*CHAPTER VIII.*
*"DID I SAVE HIM?"*
When Dick Boden ran from the Fort and raised the alarm, he waited tillhis companions made their appearance; then, expecting they would allfollow, he dashed off across the stone bridge. In his opinion, as heafterwards said, the worst that could happen for any one was a fewhours' imprisonment in the old tower.
No one looked behind till reaching the shore, and then Tom Moon noticedthat Braithwaite had stopped.
"Unless he hurries up, he'll get a jolly good wetting," said Dick, andthey all began to shout.
"What a muff the fellow is!" said Moon. "Why doesn't he come? There'sJimmy Hartland just come out; he'll bustle him along."
"Dick," suddenly said one of the other boys in a grave tone, "he'll bedrowned, I'm sure." His name was Spencer, and his father being afisherman, he was well acquainted with the bay.
"Look!" he continued; "just look how high the water is getting! Jimwill have to stay in the Fort."
As soon as Dick grasped the danger he sent a boy for help, and with Moonand Spencer ran down the beach.
"Here you are!" he cried, stopping at the boat nearest the incomingtide. "Unfasten her, Spencer.--Light the lantern, Tommy; here's amatch. Are the oars there? Right you are!--Now--one, two, three, andall together, boys. Push her along! Now she's riding! In withyou!--Give me an oar, Spencer.--You steer, Tommy--straight forBraithwaite."
"No, no," said Spencer hastily; "steer for that rock with thewhitewashed top; then swing her round, and we'll pick him up comingback. We should never reach there in a straight course."
"All right!" exclaimed Dick cheerfully; "you boss the show. I don'tmind as long as he's saved."
The boys bent their backs with a will: but the boat was heavy, the tidestrong, and, as the Angel admitted, the rowing was hardly up to regattamark. Still they were making progress when Moon called out, "There'sHartland going for him!--Well done, Jim!--Pull, you fellows!"
They tugged away desperately, but suddenly a piercing shriek startledthem, and they knew that Braithwaite was fighting for life in the water.
Dick groaned, and pulled till it seemed as if his arms must come out.
"They'll both be lost!" he cried, knowing well that Jim would nothesitate a second in jumping to the rescue.
"There are some men on the shore," said Spencer; "they're getting outanother boat."
"Too late!" muttered Dick gloomily. "Listen! There's Jim calling forhelp. Shout back. Now again, and all together."
The sweat poured down their faces, their muscles ached terribly, theirthroats were dry and parched, but they pulled on without a second'spause.
Again the cry for help rang out, this time much nearer, and soon theydiscerned a dark object in the water.
"Keep her steady!" roared Spencer. "Grab the other fellow, Dick!" Andhe himself caught Jim, and pulled him up so that he partly rested on thegunwale.
The whole manoeuvre was full of danger, but they were taking risks thatnight. By degrees, Spencer, who was fortunately strong as a horse,managed to pull Jim into the boat, and then helped to drag inBraithwaite, who displayed no sign of life.
"Let's put our coats over them, and that dry sail in the corner," saidDick. "Now, a pull for the shore. Keep her head straight, Tommy!"
News of the desperate situation of the boys had spread rapidly. Numbersof people had assembled on the shore, and cheer after cheer greeted theplucky rescuers as they beached and made fast the boat.
Two or three doctors were among the spectators. Some thoughtful soul hadhastily made and sent down a can of hot coffee, while a man from theYork Hotel arrived soon afterwards with warm blankets.
"Are they alive?" was the question on the lips of every one, as thedoctors ran down to the boat, and a few policemen kept the crowd back.
Dick had already unfastened his friend's braces, and taken off hisshirt, in order to expose his chest fully, while Spencer and Tom Moonwere doing the same for Braithwaite.
"That's right, my boy," said one of the doctors to Dick. "Now, help meto turn him face downwards. Place one of his arms under the forehead,so, and hold it there while I wipe his mouth."
Dick was half wild with grief; but he did as he was told, though feelingsure in his mind that Jim was dead.
Assisted by another man, the doctor presently turned the body gently onone side, and then back again sharply, Dick supporting the headmeanwhile. This movement was repeated many times, and at last the doctorexclaimed with a look of satisfaction, "We've got him; he's beginning tobreathe. Slip the trousers off and cover him with a blanket. Now rubhis limbs upward, under the blanket. You've saved him, my boy!"
"Is he alive, sir?" asked Dick, hardly able to believe the truth.
"Alive? Yes; he'll be as right as ninepence in a few hours."
As soon as Jim began to breathe he was carried to a hotel close by,where the landlady busied herself to procure hot flannels and hotwater-bottles. Then she brought a bottle of old wine, and gave Jim somein a teaspoon, under the doctor's orders.
"Now," said that gentleman, "there's nothing but a few hours' sleeprequired. Let this youngster stay in the room. I'm going to see howthe other poor boy's getting on."
So Dick sat beside the bed on which his friend lay, and wondered whatwas happening on the beach. After a time Jim stirred uneasily, openedhis eyes, and recognized his chum.
"Dick!" he whispered faintly.
"Don't try to talk, old chap. It's all right. Go to sleep."
There was an uneasy look in Jim's eyes, and his forehead puckered up asif he were in thought. Then he said in a whisper, "Did I save him?"
