“We’ll take the word to the station!” said the Captain promptly. “We can get there lots faster than you can.”
“All right,” said the beach patrol briefly. He wasted no words in this emergency when seconds were things of consequence, but made prompt use of the assistance which had apparently been sent from heaven in the nick of time. “Tell them she’s struck on the reef off Sister Point,” he directed.
“‘On the reef off Sister Point,’” they all repeated, and started forward with as much speed as they could manage.
Then it seemed to them that the wind had shifted and was coming from the front. In spite of valiant efforts to keep on their feet they were blown against the rocks which strewed the shore, and bruised and battered mercilessly.
234“I can’t go any farther,” gasped Antha at last, sinking wearily down behind a huge stump.
“Neither can I,” said Migwan, who knew when she had reached the limit of her strength and realized that it would be folly to attempt to keep on to the station. Hinpoha had been panting in distress for some time, but had kept on gamely. But now she agreed with Migwan.
“All you girls get around behind that cliff,” shouted the Captain at the top of his voice so as to make them hear, “and stay there until you’re rested. We’ll go on to the station.”
Katherine and Sahwah stubbornly refused to be left; the other girls sought the shelter of the rock wall. Spurred on by the importance of their errand the nine struggled valiantly to make headway, but it was most discouraging work. At times it seemed as if they would be picked off their feet bodily and whirled into space.
“Every time I go forward one step I blow back two,” panted Sahwah as they drew up in the shelter of a bluff to take a moment’s breathing spell. “Aren’t we nearly there?”
“Only about a quarter of the distance,” said the Captain gloomily.