By Sheer Pluck: A Tale of the Ashanti War Page 4

  CHAPTER IV: A RISING TIDE

  The half year was drawing to its close, and it was generally agreedat Dr. Parker's that it had been the jolliest ever known. The boatingepisode and that of the tea at Oak Farm had been events which had givena fillip to existence. The school had been successful in the greaterpart of its cricket matches, and generally every one was well satisfiedwith himself. On the Saturday preceding the breaking up Frank, withRuthven, Charlie Goodall and two of the other naturalists, started alongthe seashore to look for anemones and other marine creatures among therocks and pools at the foot of the South Foreland. Between Ruthven andFrank a strong feeling of affection had grown up since the date of theirboating adventure. They were constantly together now; and as Ruthvenwas also intended for the army, and would probably obtain his commissionabout the same time as Frank, they often talked over their future,and indulged in hopes that they might often meet, and that in theircampaigns, they might go through adventures together.

  Tide was low when they started. They had nearly three miles to walk.The pools in front of Deal and Walmer had often been searched, butthey hoped that once round the Foreland they might light upon specimensdiffering from any which they had hitherto found. For some hours theysearched the pools, retiring as the tide advanced. Then they went up tothe foot of the cliffs, and sat down to open their cans and comparethe treasures they had collected. The spot which they had unwittinglyselected was a little bay. For a long time they sat comparing theirspecimens. Then Frank said, "Come along, it is time to be moving."

  As he rose to his feet he uttered an exclamation of dismay. Althoughthe tide was still at some little distance from the spot where they weresitting, it had already reached the cliffs extending out at eitherend of the bay. A brisk wind was blowing on shore, and the waves werealready splashing against the foot of the rocks.

  The whole party leaped to their feet, and seizing their cans ran off atthe top of their speed to the end of the bay.

  "I will see how deep the water is," Frank exclaimed; "we may yet be ableto wade round."

  The water soon reached Frank's waist. He waded on until it was up tohis shoulders, and he had to leap as each wave approached him. Then hereturned to his friends.

  "I could see round," he said, "and I think I could have got roundwithout getting into deeper water. The worst of it is the bottom is allrocky, and I stumbled several times, and should have gone under waterif I could not have swam. You can't swim, Ruthven, I know; can you otherfellows?"

  Goodall could swim, as could one of the others.

  "Now, Ruthven," Frank said, "if you will put your hand on my shoulderand keep quiet, I think I could carry you around. Goodall and Jacksoncan take Childers."

  But neither of the other boys had much confidence in their swimming.They could get thirty or forty yards, but felt sure that they would beable to render but little assistance to Childers, and in fact scarcelyliked to round the point alone. For some time they debated the question,the sea every minute rising and pushing them farther and farther fromthe point. "Look here, Frank," Ruthven said at last; "you are not sureyou can carry me. The others are quite certain that they cannot takeChilders. We must give up that idea. The best thing, old boy, is for youthree who can swim to start together. Then if either of the others failyou can help them a bit. Childers and I must take our chance here. Whenyou get round you must send a boat as soon as possible."

  "I certainly shall not desert you, Ruthven," Frank said. "You know aswell as I do that I'm not likely to find a boat on the shore till I getpretty near Walmer Castle, and long before we could get back it would besettled here. No, no, old fellow, we will see the matter out together.Jackson and Goodall can swim round if they like."

  These lads, however, would not venture to take the risk alone, but saidthey would go if Frank would go with them.

  "Chuck off your boots and coats and waistcoats," Frank said suddenly,proceeding to strip rapidly to the skin. "I will take them round,Ruthven, and come back to you. Run round the bay you and Childers, andsee if you can find any sort of ledge or projection that we can takerefuge upon. Now, then, come on you two as quick as you can."

  The sea had already reached within a few feet of the foot of the cliffall round the bay.

  "Now, mind," Frank said sharply, "no struggling and nonsense, youfellows. I will keep quite close to you and stick to you, so you needn'tbe afraid. If you get tired just put one hand on my back and swim withthe other and your legs; and above all things keep your heads as low aspossible in the water so as just to be able to breathe."

  The three lads soon waded out as far as they could go and then struckout. Jackson and Goodall were both poor swimmers and would have faredvery badly alone. The confidence, however, which they entertained inFrank gave them courage, and they were well abreast of the point whenfirst Jackson and then Goodall put their hands on his shoulders. Thanksto the instructions he had given them, and to their confidence in him,they placed no great weight upon him. But every ounce tells heavily on aswimmer, and Frank gave a gasp of relief as at last his feet touched theground. Bidding his companions at once set off at a run he sat down fortwo or three minutes to recover his breath.

