CHAPTER XXII--THE RESCUE
Tom hailed the unmistakable signal of distress from the steamer _Olivia_with energy and hope.
"I think I understand why we saw no lights," he remarked. "The steamermust have driven into the breakers beyond what they call the NorthSentinel."
"That must be it," assented Bill. "Now Tom, get to your lever."
Bill tackled the wheel with renewed vigor and Tom braced up magically.At all events, he reflected, the _Olivia_ had not yet gone down. Theywould be in time for a rescue. The heavy wind, the pelting rain, theerratic gyrations of the launch, were as nothing to him now. The thoughtthat he might be able to save precious human lives inspired him withcourage.
A second rocket sailed through the mist-laden air a few minutes later.Bill, in high animal spirits, amid his excitement kept shouting out likea schoolboy driving a bicycle.
"Go it! Whoop-la! There's a dive for you! Beats automobiling!"
"Hurrah!" broke in Tom.
"She's there," echoed Bill.
"Yes, the _Olivia_ at last," cried Tom.
Veering slightly to southeast, the launch came in sight of the bobbingship's lights. One, a bulkhead reflector, was quite clear and guiding.
"Go cautiously now, Bill," warned our hero.
"I'll give you speed signals," responded Bill. "One--two, slow up."
"All right."
Tom knew from having visited the Garvey Rocks more than once in the pastthat they were nearing dangerous waters. Somehow, however, he hadconfidence in his pilot. Bill was daring, and more than once the keel ofthe _Beulah_ grazed some obstruction. But Bill shouted back to Tom eachtime that he knew his route, and would bring about no disaster throughrecklessness.
They were now so near to the steamer that they could make out hersituation quite clearly.
"She's stove in!" declared Bill. "Her fires are out, and there must be aleak. Look at her now, Tom--she's rolling."
The condition of the _Olivia_ was a precarious one--Tom discerned thisat a glance. She had fallen over slightly on one side. The lights ondeck showed a number of passengers huddled at a slanting bow, clingingto a cable which had been strung from rail to rail, to prevent them fromfalling or rolling when a particularly heavy billow would cause the oncestaunch ship to quiver and topple.
Another rocket went up. It was followed by a ringing cheer. The launch,slowing down, came directly into the strong central focus of thebulkhead reflector. Those working about the ship, clinging to this andthat as they moved about, paused to stare at the staunch little craft ofrescue. The passengers huddled together lost their terror and a babel ofexcited, hopeful, joyous voices sounded out.
"Oh Tom!--Tom!"
The young wireless operator thrilled with an emotion he could notanalyze. In an instant he recognized the voice of Grace Morgan. Couldshe have been thinking of him, that the recognition was so prompt; or,despite his unusual garb and the clumsy oilcloth cap, did the powerfulreflector glow bring out his features in strong relief?
"Ease her!" shouted Bill, and his very soul seemed centered in workingthe wheel to prevent both collision and retreat.
"Throw them a cable!" roared the trumpet tones of the captain of thesteamer.
Tom caught the coiling end of the rope and secured it, allowing a playof a few feet between the two craft.
"Drop the ladder!" came the next order.
"The women first!" shouted one of the steamer officers. "Get back,there!"
There was light enough for Tom to see a portly, fussy old man pressclose to the rail, vehemently shouting out that he would sue thesteamship company if they did not instantly get him to dry land. Heuttered a howl of despair as he was ignominiously bundled out of theway.
"I can't--I won't, I shall faint!" shrieked a rasping feminine voice, asa staunch sailor was compelled to carry her down the swaying ladder.
She wriggled like an eel as Tom grabbed her and forced her into thecabin of the launch, going instantly into hysterics as she landed on acushioned seat.
"There are only eight of the ladies," called down the captain.
"Hold tight, Aunt Bertha," Tom heard a familiar voice speak steadily.
"Oh, dear, I know I shall fall and be drowned!" wailed the second of therescued passengers, whom Tom was sure must be the aunt in whose chargeGrace had started on the present unlucky voyage.
"YOU BRAVE GIRL!" CRIED TOM IRRESISTIBLY.]
"We won't let you, ma'am," assured the sailor at the rail. "Be speedynow. There's more to follow."
The descent of seven of the ladies was accomplished. Tom had not caughta murmur of protest or fear from the plucky little maiden who had waitedher turn till the last.
A shriek loud and ringing went up from the seventh lady, for just as Tomseized her both of them were nearly hurled into the water. A fearfulgust of wind had driven the launch with a crash against the hull of thesteamer. The same terrific force gave the steamer a lurch, and shethreatened to turn turtle. As she righted, although the ladder wasflopping about like a whiplash, Grace sprang past the sailor at therail, slid one-half the length of the ladder, was swung out, and justcaught in Tom's arms as the captain of the steamer roared out in thundertones:
"Slip the cable, you lubber, or the launch will be crushed!"
"You brave girl!" cried Tom irresistibly.
"Oh, Tom, can I help?" inquired Grace.
"Yes, quiet those in the cabin."
Bill sounded the bell at the wheel and Tom with lightning speed made adash for the lever. He reversed just as the giant hull of the steamerflung down with crushing force.
"Fire! murder! help! police!" yelled the frantic fat old man on deck, ashis fond hopes vanished with the receding launch.
"Stand by!" shouted the captain of the steamer to Tom. "There's a dozenpassengers left yet."
"There's room with crowding, if you can get them aboard," reported Tom.
"Life preservers, all!" roared the captain. "One more lurch like that,and she'll split in two! Lower the men passengers."
"No need," shouted back Tom just then, as a dazzling light rounded theNorth Sentinel.
"The steam tug!" cried Bill.
"That will serve us. We're all right now," declared the captain. "Getthe women passengers ashore."
With a yell just then a great bulky form came shooting over the side ofthe steamer. It was the fussy old man. Tom barely managed to graspsomething floating behind him, or the suction of the passing tug wouldhave drawn him under the swiftly revolving steam screw.
"I'm drowned! I'm dead!" bawled the man, half choked with salt water, asTom pulled him to the deck of the launch, to find that as many as sixlife preservers encumbered his bulky form.
The steam tug had approached the _Olivia_, running her length as if todiscover the real merits of her situation. Preparing to start the launchinto the open sea away from the rocks and then to run direct forBrookville, Tom and Bill for a moment were awed into inactivity as agreat shout went up.
The steamer again lurched to one side. A loud crash sounded above thehowling gale, and the _Olivia_ lay a shattered wreck on the rocks.