“The life-boat is being launched!” exclaimed Elinor.
They clutched each other in their excitement, while a boat, with six brave life-savers in it, leapt onto the crest of a big wave, only to be hurled back again.
“They’ll have to use the gun,” put in Charlie. “They’ll never make it in this sea.”
“What do you mean?” shouted Billie. It was almost impossible to be heard now above the noise of the wind.
But before any one could shout back an explanation, her attention was claimed by a man in a long, thick ulster, buttoned to his chin, and a vizored cap pulled well over his eyes. He had come to the front of the motor car and, bowing to Billie politely, he stood on tiptoe and beckoned to her to lean down.
“You’ll be surprised to hear that you have friends on that ship,” he said in her ear, and she recognized Mr. Bangs.
“Friends?” she repeated, in amazement.
“Wait and see,” he replied, as he moved away to join another man, who was leaning against a tree smoking a cigar.
“Look!” cried some one, and just as Billie shifted her gaze from the ship to the beach she saw a long black line shoot out over the water and light on the deck of the ship. It was very confusing then, what happened. There was a great deal of shouting on shore and scurrying of sailors on the ship. Presently there seemed to be a double line of rope stretching out to the wreck.
After a long pause, Billie saw, creeping along one of the lines of rope, swaying and swinging almost to sea level, an object which appeared to be shaped like a pair of clumsy trouser legs with the head and shoulders of a human being above.