Jim had asked a question difficult to answer, but his chum thought itbest to soothe him.
"Yes," said he; "you kept him afloat till the boat came up. Now go tosleep--there's a good chap--or I shan't be allowed to stay with you."
Jim's lips moved as if in speech, but no words passed them, and in ashort time he was fast asleep, with a peaceful smile on his face.
Meantime, news of the accident had reached Mrs. Hartland, who, getting aneighbour to stay with Susie, hurried to the hotel, where she waspermitted to go into the boy's room to satisfy herself that he wasreally alive.
"I'm going to stay with him," said Dick, following her to the door, "andthe doctor says there's no need at all to worry. Does Susie know?"
"Yes; I couldn't keep it from her. How did it happen?"
Dick told the story briefly, and then, promising to bring Jim home inthe morning, he returned to the room. An hour later the doctor came tohave another look at his patient, who was still sleeping nicely.
"Hum!" said he, rubbing his hands, "one's better than none, though it isa pity the other slipped past us."
"Is Braithwaite dead, sir?" asked Dick, sinking his voice to a whisperlest Jim should hear him.
"Yes, my boy, I'm sorry to say he is. We've tried hard to restorebreathing, but it's no good. How came he to get into the water?"
Dick told him.
"And this lad jumped in to save him? Well, that was very plucky, butnone of you had any business there at all."
"No, sir," replied Dick humbly, "but I only thought to have a joke."
"Well, well, I don't suppose you're more to blame than the rest!"exclaimed the doctor; and then, after making a note of Jim's name andaddress, he said he would call at his house in a day or two.
That was a wretched night for Dick. The kind-hearted landlady broughthim in a good supper, and a servant made him a comfortable bed on thefloor, but he could not sleep.
"Poor old Dandy!" he murmured again and again, "but for me he would bealive now."
Early in the morning Jim wakened, and in an instant Dick was by hisside.
"Feel better, old boy?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm all right. Where's Braithwaite? What's the matter? Why areyou looking like that? Is he--_dead_?"
"Yes," said Dick, and no one would have kno
wn it was the Angel speaking.
"Then I've killed him! He only went because I called him a coward."
"'Twas as much my fault as yours," said Dick. "I started it. Poor oldDandy!"
Jim did not speak again; and even when, later in the day, he went home,his mother could hardly get a word from him; but at the inquest he toldthe story without hiding anything, and took all the blame on his ownshoulders.
"Braithwaite wouldn't have gone," he said; "only I laughed at him forbeing afraid."
The whole incident was so plain that the jury at once brought in averdict of "accidental death," adding a rider that, in their opinion,the Old Fort and the bridge should be destroyed.
The event, of course, caused a tremendous sensation in the town. Manypeople spoke harshly of Jim, but all admired his courage both inattempting to save the drowning boy and in frankly telling the truthafterwards.
"The lad has grit," remarked the doctor who had brought him round. "Ihope he won't take it too much to heart."
He was a Scotsman named Stewart, a pleasant, cheery fellow, well knownin Beauleigh both for his ability and kindliness.
"I've a good mind to call and have a look at him," said he. "What's hisaddress?" pulling out his notebook. "Hum! Brook Street! Not very muchburdened with this world's goods, I expect."
That same evening Mrs. Hartland was startled by a loud rat-tat, andgoing to the door, found the doctor there.
"Good-evening!" said he briskly; "are you Mrs. Hartland? I am thedoctor who attended your boy, and I've come to have a look at him. No,no; don't make a fuss. I'll come straight through, if you don't mind."And closing the door, he followed Mrs. Hartland into the sitting-room.
"Well, young shaver," said he, patting Jim on the back, "how do you feelnow?--better? That was a very plucky thing you did.--You ought to beproud of him, ma'am; he deserves the Society's medal. And who is thisyoung lady?" stooping to touch Susie's hair. "Can't get up? Dear me!that is sad. Any one attending her?"
"Not now, sir. You see, the doctors--"
"Quite so; I understand. Now, suppose I have a look at her in themorning--eh? I've had some experience in these cases. I shan't callprofessionally--just as a friend of this young gentleman's, you know."
"O sir, how can I thank you?" exclaimed Mrs. Hartland gratefully.
"No need of thanks to any one yet, ma'am; but if I can do the dear childany good, she can thank her brother, because, but for him, I should notbe here to-night. Eh, Pussy?" And he pulled Susie's ear playfully.
"Jim tried to save the other boy," said Susie with tears in her eyes.
"Yes, I know, and nearly lost his own life. He was very silly in thefirst place, but turned out a real hero after all.--Now, Jim, brightenup and look cheerful. You've had a hard lesson; show the world you'velearned something from it. What's done can't be undone, and mopingwon't make things a bit better. Well, I must go.--Good-night, Pussy.Shall we say ten o'clock in the morning? That will suit me nicely."And with a bright smile all round, and a last word of encouragement toJim, he took his leave.
"O mother," cried Susie, "isn't he a nice man?"
"He is, my dear, and wonderfully clever too, I've heard," replied Mrs.Hartland. "Oh, what a good thing it will be if he can make youstronger!"
They talked about it till bedtime, but Jim was very quiet. He was stillthinking of the boy who had gone so suddenly to his death.