or two later, drenched all over, panting and trembling, but
still safe in the White Bay. To her relief, she saw three terrified
children crouching up as near as they dared to the water. Even now a
great wave, deeper and stronger than its predecessors, rolled in. It took
Pauline off her feet just as she was clambering to dry ground. She
recovered herself, ran up to Pen, took her hand, and said:

"We have played pickaback before now. Get on my back this moment; don't
stop to think."

"I daren't," said Pen.

"Little boy--I don't know your name," said Pauline--"put Pen onto my back
whatever happens."

Harry Carver sprang towards Pen.

"You must," he said. "She is brave; she is a true heroine. The lions and
tigers would love her. Get on her back and she will return for us. Oh! be
quick--do be quick--for we don't any of us want to be drowned."

"Can you swim?" asked Pauline. "No; I know you can't. I haven't a moment
to stay; I'll come back somehow."

She struggled towards the water, but Pen scrambled off her back and stood
firm on the ground.

"I am bad," she said--"there never was anybody much badder--but I'm not
going first. Take that little girl; I will go afterwards."

"Come, little girl," said Pauline.

Harry rushed towards his sister.

"Do go, Nellie. Let mother keep one of us. I don't mind being
drowned--not a bit. You tell mother I don't mind. Go, Nellie; do go with
the big brave girl."

So Pauline carried Nellie through the rising tide, and, marvellous to
relate, did land her safely on the other side.

"Now look here," she said, "you must rush home as fast as you can, and
when you get there you are to say that there are two girls and a boy in
the White Bay, and that your people are to bring a boat immediately.
Don't waste a second. Find somebody. If all your people are out, go to
ours. Our house is No. 11. You understand? There isn't a minute to lose."

"Yes, see you go," shouted Harry Carver. "And if you are too late, be
sure you tell mother that I wasn't afraid to drown."

Nellie Carver began to run as fast as she could across the sands. Pauline
hesitated for a moment; then she deliberately waded back to the other
two. The water was up to her waist now, and she had the greatest
difficulty in keeping her feet.

"I couldn't face anybody again if Pen were drowned," she said to herself.
"If she drowns, so will I. It is the only thing fit for me. Perhaps when
God sees that I am sorry, and that I did