shouted Rosalie in her
excitement. A shout from the group of rescued seamen, in which the life
guards joined, told that the shot had gone true.

Then began a busy time--not that the men had not worked hard before. But
there was need of much haste now, for it was feared the vessel would break
up. Quickly the heavy line was sent out and made fast. Then the breeches
buoy was rigged, and in a little while a woman was hauled in from the
wreck.

"Poor thing!" murmured Cora. "We must help her. She is drenched."

"Yes, we must do something!" cried Belle.

"We'll take her up to our kitchen," proposed Rosalie. "There's a good fire
there, and I'll make coffee."

The woman was helped out of the buoy, and the motor girls went to her
assistance. She seemed very grateful. She was the wife of one of the
mates, and he was not yet rescued.

"I will stay here until Harry comes ashore!" she declared, firmly.

"And you know he won't come, Mrs. Madden, until the rest of the women is
saved," explained one of the seamen. "Go with the young ladies. That is
best," and she finally consented.

In a short time several other women and two girls came ashore, one much
exhausted. But by this time a physician had arrived, and he attended to
her in the lighthouse.

Then the remainder of the sailors were brought from the wreck, the first
one to get ashore reporting that no more women or girls remained aboard.

"There was one girl," he said, "but she seems to have disappeared."

"Washed overboard?" asked Cora, with a gasp.

"I'm afraid so, miss. It's a terrible storm."

Finally the captain himself was hauled off, and he landed amid cheers
from the brave men who had helped save him. He said the vessel was now
abandoned, and would not last another hour. In less than that time the
wreck was observed to have changed its position.

Then amid the upheaval of the mighty seas the ship broke in two and was
soon pounded into shreds of wood by the terrible power of the storm-swept
ocean.

The shipwrecked ones were cared for among the different fishermen, some
staying in the lighthouse and some in the quarters of the life-savers.
The storm kept up harder than ever, and soon Cora and her friends decided
that it would be unwise to stay out longer in it. So they sought their
bungalows.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE FLOATING SPARS

Calm followed after the storm. The sea was sullen, and great waves broke
on the beach, but the rain had ceased, and the w