Chapter XXIV: Safe Ashore

"It's a girl!"

It was Cora who said this as the motor boat drew close to the floating logs.

"A girl!" echoed Belle.

"Yes; can't you see her long hair?"

All the girls were standing up--even Cora, who had to bend over to maintain her grip on the steering wheel. They all peered anxiously toward the floating object.

Certainly that was a figure on it--a figure of a girl--sea-drenched and washed over by each succeeding wave.

"She's tied fast to that raft!" cried Bess.

"And her head is up on a sort of box--that keeps her mouth out of the water," added Eline. "Oh, but she looks----"

"Don't say it!" commanded Cora, sharply, and Eline stopped.

"Oh, if only the boys were here!" breathed Bess. "They could help us--help her," and she motioned to the limp figure on the raft.

"We don't need the boys!" exclaimed Cora, sharply. "We can make the rescue ourselves. That is if----"

"Don't say it!" commanded Eline, thus "getting back" at Cora.

"Oh, do steer over there!" begged Bess, as Cora did not seem to be bringing the motor boat quickly enough toward the raft of spars. "We must get to her!"

"I am going to," answered Cora.

"Oh, do you suppose she can be from the wreck?" asked Belle.

"I think very likely," spoke Cora.

"Those spars--they are from the ship," declared Rosalie. "They are broken pieces of the masts, perhaps. Some one must have made a raft before the vessel broke up, and she lashed herself to it. I have often heard my father tell of such things."

"Oh, do get her, Cora!" exclaimed Belle, clasping her hands.

"Don't go too close," warned the lighthouse maid. "Some of those spars have jagged ends, and a bump would mean a hole in your boat, Miss Kimball."

"Don't, for mercy's sake!" voiced Bess, clutching Cora's arm.

"And don't you do that to my arm or I can't steer," came the retort. "I'll be careful."

As the motor boat came nearer the girls could see more plainly the figure on the raft. It was that of a young girl, with light hair, that was now darkened by the sea water. She seemed to have wrapped herself in some blankets, or rugs, tying them about her waist, and then had lashed herself fast to the spars, or some seaman had done it for her.

She sat with her head against a box, which seemed to be nailed to the raft, and several turns of rope were passed about this in such a manner as to maintain the girl in a half-reclining position.

The waves broke over the lower part of her body, but her head was out of the water, though whether this had been the case when the raft was in the open sea was a question. Clearly much water must have washed over the raft, and perhaps the buffeting of the waves had rendered her unconscious.

"Look out!" warned Rosalie, as Cora sent the boat in a graceful sweep toward the raft. "Don't go any nearer."

"But we must save her!"

"Then let me try. I'll dive overboard and swim to the raft. Then I can loosen the ropes and we'll see what can be done toward getting her aboard. But be careful of your boat."

It was good advice and Cora followed it. Rosalie stood on the stern, poised for a moment as Cora cut down the speed, and then gracefully dived overboard.

Up she came, shaking the water from her eyes, and struck out for the raft

"She's alive--and--that's all!" called Rosalie to the girls in the motor boat, as she bent over the one on the raft. "We must get her to a doctor quick!"

"How can we get her into the boat?" asked Cora.

"I'll loosen the ropes, and then you can come up on this side. The spars are smooth here and your boat won't be damaged!"

"Poor creature!" murmured Belle, as she watched Rosalie in her dripping bathing suit bending over the girl on the raft.

The ropes were soon loosed, and then, with no small skill, Cora brought the _Pet_ alongside the raft. It was not an easy matter to get the limp and unconscious figure into the boat, but the girls managed it.

"Now for shore and the doctor!" cried Eline.

"Here is her valise," called Rosalie, casting loose a rope that held a small suit case to the raft. "May as well take that, but I guess the things in it are pretty well soaked. She must have been adrift ever since the wreck went to pieces."

She tossed the bag into the boat, and clambered in herself. Then Cora steered away from the raft, as Belle started the motor. They covered the rescued girl with her own wet rugs--it was all they could do. She was breathing--that was all.

Half an hour later they were safe ashore, and two fishermen on the beach had carried the girl up to the bungalow. A doctor was telephoned for in haste.