  "It is lucky," he said to himself, "that I did not try with Ruthven.It's a very different thing carrying fellows who can swim and fellowswho can't. What fools we've been to let ourselves he caught here! I hadno idea the tide came so high, or that it was so dangerous, and none ofus have ever been round here before. Now I must go back to Ruthven."

  Frank found it even harder work to get back than it had been to come outfrom the bay, for the tide was against him now. At last he stood besideRuthven and Childers.

  "We can only find one place, Frank, where there is any projection afellow could stand upon, and that is only large enough for one. See!" hesaid, pointing to a projecting block of chalk, whose upper surface, someeight inches wide, was tolerably flat. "There is a cave here, too, whichmay go beyond the tide. It is not deep but it slopes up a bit."

  "That will never do," Frank said; "as the waves come in they will rushup and fill it to the top. Don't you see it is all rounded by the water?Now, Childers, we will put you on that stone. You will be perfectly safethere, for you see it is two feet above this greenish line, which showswhere the water generally comes to. The tides are not at spring atpresent, so though you may get a splashing there is no fear of yourbeing washed off."

  The water was already knee deep at the foot of the rocks, and the wavestook them nearly up to the shoulders. Ruthven did not attempt to disputeFrank's allotment of the one place of safety to Childers. Frank and heplaced themselves below the block of chalk, which was somewhat over sixfeet from the ground. Then Childers scrambled up on to their shoulders,and from these stepped onto the ledge.

  "I am all right," he said; "I wish to Heaven that you were too."

  "We shall do," Frank said. "Mind you hold tight, Childers! You hadbetter turn round with your face to the cliff, so as to be able to griphold and steady yourself in case the waves come up high. The tide willturn in three quarters of an hour at the outside. Now, then, Ruthven,let's make a fight for it, old man."

  "What are you going to do, Frank?"

  "We will wade along here as far as we can towards the corner, and thanwe must swim for it."

  "Don't you think it's possible to stay here," Ruthven said, "if the tidewill turn so soon?"

  "Quite impossible!" Frank said. "I have been nearly taken off my feettwice already, and the water will rise a yard yet, at least. We shouldbe smashed against the rocks, even if we weren't drowned. It must betried, Ruthven. There is no other way for it. The distance is a gooddeal farther than it would have been if we had started at first; but itisn't the distance that makes much matter. We've only got to go out alittle way, and the tide will soon take us around the point. Everythingdepends on you. I can take you round the point, and land you safelyenough, if you will lie quiet. If you don't, you will drown both of us.So it's entirely in your hands.

  "Look out!"


  At this moment a larger wave than usual took both boys off their legs,and dashed them with considerable force against the cliff. Frank seizedRuthven, and assisted him to regain his feet.

  "Now, old fellow, let me put you on your back. I will lie on mine andtow you along. Don't struggle; don't move; above all, don't try and liftyour head, and don't mind if a little water gets in your mouth. Now!"

  For a moment Ruthven felt himself under water, and had to make a greateffort to restrain himself from struggling to come to the surface. Thenhe felt himself lying on his back in the water, supported by Frank. Themotion was not unpleasant as he rose and fell on the waves, although nowand then a splash of water came over his face, and made him cough andsplutter for breath. He could see nothing but the blue sky overhead,could feel nothing except that occasionally he received a blow fromone or other of Frank's knees, as the latter swam beneath him, withRuthven's head on his chest. It was a dreamy sensation, and lookingback upon it afterwards Ruthven could never recall anything that hehad thought of. It seemed simply a drowsy pleasant time, except whenoccasionally a wave covered his face. His first sensation was that ofsurprise when he felt the motion change, and Frank lifted his headfrom the water and said, "Stand up, old fellow. Thank God, here we are,safe!"

  Frank had indeed found the journey easier than that which he had beforeundertaken with the others. He had scarcely tried to progress, but had,after getting sufficiently far out to allow the tide to take him roundthe point, drifted quietly.

  "I owe my life to you, Frank. I shall never forget it, old fellow."

  "It's been a close thing," Frank answered; "but you owe your life asmuch to your own coolness as to me, and above all, Ruthven, don't let usforget that we both owe our lives to God."

  "I sha'n't forget it," Ruthven said quietly, and they stood for a fewminutes without speaking. "Now, what had we better do? Shall we start torun home?"

