a person."

He moved his helm so as to bring the boat nearer Yelholme than his
course; and very soon they discovered that the "something white" was
really a human being.

"It's a man; and he must be hurt, for he is lying on his side waving to
us. He would stand up if he could," Yaspard cried.

"Oh, poor creature! We must save him," said Signy.

"It will not be very easy to reach the holme this afternoon," Yaspard
remarked thoughtfully. "There's a heavy under-tow there."

"But we can't go away and leave him, brodhor. Just look at him. Now
he tries to raise himself. It is dreadful."

"I wish the Manse boat had come along after all;" and Yaspard scanned
the sea, hoping some boat might be in sight; but there was nothing
moving on the water save the wild birds and his own skiff. After a
moment's silence he said, "We'll make a try, Signy; and if we don't
succeed, we'll tell him we are going to bring more efficient help."

With skill and caution Yaspard brought his boat alongside of the
skerry. The castaway was lying on the turf, battered and helpless. He
could only raise his hands, and watch the boy's movements with intense
emotion; and it was evident he could not help in his own rescue very
much.

"I shall have to land," said Yaspard, "and lug him into the boat
somehow."

He had, of course, dropped the sail, and the boat being on the lee side
of the rock, was easily attached to it, but swung about considerably,
as there was rather more than usual under-tow around the holme,
occasioned by the state of the tide--a circumstance which our young
hero had not sufficiently considered.

"I really don't believe we can get him aboard if he has broken his
bones, as seems the case," the lad remarked, as he jumped upon the
skerry and fastened the boat by the end of a rope to the rocks.

"I am giving her a good length," he said, "so that she can ride free as
the water falls. Do you think you can keep her from scraping with the
boat-hook, Signy?"

She had often performed a similar duty, though not with so much motion
of the sea, and she replied that she would try on the present occasion.

Having settled these points, Yaspard turned to the unfortunate man
lying a few yards from the water's edge. "Are you much hurt?" was the
first question put to him.

"I'm half killed," was the feebly uttered reply; and in truth he looked
three-fourths killed. One leg was broken, and both arms were much cut
and bruised. He ha