“I can not,—I dare not,” was the hoarse answer.
“O daddy, yes you can,—you must! The waters are coming on us so fast, daddy,—so fast! Please try to pray with me. Our Lord made the winds and waves go down when He lived here on earth; He walked on the waters and they did not hurt Him. Oh, they are coming higher and higher on us, daddy! What shall we do?”
“Die,” was the hoarse, fierce answer; “die here together, my boy,—my little boy! For me it is justice, judgment; but, O my God, why should Thy curse fall on my boy,—my innocent boy?”
“O daddy, no! That isn’t the way to pray. You mustn’t say ‘curse,’ daddy. You must say: ‘Have mercy, dear Lord; have mercy! Save me and my little boy. Send some one to help us.’ Oh, I am trying not to be afraid, but I can’t help it, daddy!”
“My boy,—my poor little boy! Climb, Freddy! Try to climb up on the roof—the broken shaft! Leave me here, and try to climb, my boy! You may be safe for a while.”
“O daddy, no, I can’t climb and leave you,” and Freddy clung piteously to his father’s breast. “I’d rather die here with you, and God will take us both to heaven together. I haven’t been a very good boy, I know; and maybe you haven’t either; but if we are sorry He will let us come to Him in heaven—O dad, what is that?” Freddy’s low tone changed to one of wild alarm. “What is it now,—what is it now?”
For the dogs, that had been crouching and cowering beside their master, suddenly started up, barking wildly, and dashed out into the rising waters; new sounds blended with the roar of the storm,—shouts, cries, voices.
“Here,—here!” daddy feebly essayed to answer. “Call to them, Freddy! It is help. God has heard your prayers. Call—call—call—loud as you can, my boy!”
But there was no need. Rex and Roy had already done the calling, the guiding. On they came, the sturdy rescuers, plunging waist-deep through the waters that were already breaking high on the beach and bramble growth, surging and swelling across the broken wall that had once guarded the Old Light, and lapping the low cabin floor. On the brave life-savers came, while Rex and Roy barked in mad welcome; and Freddy’s clear, boyish cry, “Here,—here! Daddy and I are here!” pierced through the darkness and turmoil of the storm. On they came, strong and fearless,—God’s angels surely, thought Freddy, though in strange mortal guise. And one, whose muffling sou’wester had been flung loose in his eager haste, led all the rest.
“Here, my men,—here!” he cried, bursting into the ruined hut, where a little figure stood, white-faced, breathless, bewildered with the joy of his answered prayer. “They are here! God have mercy!” broke in reverent awe from his lips. “Freddy, Freddy,—my own little Freddy here!”