  "I can't," Frank laughed, for he had nothing on but his trousers. Thesehe had slipped on after the return from his first trip, pushing the restof his things into a crevice in the rocks as high up as he could reach.

  "You had better take off your things, Ruthven, and lay them out to dryin the sun. The boat will be here in half an hour. I wonder how Childersis getting on!"

  "I think he will be safe," Ruthven said. "The tide will not rise highenough for there to be much danger of his being washed off."

  "I don't think so either," Frank agreed, "or I would try and swim backagain; but I really don't think I could get round the point against thetide again."

  In half an hour a boat rowing four oars was seen approaching.

  "They are laying out well," Ruthven said. "They couldn't row harder ifthey were rowing a race. But had it not been for you, old fellow, theywould have been too late, as far as I am concerned."

  As the boat approached, the coxswain waved his hat to the boys. Frankmotioned with his arm for them to row on round the point. The boatswept along at a short distance from the shore. The boys watched thembreathlessly. Presently as it reached the point they saw the coxswainstand up and say something to the men, who glanced over their shouldersas they rowed. Then the coxswain gave a loud shout. "Hold on! We'll bewith you directly."

  "Thank God!" Frank exclaimed, "Childers is all right."

  It was well, however, that the boat arrived when it did, for Childerswas utterly exhausted when it reached him. The sea had risen so highthat the waves broke against his feet, throwing the spray far above hishead, and often nearly washing him from the ledge on which he stood.Had it not been, indeed, for the hold which he obtained of the cliff, itwould several times have swept him away. About eighteen inches abovehis head he had found a ledge sufficiently wide to give a grip for hishands, and hanging by these he managed to retain his place when threetimes his feet were swept off the rock by the rush of water. The tidewas just on the turn when the boat arrived, and so exhausted was he thathe certainly would not have been able to hold out for the half hour'sbuffeting to which he would have been exposed before the water fellsufficiently to leave him. After helping him into the boat the mengathered the clothes jammed in fissures of the cliffs. These were, ofcourse, drenched with water, but had for the most part remained firm intheir places. They now pulled round to the spot where Frank and Ruthvenwere awaiting them.

  "Childers must have been pretty nearly done," Frank said. "He must belying in the bottom of the boat."

  Childers gave a smile of pleasure as his schoolfellows jumped on board.He had, glancing over his shoulder, seen them drift out of sight roundthe point, and had felt certain that they had reached shore. It was,however, a great pleasure to be assured of the fact.

  "You have made quite a stir upon the beach, young gentlemen," thecoxswain of the boat said. "When they two came running up without theirshoes or coats and said there were three of you cut off in the bay underthe Foreland, there didn't seem much chance for you. It didn't take ustwo minutes to launch the boat, for there were a score of hands helpingto run her down; and my mates bent to it well, I can tell you, though wedidn't think it would be of any use. We were glad when we made you twoout on this side of the point. Look, there's half Deal and Walmer comingalong the shore."

  It was as the boatman said. Numbers of persons were streaming along thebeach, and loud were the cheers which rose as the coxswain stood up andshouted in a stentorian voice, "All saved!"

  Frank put on his things as they approached Walmer. His shoes were lost,as were those of Ruthven, and he had difficulty in getting his arms intohis wet and shrunken jacket. Quite a crowd were gathered near the castleas the boat rowed to shore, and a hearty cheer arose as it was run upon the shingle and the boys were helped out. Frank and Ruthven, indeed,required no assistance. They were in no way the worse for the adventure,but Childers was so weak that he was unable to stand. He was carried upand laid on a fly, the others sitting opposite, the driver having firsttaken the precaution of removing the cushions.

  There were among the crowd most of the boys from Dr. Parker's. Goodalland Jackson had arrived nearly an hour and a half before, and the newshad spread like wildfire. Bats and balls had been thrown down and everyone had hurried to the beach. Goodall and his companion had alreadyrelated the circumstance of their being cut off by the water and takenround the point by Frank; and as Ruthven on jumping out had explainedto his comrades who flocked round to shake his hand, "I owe my life toHargate," the enthusiasm reached boiling point, and Frank had difficultyin taking his place in the fly, so anxious were all to shake his handand pat him on the shoulder. Had it not been for his anxiety to get homeas soon as possible, and his urgent entreaties, they would have carriedhim on their shoulders in triumph through the town. They drove first tothe school, where Childers was at once carried up to a bed, which hadbeen prepared with warm blankets in readiness; Ruthven needed only tochange his clothes.

