He saw the position in an instant, and stood by me too much horrified to act; and, as he told me afterwards, his thoughts were just like mine. How long would it take to go to the Gap and bring Bigley’s father with a boat?
“Can’t you get any farther?” I cried at last as a fresh wave came rushing in, and nearly swept me off my legs.
“No; I’m fast; I can’t move,” said Bigley in a hoarse whisper. “Run for help.”
“No, no,” shouted Bob. “Don’t go, Sep. We must get him out.”
The curious dreamy feeling of helplessness had left us both now; and, taking hold of our companion’s hands, we set our feet against the rock and dragged with all our might, while poor Bigley struggled and strained, but all in vain. He had by his unaided efforts got to a certain distance and then stopped. Our united power did not move him an inch.
We stopped at last panting, and all looking horror-stricken in each other’s faces. It was a calm enough day, but down there among the rocks the tide rushed in with such fierce power and so rapidly that we were being deluged by every wave which broke, while at intervals the greater waves threatened to be soon big enough to sweep us away.
“Don’t stop looking,” cried Bob Chowne frantically. “Sep, Sep! Pull, pull!”
He dashed at poor Bigley again, and we dragged with all our might; but the efforts were vain, and again we stared at each other in despair.
“Try again!” I cried breathlessly, and with a horrible feeling coming over me as I once more seized my school-fellow’s hand.
Bob followed my example, and again we dragged and hauled at the poor fellow, whose great eyes stared at us in a wildly appealing way that seemed to chill me.