in a while. Then the current
caught her and nothing could save her. She went right on the rocks. Her
back's broke, Captain Meeker of the life guards said."

"Can they save the people?" Cora inquired, as she pulled her raincoat more
tightly about her, for the wind seemed fairly to whip open the buttons.

"They're going to try," answered the lighthouse maid. "They got some of
'em off in the motor life-boat early this morning, but it's too rough for
that now."

"What are they going to do, then?" asked Bess.

"Use the breeches buoy. It's the only way now!" cried Rosalie. "They're
going to fire a line over soon."

"We don't want to miss that," declared Jack.

The wreck had gone on the rocks nearly opposite the lighthouse that
guarded them. In this case the guardianship had been in vain, and the sea
was hastening to wreak further havoc on the gallant ship.

The boys and girls trudged down to the beach through sand that clung to
their feet. They could see the life-savers getting their apparatus in
order, and near them were huddled some men--evidently sailors.

"Those are the men who were rescued from the ship," said Rosalie. "There
are more on board, and some passengers, I heard. Some women and children,
too!"

"How terrible!" gasped Belle. "Oh, I don't see how any one can take a long
voyage. I am so afraid of the water."

"I don't blame you--not when it acts this way," spoke Eline. "It makes
me shudder!"

The big green waves seemed to be reaching hungrily out for those on the
strand, as though not satisfied with having wrecked the ship. The waters
fairly flung themselves at the men whose seemingly puny efforts were being
directed to save those yet remaining on board.

"Is the ship's captain among them?" asked Walter, pointing to the group
of sailors.

"No, indeed!" exclaimed Rosalie. "He'll be the last one to leave. They're
always like that. My father was a captain once," and she seemed proud of
the fact, though now she was glad that her father was safe in the staunch
lighthouse.

"That's so, I forgot," remarked Walter. "The captain is always the last
to leave."

"But I thought women and children came first in a rescue at sea,"
suggested Ed.

"The women and girls--I heard there were some girls," went on Rosalie,
"wouldn't get in the boat. They were afraid. Of course the breeches buoy
is safer, but look how they have to wait. She may go to pieces any time
now."

"It's dreadful," said Cora, in a low voic