added Eline. "Oh, but she looks----"

"Don't say it!" commanded Cora, sharply, and Eline stopped.

"Oh, if only the boys were here!" breathed Bess. "They could help us--help
her," and she motioned to the limp figure on the raft.

"We don't need the boys!" exclaimed Cora, sharply. "We can make the rescue
ourselves. That is if----"

"Don't say it!" commanded Eline, thus "getting back" at Cora.

"Oh, do steer over there!" begged Bess, as Cora did not seem to be
bringing the motor boat quickly enough toward the raft of spars. "We must
get to her!"

"I am going to," answered Cora.

"Oh, do you suppose she can be from the wreck?" asked Belle.

"I think very likely," spoke Cora.

"Those spars--they are from the ship," declared Rosalie. "They are broken
pieces of the masts, perhaps. Some one must have made a raft before the
vessel broke up, and she lashed herself to it. I have often heard my
father tell of such things."

"Oh, do get her, Cora!" exclaimed Belle, clasping her hands.

"Don't go too close," warned the lighthouse maid. "Some of those spars
have jagged ends, and a bump would mean a hole in your boat, Miss Kimball."

"Don't, for mercy's sake!" voiced Bess, clutching Cora's arm.

"And don't you do that to my arm or I can't steer," came the retort. "I'll
be careful."

As the motor boat came nearer the girls could see more plainly the figure
on the raft. It was that of a young girl, with light hair, that was now
darkened by the sea water. She seemed to have wrapped herself in some
blankets, or rugs, tying them about her waist, and then had lashed herself
fast to the spars, or some seaman had done it for her.

She sat with her head against a box, which seemed to be nailed to the
raft, and several turns of rope were passed about this in such a manner
as to maintain the girl in a half-reclining position.

The waves broke over the lower part of her body, but her head was out of
the water, though whether this had been the case when the raft was in the
open sea was a question. Clearly much water must have washed over the
raft, and perhaps the buffeting of the waves had rendered her unconscious.

"Look out!" warned Rosalie, as Cora sent the boat in a graceful sweep
toward the raft. "Don't go any nearer."

"But we must save her!"

"Then let me try. I'll dive overboard and swim to the raft. Then I can
loosen the ropes and we'll see what can be done toward getting her aboard.
But be careful of your boat."