Frank Fairlegh Part 17

I could see that Oaklands did not at all approve of the plan, evidently considering we were running a foolish risk; but, as nothing short of a direct quarrel with Lawless could have prevented it, his habitual indolence and easy temper prevailed, and he remained silent. I felt much inclined to object, in which case I had little doubt the majority of the party would have supported me; but a boyish dread, lest my refusal should be attributed to cowardice, prevented my doing so. With the a.s.sistance of the by-standers we contrived to launch our little bark without further misadventure than a rather heavier sprinkling of salt water than was agreeable. Rowing in such a sea, however, proved much harder work than I, for one, had any idea of; we made scarcely any way against the waves, and I soon felt sure that it would be utterly impossible for us to reach Helmstone by any exertions we were capable of making. The weather too was becoming worse every minute: it rained heavily, and it was with the greatest difficulty we were able to prevent the crests of some of the larger waves from das.h.i.+ng into our boat; in fact, as it was, she was already half full of water, which poured in faster than Coleman (who was the only person not otherwise engaged) could bale it out.

"Upon my word, Lawless, it's madness to attempt to go on," exclaimed Oaklands; "we are throwing away our lives for nothing."

"It certainly looks rather queerish," replied Lawless. "What do you say about it, my man?" he asked of the person whom he had engaged to steer us.

"I say," replied the fellow in a surly tone, "that our only chance is to make for the beach at once, and we shall have better luck than we deserve, if we reach it alive."

As he spoke a larger wave than usual broke against the bow of the boat, flinging in such a body of water that we felt her stagger under it, and I believed, for a moment, that we were about to sink. This decided the question; the boat's head was put about with some difficulty, and we were soon straining every nerve to reach the sh.o.r.e. As we neared the beach we perceived that even during -103--the short time which had elapsed since we quitted it, the sea had become considerably rougher, and the line of surf now presented anything but an encouraging appearance. As we approached the breakers the steersman desired us to back with our oars till he saw a favourable opportunity; and the moment he gave us the signal to pull in as hard as we were able. After a short pause the signal was given, and we attempted to pull in as he had directed; but, in doing this, we did not act exactly in concert--Lawless taking his stroke too soon, while Mullins did not make his soon enough; consequently, we missed the precise moment, the boat turned broadside to the beach, a wave poured over us, and in another instant we were struggling in the breakers. For my own part, I succeeded in gaining my legs, only to be thrown off them again by the next wave, which hurried me along with it, and flung me on the s.h.i.+ngle, when one of the group of fishermen who had witnessed the catastrophe ran in, and seizing me by the arm, in time to prevent my being washed back again by the under-tow, dragged me out of the reach of the waves.

On recovering my feet my first impulse was to look round for my companions. I at once perceived Lawless, Mullins, and Oaklands, who were apparently uninjured, though the latter held his hand pressed against his forehead, as if in pain; but Coleman was nowhere to be seen. "Where is Coleman?" exclaimed I.

"There is some one clinging to the boat still," observed a by-stander.

I looked anxiously in the direction indicated, and perceived the boat floating bottom upwards, just beyond the line of breakers; while, clinging to the keel, was a figure which I instantly recognised to be that of Coleman. "Oh, save him, save him; he will be drowned!" cried I, in an agony of fear.

"Ten guineas for any one who will get him out!" shouted Lawless; but n.o.body seemed inclined to stir.

"Give me a rope," cried I, seizing the end of a coil which one of the boatmen had over his shoulder, and tying it round my waist.

"What are you going to do?" asked Lawless.

While he spoke a large wave separated Coleman from the boat, and, as it poured its huge volume upon the beach, bore him along with it. With the swiftness of thought I sprang forward, and succeeded in throwing my arms round him, ere the next advancing wave dashed over us. And now my foresight in fastening the rope -104--around me proved, under Providence, the means of saving both our lives. Though thrown to the ground by the force of the water I contrived to retain my grasp of Coleman, and we were hauled up and conveyed beyond the reach of the surf by the strong arms of those on sh.o.r.e, ere another wave could approach to claim its victims.

[Ill.u.s.tration: page104 Frank Rescues Coleman]

On recovering my consciousness (I had been partially stunned by the violence of my last fall) I found myself lying on the beach, with my head resting on the breast of Oaklands.

"My dear, dear Frank, thank G.o.d that you are safe!" exclaimed he, pressing me more closely to him.

"What of Coleman?" asked I, endeavouring to raise myself.

"They are taking him to the inn," was the reply; "I will go and see if I can be of any use, now I know you are unhurt; but I could not leave you till I felt sure of that."

"I fancied you seemed in pain just now," said I.

"I struck my head against some part of the boat when she capsized,"

returned Oaklands, "and the blow stunned me for a minute or two, so that I knew nothing of what was going on till I saw you rush into the water to save Coleman; that roused me effectually, and I helped them to pull you both out. Frank, you have saved his life."

