Many willing hands hauled the heavy boat up upon the sands. The
rescued crew of the schooner tumbled out and lifted their injured
captain ashore. But it was Lawford who brought in Professor Grayling.
Louise had watched with the Taffy King all through the battle of the
lifeboat with the sea, suffering pangs of terror for Lawford's safety,
yet feeling, too, unbounded pride in his achievement.
Now she pressed down to meet him at the edge of the sea and found that
the drenched, dazed man Lawford bore up in his arms was her own father!
The meeting served to rouse the professor. He stared searchingly over
the group of rescued men.
"Where's the man who cut my lashings and helped me down to the deck? I
don't see him," he said. "Louise, my dear, this is a very, very
strange homecoming. And all my summer's work gone for nothing! But
that man----"
"Cap'n Amazon Silt," said Lawford. "He stayed behind. There wasn't
room in the boat."
"Cap'n Am'zon!" exclaimed several excited voices. But only one--and
that Louise Grayling's--uttered another name:
"Cap'n Abe! Isn't _he_ with you? Didn't you bring him ashore?"
"By heaven! that's so, Louise!" groaned Lawford.
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