"Ralph! Oh, Ralph!" she cried aloud.
The words were driven back into her throat by the gale. Degger's wildly glaring eyes betrayed his complete panic. His very soul had turned to water. It was mere muscular reaction—like that of a dead man—that caused him to cling to the oar. He was positively transfixed with terror.
The motor-boat plunged awkwardly toward the water-logged dory. Its bow seemed aimed to ram the smaller craft amidships. The girl stopped bailing.
If the motor-boat plunged upon them, what could save the two in the dory? Lorna stretched her arms out to Ralph, Conny Degger released the oar, ashen-faced and trembling.
Ralph's voice (how full and unshaken it seemed!) came down the wind to them:
"Stand by to grab the rail! Look out for yourself, Degger!"
He threw the steering wheel over and lashed the spokes to hold it steady. As the Fenique's bow swerved off from the floundering dory, Ralph sprang upon the roof of the cabin and flung himself along its slippery surface to reach Lorna's out-stretched hands.
"Hold hard, Lorna!" he shouted.
The motor-boat slid past the dory. Ralph fairly snatched the girl out of it.
Astern he heard an awful cry. Hugging Lorna tightly in the embrace of his right arm, Ralph looked back.