Her figure, too, was recalled. In that transitory glance he had perceived above the water-line, and continued in the translucency beneath, an outline not easily forgotten. He so well remembered it, as almost to repent the spasm of delicacy that had caused him to retreat behind the rock.
This repentance had something to do with the direction he was now taking.
He had hopes of encountering the bathers as they came up to the summit of the cliff.
Much time, however, had passed. He could see that the beach was deserted – the few dark forms appearing upon it being evidently those solitary creatures of bachelor kind, who become Neptune’s guests only at the second table.
Of course the two mermaids having exchanged their loose aquatic costume for the more constrained dress of the street, had long since gone home to the hotel. This was his conjecture.
A cry came to contradict it; close followed by another, and another!
He ran out to the edge of the cliff and looked downward. He could remember nothing of the landmarks. The tide, now well in, had changed the look of everything below. The ledges were covered – their position only to be told by the surf breaking over them.
Once more came up the cry!
Dropping on his knees, he crept closer and closer to the escarped edge – out to its very brink. Still nothing to be seen below! Neither woman nor human being. Not a spot on which one might find footing. No beach above water – no shoal, rock, or ledge, projecting from the precipice – no standing-place of any kind. Only the dark angry waves, roaring like enraged lions, and embracing the abutment as though they would drag it back with them into the abysm of the ocean!
Amidst the crashing and seething, once more ascended the cry! Again, and again, till it became a continuous chant!
He could not mistake its meaning. The bathers were still below. Beyond doubt they were in danger.
How could he assist them?
He started to his feet. He looked all round – along the cliff-path, and across the fields stretching back from the shore.
No house was near – no chance of obtaining a rope.
He turned toward Easton’s Beach. There might be a boat there. But could it be brought in time?
It was doubtful. The cries continuing told him that the peril was imminent. Those imperilled might be already struggling with the tide!
At this moment he remembered a sloping gorge. It could not be far off. It was the same by which the young ladies had gone down. He was a strong swimmer, and knew it. By swimming round into the cove, he might be able to effect their rescue.
Giving a shout, to assure them that their situation was known, he started at full speed along the crest of the cliff.
On reaching the ravine, he flung himself into it, and soon reached the sea-level below.
Without pausing, he turned along the shore, rushing over sand and shingle, over sharp ledges, and making his way among boulders slippery with seaweed.
He reached the abutment that flanked one side of the cove, from which he could now again hear the cries of distress, mingled with the hoarse shrieking of the sea.
To wade round the point was plainly impossible. The water was neck-deep, seething and swelling.
Kicking off his boots, and throwing his gun, cap, and coat upon a ledge, he plunged in, and commenced a struggle with the billows.
It cost him one – his life nearly. Twice was his body borne against the rock with fearful violence – each time receiving injury in the shock.
He succeeded in rounding the point and reaching the cove beyond, where the swell broke more smoothly upon a sloping bed.
He now swam with ease; and soon stood in the presence of the bathers, who, at sight of him, had ceased their cries, believing their danger at an end.
All were within the grotto, to which they had retreated, as offering the highest ground. For all this, they were up to the ankles in water!
At his approach they rushed out, wading knee-deep to meet him.
“Oh, sir!” cried the eldest of the young ladies, “you see how we are situated: can you assist us?”
The swimmer had risen erect. He looked right and left, before making rejoinder.
“Can you swim?” he asked.
“Not one of us.”
“It is bad,” he muttered to himself. “Either way, it is doubtful whether I could carry them through it. It’s been as much as I could do for myself. We’d be almost certain of being crushed. What, in heaven’s name, can be done for them?”
They were thoughts rather than words, and the girls could not know them. But they saw the stranger’s brow clouded with apprehension; and with eyes straining into his, they stood trembling.
He turned suddenly, and glanced up the cliff. He remembered the seam he had observed from above. He could now survey it from base to summit.
A gleam of hope flashed over his face. It could be scaled!
“Surely you can climb up there?” he asked, encouragingly.
“No, no! I’m sure we could never go up that way. I could not.”
“Nor I.”
“You might sustain yourselves by taking hold of the bushes. It is not so difficult as it appears. Those tufts of grass would help you; and there are points where you might place your feet. I could climb it easily myself; but, unfortunately, it would be impossible for me to assist you. There is not room for two to go up together.”
“I am sure I should fall before I was halfway to the top!”
This was said by Cornelia. Julia signified the same. The negress had no voice. With lips ashy pale, she seemed too much terrified to speak.
“Then there is no alternative but to try swimming,” said the stranger, once more facing seaward, and again scrutinising the surf. “No!” he added, apparently recoiling from the design, “by swimming I might save myself, though it is no longer certain. The swell has increased since I came in here. There’s been wind on the sea outside. I’m a fair swimmer; but to take one of you with me is, I fear, beyond my strength.”
“But, sir!” appealed she of the dark eyes, “is it certain we could not stay here till the tide falls again?”
“Impossible! Look there!” answered he, pointing to the cliff.
There could be no mistaking what he meant. That line trending horizontally along the façade of the precipice, here and there ragged with sea-wrack, was the high-water mark of the tide. It was far overhead!
The girls uttered a simultaneous scream as they stood regarding it. It was, in truth, the first time they had felt a full sense of their danger. Hitherto they had been sustained by a hope that the tide would not mount so high as to submerge them. But there was the tell-tale track, beyond reach even of their hands!
“Courage!” cried the stranger, his voice all at once assuming a cheerful tone, as if some bright thought had occurred to him. “You have shawls, both of you. Let me have them.”
Without questioning his purpose, both raised the cashmeres from their shoulders, and held them out to him.
“A plan has occurred to me,” said he, taking out his knife, and cutting the costly fabric into strips. “I did not think of it before. By the help of these I may get you up the cliff.”
The shawls were soon separated into several bands. These he knotted together so as to form a long, narrow festoonery.
With eager hands the young ladies assisted him in the operation.
“Now?” he said, as soon as the junction was completed; “by this I can draw you up, one by one. Who first?”
“Go, cousin!” said she of the dark eyes; “you are lightest. It will be easier