e on the pegs of
the frame that held it. In less than five minutes the life-savers were
ready for another shot.

"You take it when the regular crew are at practice, sometimes,"
whispered Heavy, to Ruth, "and they work like lightning. They'll shoot
the line and get a man ashore in the breeches buoy in less than two
minutes. But this is hard work for these volunteers--and it means so
much!"

Ruth felt as though a hand clutched at her heart. The unshed tears stung
her eyes. If they should fail--if all this effort should go for naught!
Suppose that unknown girl out there on the wreck should be washed ashore
in the morning, pallid and dead.

The thought almost overwhelmed the girl from the Red Mill. As the
gun barked a second time and the shot and line hurtled seaward, Ruth
Fielding's pale lips uttered a whispered prayer.

CHAPTER X

THE DOUBLE CHARGE

But again the line fell short.

"They'll never be able to make it," Tom Cameron said to the shivering
girls.

"Oh, I really wish we hadn't come down here," murmured his sister.

"Oh, pshaw, Nell! don't be a baby," he growled.

But he was either winking back the tears himself, or the salt spray had
gotten into his eyes. How could anybody stand there on the beach and feel
unmoved when nine human beings, in view now and then when the billows
fell, were within an ace of awful death?

Again and again the gun was shotted and the captain pulled the lanyard.
He tried to catch the moment when there was a lull in the gale; but
each time the shot fell short. It seemed to be merely a waste of human
effort and gunpowder.

"I've 'phoned to the Minot Cove station," the captain said, during
one of the intervals while they were hauling in the line. "They've got
a power boat there, and if they can put to sea with her they might get
around to the other side of the reef and take 'em off."

"She'll go to pieces before a boat can come from Minot Cove," declared
one grizzled fisherman.

"I fear so, Henry," replied the captain. "But we got to do what we
can. They ain't give me no leeway with this gun. Orders is never to give
her a bigger charge than what she's gettin' now. But, I swan----"

He did not finish his sentence, but gravely measured out the next charge
of powder. When he had loaded the gun he waved everybody back.

"Git clean away, you lads. All of ye, now! She'll probably blow up,
but there ain't no use in more'n one of us blowin' up with her."

"What you don