"They're going to try," answered the lighthouse maid. "They got some of 'em off in the motor life-boat early this morning, but it's too rough for that now."

"What are they going to do, then?" asked Bess.

"Use the breeches buoy. It's the only way now!" cried Rosalie. "They're going to fire a line over soon."

"We don't want to miss that," declared Jack.

The wreck had gone on the rocks nearly opposite the lighthouse that guarded them. In this case the guardianship had been in vain, and the sea was hastening to wreak further havoc on the gallant ship.

The boys and girls trudged down to the beach through sand that clung to their feet. They could see the life-savers getting their apparatus in order, and near them were huddled some men--evidently sailors.

"Those are the men who were rescued from the ship," said Rosalie. "There are more on board, and some pa.s.sengers, I heard. Some women and children, too!"

"How terrible!" gasped Belle. "Oh, I don't see how any one can take a long voyage. I am so afraid of the water."

"I don't blame you--not when it acts this way," spoke Eline. "It makes me shudder!"

The big green waves seemed to be reaching hungrily out for those on the strand, as though not satisfied with having wrecked the ship. The waters fairly flung themselves at the men whose seemingly puny efforts were being directed to save those yet remaining on board.

"Is the ship's captain among them?" asked Walter, pointing to the group of sailors.

"No, indeed!" exclaimed Rosalie. "He'll be the last one to leave. They're always like that. My father was a captain once," and she seemed proud of the fact, though now she was glad that her father was safe in the staunch lighthouse.

"That's so, I forgot," remarked Walter. "The captain is always the last to leave."

"But I thought women and children came first in a rescue at sea,"

suggested Ed.

"The women and girls--I heard there were some girls," went on Rosalie, "wouldn't get in the boat. They were afraid. Of course the breeches buoy is safer, but look how they have to wait. She may go to pieces any time now."

"It's dreadful," said Cora, in a low voice.

She and her companions drew closer to where the life-savers were at work. The boys and girls were wet, for the rain penetrated through coats, and umbrellas were impossible. But they did not mind this, and Mrs.

Chester had promised to have hot coffee for them when they got back to the bungalow. She had refused to go out to look at the wreck.

"I just couldn't bear it!" she had exclaimed with a shudder.

The guards were burying in the sand a heavy anchor to which the main rope of the breeches buoy would be fastened. The other end would be made fast to the highest part of the ship, so that the person being pulled ash.o.r.e in the carrier would be as far above the waves as possible. The three masts had been broken off, but the jagged stump of one stuck up, and could be seen when there came a momentary lull in the rain.

It was not very cold, though much of the heat of summer had been dissipated in the cool rain.

"If it was winter, how terrible it would be," said Eline. "Sometimes I have seen lake steamers just a ma.s.s of ice."

"Yes, there is something to be thankful for," Cora agreed. "Oh, they are going to fire, I think."

She pointed to where some of the men were setting the mortar, or small cannon, which is discharged to send a line to stranded ships. The mortar fires a long, round piece of iron, to which is fastened a light, but strong, line. When this falls aboard the vessel a stronger rope is hauled from sh.o.r.e by means of it.

"Yes, they're going to shoot!" agreed Jack. "They must have trouble keeping their powder dry."

Bess covered her ears with her hands and cried:

"Oh, if they're going to fire I'm going to run!"

"Silly! It won't make much noise!" exclaimed Norton. "They don't use a heavy charge."

"I don't care. I'm going to----"

But Bess did not have time to do anything, for at that moment the captain pulled the lanyard that set off the mortar. The report was loud enough, though partly smothered by the storm.

"It fell short!" exclaimed Rosalie, who was watching intently. "See, it fell into the water!"

"Does that mean they can't make the rescue?" asked Belle, in an awed voice.

"Oh, no, they'll fire again," answered Rosalie.

A guard was hauling in on the line, which had the weight attached to it.

Soon it was in the mortar again, the line coiled beside it in a box in a peculiar manner to prevent tangling.

Once more the shot was fired.

"There it goes! It's going to land this time!" shouted Rosalie in her excitement. A shout from the group of rescued seamen, in which the life guards joined, told that the shot had gone true.

Then began a busy time--not that the men had not worked hard before. But there was need of much haste now, for it was feared the vessel would break up. Quickly the heavy line was sent out and made fast. Then the breeches buoy was rigged, and in a little while a woman was hauled in from the wreck.

"Poor thing!" murmured Cora. "We must help her. She is drenched."

"Yes, we must do something!" cried Belle.

"We'll take her up to our kitchen," proposed Rosalie. "There's a good fire there, and I'll make coffee."

The woman was helped out of the buoy, and the motor girls went to her a.s.sistance. She seemed very grateful. She was the wife of one of the mates, and he was not yet rescued.

"I will stay here until Harry comes ash.o.r.e!" she declared, firmly.

"And you know he won't come, Mrs. Madden, until the rest of the women is saved," explained one of the seamen. "Go with the young ladies. That is best," and she finally consented.

In a short time several other women and two girls came ash.o.r.e, one much exhausted. But by this time a physician had arrived, and he attended to her in the lighthouse.

Then the remainder of the sailors were brought from the wreck, the first one to get ash.o.r.e reporting that no more women or girls remained aboard.

"There was one girl," he said, "but she seems to have disappeared."

"Washed overboard?" asked Cora, with a gasp.

"I'm afraid so, miss. It's a terrible storm."

Finally the captain himself was hauled off, and he landed amid cheers from the brave men who had helped save him. He said the vessel was now abandoned, and would not last another hour. In less than that time the wreck was observed to have changed its position.