  The moment they had left the fly Frank drove straight home, and wasdelighted at finding, from his mother's exclamation of surprise as healighted from the cab, that she had not been suffering any anxiety, noone, in the general excitement, having thought of taking the news toher. In answer to her anxious inquiries he made light of the affair,saying only that they had stupidly allowed themselves to be cut offby the sea and had got a ducking. It was not, indeed, till the nextmorning, when the other four boys came around to tell Mrs. Hargate thatthey were indebted to Frank for their lives, that she had any notionthat he had been in danger.

  Frank was quite oppressed by what he called the fuss which was made overthe affair. A thrilling description of it appeared in the local papers.A subscription was got up in the school, and a gold watch with aninscription was presented to him; and he received letters of heartfelt thanks from the parents of his four schoolfellows, for Childersmaintained that it was entirely to Frank's coolness and thoughtfulnessthat his preservation was also due.

  On the following Wednesday the school broke up. Frank had severalinvitations from the boys to spend his holidays with them; but he knewhow lonely his
mother would feel in his absence, and he declined all theinvitations. Mrs. Hargate was far from strong, and had had several fitsof fainting. These, however, had taken place at times when Frank was atschool, and she had strictly charged her little servant to say nothingabout it.

  One day on returning from a long walk he saw the doctor's carriagestanding at the door. Just as he arrived the door opened and the doctorcame out. Upon seeing Frank he turned.

  "Come in here, my boy," he said.

  Frank followed him, and seeing that the blinds were down, went to drawthem up. The doctor laid his hand on his arm.

  "Never mind that," he said gently.

  "My boy," he said, "do you know that your mother has been for some timeailing?"

  "No, indeed," Frank said with a gasp of pain and surprise.

  "It is so, my boy. I have been attending her for some time. She hasbeen suffering from fainting fits brought on by weakness of the heart'saction. Two hours since I was sent for and found her unconscious. Mypoor boy, you must compose yourself. God is good and merciful, thoughhis decrees are hard to bear. Your mother passed away quietly half anhour since, without recovering consciousness."

  Frank gave a short cry, and then sat stunned by the suddenness of theblow. The doctor drew out a small case from his pocket and poured afew drops from the phial into a glass, added some water, and held it toFrank's lips.

  "Drink this, my boy," he said.

  Frank turned his head from the offered glass. He could not speak.

  "Drink this, my boy," the doctor said again; "it will do you good. Tryand be strong for the sake of your little sister, who has only you inthe world now."

  The thought of Lucy touched the right chord in the boy's heart, and heburst into a passionate fit of crying. The doctor allowed his tears toflow unchecked.

  "You will be better now," he said presently. "Now drink this, then liedown on the sofa. We must not be having you ill, you know."

  Frank gulped down the contents of the glass, and, passive as a child,allowed the doctor to place him upon the sofa.

  "God help and strengthen you, my poor boy," he said; "ask help fromHim."

  For an hour Frank lay sobbing on the sofa, and then, remembering thedoctor's last words, he knelt beside it and prayed for strength.

  A week had passed. The blinds were up again. Mrs. Hargate had been laidin her last home, and Frank was sitting alone again in the little parlorthinking over what had best be done. The outlook was a dark one, enoughto shake the courage of one much older than Frank. His mother's pension,he knew, died with her. He had, on the doctor's advice, written tothe War Office on the day following his mother's death, to inform theauthorities of the circumstances, and to ask if any pension couldbe granted to his sister. The reply had arrived that morning and hadrelieved him of the greatest of his cares. It stated that as he wasnow just fifteen years old he was not eligible for a pension, but thattwenty-five pounds a year would be paid to his sister until she marriedor attained the age of twenty-one.

  He had spoken to the doctor that morning, and the latter said that heknew a lady who kept a small school, and who would, he doubted not, bewilling to receive Lucy and to board and clothe her for that sum. Shewas a very kind and motherly person, and he was sure that Lucy would bemost kindly treated and cared for by her. It was then of his own futureonly that Frank had to think. There were but a few pounds in the house,but the letter from the War Office inclosed a check for twenty pounds,as his mother's quarterly pension was just due. The furniture of thelittle house would fetch but a small sum, not more, Frank thought, thanthirty or forty pounds. There were a few debts to pay, and after all wassettled up there would remain about fifty pounds. Of this he determinedto place half in the doctor's hands for the use of Lucy.

  "She will want," he said to himself, "a little pocket money. It is hardon a girl having no money to spend of her own. Then, as she gets on, shemay need lessons in something or other. Besides, half the money rightlybelongs to her, The question is, What am I to do?"