At the head of the pier beyond the pavilion, there were gathered
together some fifty people, and the tale ran that the second lifeboat
had successfully accomplished its mission and was approaching the pier.
"I shall write an account of this for the _Signal_," said Denry,
whose thoughts were excusably on the Press.
"Oh, do!" exclaimed Nellie.
"They have the _Signal_ at all the newspaper shops here," said
Ruth.
Then they seemed to be merged in the storm. The pier shook and trembled
under the shock of the waves, and occasionally, though the tide was very
low, a sprinkle of water flew up and caught their faces. The eyes could
see nothing save the passing glitter of the foam on the crest of a
breaker. It was the most thrilling situation that any of them had ever
been in.
And at last came word from the mouths of men who could apparently see as
well in the dark as in daylight, that the second lifeboat was close to
the pier. And then everybody momentarily saw it--a ghostly thing that
heaved up pale out of the murk for an instant, and was lost again. And
the little crowd cheered.
The next moment a Bengal light illuminated the pier, and the lifeboat
was silhouetted with strange effectiveness against the storm.
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