Grace made several awkward attempts to swim, then gave it up.
"I can't do it, Harriet. What ith the uthe of trying to thwim any more?"
"Don't you understand? We were on a sand bar. It was that that saved our lives after we were overcome. We should have drowned had it not been for the bar."
"Yeth, but we are in deep water again," wailed Tommy.
"Think, think! Don't be so stupid. We must be near the shore. I don't believe there would be a shallow place like that one far out from land."
"Do you think tho?" Tommy's voice was weaker than before.
"I am sure of it. Swim. That's a good girl."
"I—I can't."
"Then I will swim for you."
Once more Harriet Burrell placed a hand under Grace and began swimming with her. The surf was behind them and was rapidly carrying them with it toward either the shore or the sea, Harriet neither knew nor thought which. Had she not been still half dazed she might have smelled the vegetation on shore, not so very far from them, but of this she took no heed. She swam, summoning all her strength to the task, knowing that she would not be able to keep up much longer. Then all at once her hands touched bottom. A moment more and she lay full length upon the wet, sandy bottom with the waves breaking over her. Harriet groped with her hands and found that the water at arm's length, ahead was but a few inches deep. She sprang up with, a weak cry.