"If it is saved," rejoined I. "Let us go and see how he is getting on; I think I can walk now, if you will let me lean upon your arm."

With the a.s.sistance of Oaklands I contrived to reach the inn without much difficulty; indeed, by the time I got there (the walk having served in great measure to restore my circulation) I scarcely felt any ill effects from my late exertions. The inn presented a rare scene of confusion: people were hurrying in and out, the messenger sent for the doctor had just returned, breathless, to say he was not to be found; the fat landlady, in a state of the greatest excitement, was trotting about making impracticable suggestions, to which no one paid the slightest attention, while Coleman, still insensible, lay wrapped in blankets before a blazing fire in the parlour, with the pretty barmaid on her knees beside him sobbing piteously, as she chafed his temples with some strong essence.

"That's the time of day!" exclaimed Lawless, as his eye fell upon a printed card which the landlady had just thrust into his hand, headed, "The directions of the Humane Society for the restoration of persons apparently drowned". "We shall have it now all right," added he, and then read as follows: "The first observation we 105--must make, which is most important, is, that rolling the body on a tub--"

"Bring a tub," cried the landlady eagerly, and off started several of the by-standers to follow her injunctions--

"Is most injurious," continued Lawless; "but holding up by the legs with the head downwards"--(a party of volunteers, commanded by the landlady, rushed forward to obtain possession of Coleman's legs)--"is certain death," shouted Lawless, concluding the sentence.

While this was going on I had been rubbing Coleman's hands between my own, in the hope of restoring circulation; and now, to my extreme delight, I perceived a slight pulsation at the wrist; next came a deep sigh, followed by a tremulous motion of the limbs; and, before five minutes were over, he was sufficiently restored to sit up, and recognise those about him. After this, his recovery progressed with such rapidity that ere half an hour had elapsed he was able to listen with interest to Oaklands' account of the circ.u.mstances attending his rescue, when Lawless, hastily entering the room, exclaimed: "Here's a slice of good luck, at all events; there's a post-chaise just stopped, returning to Helmstone, and the boy agrees to take us all for a s.h.i.+lling a head, as soon as he has done watering his horses. How is Freddy getting on?--will he be able to go?"

"All right, old fellow," replied Coleman. "Thanks to Fairlegh in the first instance, and a stiff gla.s.s of brandy-and-water in the second, 'Richard's himself again!'"

"Well, you've had a near shave for it this time, however," said Lawless; "there is more truth than I was aware of in the old proverb, 'If you are born to be hanged, you will never be drowned'; though, if it had not been for Frank Fairlegh, you would not have lived to fulfil your destiny."

In another ten minutes we were all packed in and about the post-chaise; Coleman, Oaklands, and myself occupying the interior, while Lawless and Mullins rode outside. The promise of an extra half-crown induced the driver to use his best speed. At a quarter before five we were within a stone's-throw of home; and if that day at dinner Mrs. Mildman observed the pale looks and jaded appearance of some of the party, I have every reason to believe she has remained up to the present hour in total ignorance as to their cause. -106--

CHAPTER XII -- DEATH AND CHANGE

"The voice which I did more esteem Than music on her sweetest key;

Those eyes which unto me did seem More comfortable than the day;

Those now by me, as they have been, Shall never more be heard or seen;

But what I once enjoyed in them, Shall seem hereafter as a dream.

"All earthly comforts vanish thus; So little hold of them have we;

That we from them, or they from us, May in a moment ravished be.

Yet we are neither just nor wise If present mercies we despise,

Or mind not how these may be made A thankful use of what we had."

--Wither.

"Up springs at every step to claim a tear Some youthful friends.h.i.+p form'd and cherish'd here."

--Rogers.

"Time flies away fast!

The while we never remember-- How soon our life here Grows old with the year That dies with the next December."

--Herrick.

AS I was undressing that night Coleman came into my room, and grasping my hand with his own shook it warmly, saying: "I could not go to sleep, Frank, without coming to thank you for the n.o.ble way in which you risked your own life to save mine to-day. I laughed it off before Lawless and the rest of the fellows, for when I feel deeply, I hate to show it; but indeed," (and the tears stood in his eyes while he spoke), "indeed I am not ungrateful."

"My dear Freddy," returned I, "do not suppose I thought you so for a moment; there, say no more about it; you would have done the same thing for me that I did for you, had our positions been reversed."

"I am not so sure of that," was his reply; "I should have wished to do so; but it is not every one who can act with such prompt.i.tude and decision in moments of danger."

-107--"There is one request I should like to make," said I.

"What is it?" replied he quickly.

"Do not forget to thank Him, whose instrument I was, for having so mercifully preserved your life."

A silent pressure of the hand was the only answer, and we parted for the night.