“I’m not hurt,” she told herself. “The water is terribly cold, but I can keep up for a time.”
Her time was about up. Her body was numb with cold, her breath was coming in gasps when she became conscious of someone near her.
Then a voice said, “Put your hand on my shoulder. I’ll take you in.”
“Rosa?” she panted. “I can’t do that, you’ll drown!”
“Not Rosa,” said the voice. “I am Lena. Believe me, I am fresh and strong. Put your hand on my shoulder.”
“Lena!” she thought. “Why is she here? She is always where danger is.”
At that she surrendered herself to the other’s superb strength.
They had gone so for some time, when a skiff pulled in close to them. One man held a lantern. Another put out two hands to pull her in. It was the major from the fort.
Several hours later she awoke from a long sleep to find Lieutenant Warren sitting by her side.
“Everything is all right,” the Lieutenant smiled. “More than all right. You got the sub and the motorboat, everyone on it. The sub was bringing spies to America. In their haste they left their traveling bags on the island. They were packed with American clothes, faked passports, everything. Then they had plans, maps, all they needed for destroying factories and shipyards.