； and pitched in its highest key
her full and brilliant voice； after a moment of suspense she received
proof that she must be heard by him； for on the pier now hung men and
women； clustered like bees； breathless with anxiety； and the moment after
she hailed the drowning man； she saw and heard a wild yell of applause
burst from the pier； and the pier was more distant than the man。 She
snatched Flucker's cap； planted her foot on the gunwale； held on by a
rope； hailed the poor fellow again； and waved the cap round and round her
head； to give him courage； and in a moment； at the sight of this；
thousands of voices thundered back their cheers to her across the water。
Blow； windspring； boatand you； Christie； still ring life toward those
despairing ears and wave hope to those sinking eyes； cheer the boat on；
you thousands that look upon this action； hurrah！ from the pier； hurrah！
from the town； hurrah！ from the shore； hurrah！ now； from the very ships
in the roads； whose crews are swarming on the yards to look； five minutes
ago they laughed at you； three thousand eyes and hearts hang upon you
now； ay； these are the moments we live for！
And now dead silence。 The boat is within fifty yards； they are all three
consulting together round the mast； an error now is death； his forehead
only seems above water。
〃If they miss him on that tack？〃 said Lord Ipsden； significantly； to
Liston。
〃He'll never see London Brigg again；〃 was the whispered reply。
They carried on till all on shore thought they would run over him； or
past him； but no； at ten yards distant they were all at the sail； and had
it down like lightning； and then Flucker sprang to the bows； the other
boy to the helm。
Unfortunately； there were but two Johnstones in the boat； and this boy；
in his hurry； actually put the helm to port； instead of to starboard。
Christie； who stood amidships； saw the error； she sprang aft； flung the
boy from the helm and jammed it hard…a…starboard with her foot。 The boat
answered the helm； but too late for Flucker； the man was four yards from
him as the boat drifted by。
〃He's a deed mon！〃 cried Liston； on shore。
The boat's length gave one more little chance； the after…part must drift
nearer himthanks to Christie。 Flucker flew aft； flung himself on his
back； and seized his sister's petticoats。
〃Fling yourself ower the gunwale；〃 screamed he。 〃Ye'll no hurt； I'se haud
ye。〃
She flung herself boldly over the gunwale； the man was sinking； her nails
touched his hair； her fingers entangled themselves in it； she gave him a
powerful wrench and brought him alongside； the boys pinned him like
wild…cats。
Christie darted away forward to the mast； passed a rope round it； threw
it the boys； in a moment it was under his shoulders。 Christie hauled on
it from the fore thwart； the boys lifted him； and they tumbled him；
gasping and gurgling like a dying salmon； into the bottom of the boat；
and flung net and jackets and sail over him to keep the life in him。
Ah！ draw your breath all hands at sea and ashore； and don't try it again；
young gentleman； for there was nothing to spare； when you were missed at
the bow two stout hearts quivered for you； Lord Ipsden hid his face in
his two hands； Sandy Liston gave a groan； and； when you were grabbed
astern； jumped out of his boat and cried：
〃A gill o' whisky for ony favor； for it's turned me as seeck as a doeg。〃
He added： 〃He may bless yon lassie's fowr banes； for she's ta'en him oot
o' Death's maw； as sure as Gude's in heaven！〃
Lady Barbara； who had all her life been longing to see perilous
adventures； prayed and trembled and cried most piteously； and Lord
Ipsden's back was to her； and he paid no attention to her voice； but when
the battle was won； and Lord Ipsden turned and saw her； she clung to his
arm and dried her tears； and then the Old Town cheered the boat； and the
New Town cheered the boat； and the towns cheered each other； and the
Johnstones； lad and lass； set their sail； and swept back in triumph to
the pier； so then Lady Barbara's blood mounted and tingled in her veins
like fire。 〃Oh； how noble！〃 cried she。
〃Yes； dearest；〃 said Ipsden。 〃You have seen something great done at last；
and by a woman； too！〃
〃Yes；〃 said Barbara； 〃how beautiful！ oh！ how beautiful it all is； only
the next one I see I should like the danger to be over first； that is
all。〃
The boys and Christie； the moment they had saved Gatty； up sail again for
Newhaven； they landed in about three minutes at the pier。
TIME。 From Newhaven town to pier on foot： 1 m。 30 sec。 First tack： 5 m。
30 sec。 Second tack； and getting him on board： 4 m。 0 sec。 Back to the
pier； going free： 3 m。 30 sec。
Total： 14 m。 30 sec。
They came in to the pier； Christie sitting quietly on the thwart after
her work； the boy steering； and Flucker standing against the mast； hands
in his pockets； the deportment this young gentleman thought fit to assume
on this occasion was 〃complete apathy〃； he came into port with the air of
one bringing home the ordinary results of his day's fishing； this was； I
suppose； to impress the spectators with the notion that saving lives was
an every…day affair with La Famille Johnstone； as for Gatty； he came to
himself under his heap of nets and jackets and spoke once between Death's
jaw and the pier。
〃Beautiful！〃 murmured he； and was silent。 The meaning of this observation
never transpired； and never will in this world。 Six months afterward；
being subjected to a searching interrogatory； he stated that he had
alluded to the majesty and freedom of a certain _p