The Motor Girls on Crystal Bay; or, The Secret of the Red Oar

closed her eyes again, but this time it was only exhaustion, not faintness. The other girls had been roused to activity by Lottie’s condition. They could now see a rift in the clouds, and one after another hurried to say that the storm was breaking, and it was not so bad; that boats could be seen, and perhaps they would soon sight land. But those at the wheels of the boats knew how little they could do in the way of steering. Every time the wheel was turned one way the force of the rollers would wash it completely around. In fact they were making absolutely no progress, and might almost as well have allowed the powerless craft to submit to the fury of the waters. Cora realized this, as did the boys, but the other girls, except perhaps Bess, felt more secure as the sound of the motor indicated motion. The clouds were lifting, but the force of the storm seemed to be coming in from sea, and had little to do with the appearance of the sky. “Oh, if help would only come!” Cora whispered to Bess. “I’m afraid another and worse storm is gathering!” “Don’t give up,” replied the girl, her own face gray in the mist and spray that covered the deck even under the awnings. “I—see—something bobbing up and down over there!” Cora continued. “See! It is—a big, strong boat, perhaps a lifeboat!” “Let us hope so,” answered Bess, fervently. Not one word could Cora exchange with Jack, he was too far from her to hear her voice. The Dixie was still near enough to be sighted, but how the boys managed to keep her so was as remarkable to themselves as to those on the Chelton . “That’s a boat, all right,” said Bess with more vigor in her voice, “and it looks like one from the life-saving station.” Cora peered anxiously in the direction of the speck that played upon the waves. “Hey!” yelled Jack, “there comes Denny!” “Denny!” repeated Cora wonderingly. “Oh, there’s Freda!” called Belle, jumping up from the bottom of the boat and promptly falling back again. “It’s Freda and Denny, and someone else?” asked Bess, breathlessly. “Oh, what a mercy!” “It’s a boy,” declared Kent. “See the rain-hat and slicker?” “Yes, and see Freda’s hair floating out from under that rubber hat!” insisted Bess. “Oh, I