foundland appeared to comprehend what was wanted, and
contributed not a little to the momentum.
"Do you think we are making any progress----"
"O, save me! save me! I'm drowning!"
The voice sounded close by them, and caused an involuntary start from
all three.
"Where is he?" asked Howard, in a terrified whisper.
"There!"
At that moment they caught sight of a man fiercely buffeting the waves,
as he rose on an immense swell, and then sunk down again in the trough
of the sea.
"Can we do anything for him?" asked Elwood. "It's too bad to see the
poor fellow sink when we may save him."
"I'm afeared the owld bench won't bear another hand on it."
But Terror had heard that cry and anticipated the wishes of his friends.
Leaving them with their raft, he struck powerfully out toward the
drowning man, and they both went down in the vast sea chasm together.
When they came in view again upon the crest of the swell, the
Newfoundland had the hair of the man's head in his teeth and had begun
his return. A moment later the gasping man threw out his hands and
caught the settee with such eagerness that it instantly sunk.
"Be careful!" admonished Howard, "or you'll drown us all. One of us
can't swim!"
"Won't your raft bear us?"
"Yes, if you keep only your head above water and bear very lightly upon
it. Don't attempt to rise up."
"All right!"
The buoyant raft came to the surface, and was instantly grasped firmly
but carefully by all. Poor Tim O'Rooney had come very near drowning. A
man when suddenly cast into the water for the first time has been known
to swim long and well; and the Irishman, by the most furious effort, had
saved himself from strangling and sinking, although he had swallowed a
good deal of the nauseating sea-water, and was now ejecting it.
"Worrah! I took an overdose that time, and it wouldn't sthay on my
stomach!" he said. "I'm thinking there'll be no necessity of me
swallowing any salts for some time to coom, be the towken that I've
enough to last me me life-time."
"We are all right now!" said the stranger. "I can swim, but I was just
about used up when your dog took me in tow. May I inquire who my friends
are?"
Howard gave their names and destination, and he instantly said:
"My name is Manuel Yard, and my place of business is next door to that
of your fathers."
"You know them then."
"I have known them both very well for years, and now that you have given
me your names I rememb
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