Girls of the Forest Part 45

She was just able to scramble again out of the water on the White Bay side. The tide was coming in with great rapidity. It was hopeless to think of carrying Pen across.

"Let us go to the top part of the bay, as close to the rocks as possible," said Pauline; "and don't let's be really frightened, for I am sure the boat will be in time."

"Oh, I am certain of it!" said Harry. "Nellie never does lose her head.

She won't want us to drown, so she'll hurry up."

"Give me your hand, Pen," said Pauline. "You are a very brave little girl to let the other little girl go first. I am glad you did it."

"Will G.o.d remember that about me by-and-by?" asked Pen.

"I hope so," replied Pauline, with a shiver.

She took Pen's icy hand and began to rub it.

"It isn't at all good for you to shiver like this," she said. "Here is a bright piece of sunshine. Let us run up and down in the sunshine. It doesn't seem, somehow, as though anybody could drown when the sun shines."

"Maybe the boat will be in time," said Harry.

They ran up and down for some time, and then stood quiet. Pauline was very silent. Beside the other two children she felt quite old and grown-up. She had got Pen into this terrible sc.r.a.pe; it was her mission to help them both. If they must all die, she at least would have to show courage. She was not ready to die. She knew that fact quite well. But she had naturally plenty of pluck, and fearful as her present surroundings were, she would not have been afraid but for that ugly black thing which rested on her conscience. Penelope looked full into her face. There was something also p.r.i.c.king Penelope's conscience. The three children stood close together on the little white patch of sand which had not yet been covered by the waves. The wind was getting up, and the waves were mounting higher; they rushed farther and farther up the bay, and curled and swept and enjoyed themselves, and looked as though they were having a race up the white sands. Pauline made a rapid calculation, and came to the conclusion that they had about half-an-hour to live; for the bay was a very shallow one, and when the wind was in its present quarter the tide rose rapidly. She looked back at the rocks behind her, and saw that high-water mark, even on ordinary occasions, was just above their heads.

This was what is called a spring-tide. There was not the least hope.

"If only we could climb up," she thought.

Then Penelope gave her hand a great tug. She looked down. Pen went on tugging and tugging.

"Look," she said; "stoop and look."

In the palm of Pen's hand lay the thimble.

"Take it," said Pen. "I comed with it to make mischief, but I won't never tell now--never. Take it. Put it in your pocket. I am sorry I was so bad.

Take it."

Pauline did take the little gold thimble. She slipped it into her pocket; then she stooped and kissed Pen.

"What are you two doing?" said Harry. "Why don't you talk to me? Can't I do something to help? I'm ten. How old are you?"

"I was fourteen a few weeks ago," said Pauline.

"Granny!" said the boy. "Why, you are quite old; you are withering up. I wouldn't like to be fourteen. You must know a monstrous lot. You are a very plucky one to come through the water as you did. I wish I could swim, and I wouldn't let the waves get the better of me; but I'm glad I let Nellie see that I wasn't afraid of drowning. Do you mind drowning, big, big, old girl?"

"Yes, I do," said Pauline.

"You have a queer sort of look in your eyes, like the little one has in hers. Are you wicked, too?"

"You have guessed it," said Pauline.

"I expect we're all wicked for that matter; but we can say our prayers, can't we?"

"Yes," said Pauline, and now her lips trembled and the color faded from her cheeks. "Let us say them together."

"By-and-by," said Pen. "We needn't say our prayers yet. It will be some time afore the water will touch us; won't it, Paulie?"

Pauline knew that the water would come in very quickly. Harry looked full at Pen, and then he nodded his head. He came to Pauline and whispered something in her ear.

"What is it?" she said.

"She's little," he said. "She's quite a baby--not eight yet. I am ten.

When the water begins to come in we'll lift her in our arms and raise her above it; shan't we?"

"Yes; that is a very good thought," said Pauline. She looked back again at the rocks. They were smooth as marble; there did not seem to be a possible foothold. She felt a sense of regret that they had not gone to the farther end of the bay, where the rocks were lower and more indented, and where it might be possible for a brave boy and girl to get temporary foothold; but the sea had already reached those rocks and was dashing round them.

"I wish I had thought of it," said Pauline.

"What about?"

"The rocks--those rocks out there."

The words had scarcely pa.s.sed her lips before Harry darted back. A wave from the incoming tide had rolled over his feet.

Pen uttered a sudden cry:

"I am frightened. I won't drown. I am awful frightened."

She began to shriek.

"Try and keep up your courage, darling," said Pauline. "It won't be long.

It will be quickly over, and I will stay close to you. Paulie will be close to you."

"Let us get her to stand on our two shoulders, and we'll lean up against the rocks," said Harry. "She can steady herself against the rock, and I will support you both. Here, I will hoist her up. Now, missy, you look slippy. That's it."

Harry was a very active boy, and he did manage to lift Pen, who was stiff with cold and fright, and miserable with a sense of her own naughtiness, on to Pauline's and his shoulders. When she was established in that position she was propped up against the rocks.

"Now you are safe," said Harry, looking back at her and trying to laugh.

"We'll both drown before you. See how safe you are."

Just for a moment Pen was somewhat consoled by this reflection. But presently a fresh terror seized her. It would be so awful when she was left alone and there was only a dead Pauline and a dead Harry to keep her company. She had never seen anybody die, and had not the least idea what death meant. Her terrors grew worse each moment. She began to cry and whimper miserably, "I wish that boat would come."

Another wave came in and washed right over both Pauline's and Harry's ankles. They were jammed up against the rocks now. This big wave was followed by a second and a third, and soon the children were standing in water very nearly up to their knees.

"Seems to me," said Harry in a choky voice, "that it is about time we began our prayers. It is like going to sleep at night. Just when you are preparing to sleep you say your prayers, and then you dump your head down on your pillow and off you go to by-bye land. Then mother comes and kisses you, and she says---- Oh, bother! I don't want to think of that.

Let's try and fancy that it is night. Let's begin our prayers. Oh, what a wave that is! Why, it has dashed right into my eyes."

"How far up is the water now, Pauline?" asked Penelope from her position.

"It is not very far up yet," replied Pauline in as cheerful a tone as she could. "We had better do what Harry says, and say our prayers."

"Shall us?" said Pen.

"I think so," replied Pauline.