re the light fell on both of their faces as they
looked in the direction of the swimmer. Stephen's red dress itself stood
out like a flame. The gale tearing up the front of the cliff had whirled
away her hat; in the stress of the wind her hair was torn from its up-
pinning and flew wide, itself like leaping flame.

Her gestures as she swept her right arm round, as though demonstrating
the outward curve of a circle, or raising the hand above her head
motioned with wide palm and spread fingers 'back! back!' seemed to have
reached the swimmer's intelligence. He half rose in the water and looked
about. As if seeing something that he realised, he sank back again and
began swim frantically out to sea. A great throb of joy made Stephen
almost faint. At last she had been able to do something to help this
gallant man. In half a minute his efforts seemed to tell in his race for
life. He drew sufficiently far from dangerous current for there to be a
hope that he might be saved if he could last out the stress to come.

The fishermen kept watch in silent eagerness; and in their presence
Stephen felt a comfort, though, like her, they could do nothing at
present.

When the swimmer had passed sufficiently far out to be clear of the
rocks, the fire began to lose its flame, though not its intensity. It
would be fiery still for hours to come, and of great heat; but the flames
ceased to leap, and in the moderated light Stephen only saw the white
face for one more instant ere it faded out of her ken, when, turning, the
man looked towards the light and made a gesture which she did not
understand: for he put for an instant both hands before his face.

Just then there was a wild noise on the cliff. The rocket-cart drawn by
sixteen splendid horses, some of them hunters, came tearing up the slope,
and with it many men on horseback afoot. Many of the runners were the
gentlemen who had given their horses for the good work.

As the coastguards jumped from the cart, and began to get out the rocket
stand, the old whaler pointed out the direction where the swimmer's head
could still be seen. Some of the sailors could see it too; though to
Stephen and the laymen it was invisible. The chief boatman shook his
head:

'No use throwing a line there! Even if he got it we could never drag him
alive through these rocks. He would be pounded to death before twenty
fathom!' Stephen's heart grew cold as she listened. Was this the end?
Then w