fine weather with the tide right, takes no time at all ... ”
“Won’t they be worrying about us at the hospital?”
Jim grunted. “Won’t do them any good if they do. Reckon they’ve got enough to keep them busy.”
Jim speeded up the engine as the tide began to slacken. The shore seemed to stand still at first while only the water rushed past, until at last the Sea Witch began to creep forward inch by inch as she beat the current.
“That’s the worst part. Take the wheel, there’s a good lass. I just want to check on the gas ... should be enough.”
Sheila took the wheel and was startled by the different feel. It was the tidal currents pulling the Sea Witch now ... building up behind them and hurrying them forward.
Jim came back with the measuring stick. “We’ve used it up like billy-o, but we should just make it if we don’t meet too much wind against us around the point.”
Sheila could hear a roaring sound now, gradually getting louder and louder, and the Sea Witch began to pitch and toss.
“Better give her back to me. This doesn't look too good, gal. If it weren’t for the reefs off that danged point I could work in closer and maybe get a bit of shelter. If we don’t make it snappy and get that message through there won’t be enough daylight for the pilot to land on the lake. If that logger is as bad as Doc thinks, maybe we’re too late after all.”
“Don’t say that, Jim. We’ve got to be in time.” The thought of returning to the Harbor and finding out that she had failed was more than she could bear.
She was beginning to feel sleepy. The roar of the wind, the endless tossing, and all the excitement, was beginning to take effect. She must have dozed off for a moment and wakened with a start. The Sea Witch was lurching badly, sluggishly, and then she realized the engine had stopped. Where was Jim? She stumbled to her feet as he staggered out of the cabin.
“That’s torn it ... we’re out of gas. Doc must have emptied the spare tin last time he was out, and like a fool I didn’t think to check it.”
Sheila stared at him blankly. “What do we do, then?”
Jim looked at her wryly. “Hope you can swim, lass. Remember to keep your mouth shut when you hit the water or else the cold shock will stop you taking the next one. Here, shove this lifebelt on and pray harder than you’ve ever prayed before.”
Sheila slipped the lifebelt on with fingers that had gone numb suddenly. She was conscious of not being frightened, only angry that they hadn’t succeeded. Would Alan believe that they had tried? Would ...
Mercifully, Sheila was to remember very little of the next little while. There was an impression that she heard Alan calling to her... but of course he couldn’t be there. He couldn’t be saying Sheila ... try to answer me ... Sheila, forgive me ... for sending you .. . Then it faded as had all the other sounds and she only knew that her head ached relentlessly and her eyelids were too heavy to lift. She couldn’t move ... her hands ... her legs ... were like lead.
Eventually there came a time when she managed to open her eyes, wincing with the effort as even the shaded light seemed too much. There was someone beside the bed. She squinted a little unt il her eyes finally focused.
“That’s more like it, lass. Given us a fair turn you have.”
“What ... happened, Jim?” Her tongue felt as if it hadn’t been used for speech for a long time.
He glanced anxiously toward the door. “The Matron will have my life if I talk too much. You struck your head as the Sea Witch hit the reef and keeled over. We drifted clear and luckily a fishing boat picked us up. You looked half dead, so we arranged for the plane to collect us before heading for the Harbor. Luckily the wind had dropped a bit, so it wasn’t so bad until we landed. Then all hell broke loose. If the Matron hadn’t turned up just then and rescued me there wouldn’t have been enough pieces to sweep up.”
“What
“Won’t they be worrying about us at the hospital?”
Jim grunted. “Won’t do them any good if they do. Reckon they’ve got enough to keep them busy.”
Jim speeded up the engine as the tide began to slacken. The shore seemed to stand still at first while only the water rushed past, until at last the Sea Witch began to creep forward inch by inch as she beat the current.
“That’s the worst part. Take the wheel, there’s a good lass. I just want to check on the gas ... should be enough.”
Sheila took the wheel and was startled by the different feel. It was the tidal currents pulling the Sea Witch now ... building up behind them and hurrying them forward.
Jim came back with the measuring stick. “We’ve used it up like billy-o, but we should just make it if we don’t meet too much wind against us around the point.”
Sheila could hear a roaring sound now, gradually getting louder and louder, and the Sea Witch began to pitch and toss.
“Better give her back to me. This doesn't look too good, gal. If it weren’t for the reefs off that danged point I could work in closer and maybe get a bit of shelter. If we don’t make it snappy and get that message through there won’t be enough daylight for the pilot to land on the lake. If that logger is as bad as Doc thinks, maybe we’re too late after all.”
“Don’t say that, Jim. We’ve got to be in time.” The thought of returning to the Harbor and finding out that she had failed was more than she could bear.
She was beginning to feel sleepy. The roar of the wind, the endless tossing, and all the excitement, was beginning to take effect. She must have dozed off for a moment and wakened with a start. The Sea Witch was lurching badly, sluggishly, and then she realized the engine had stopped. Where was Jim? She stumbled to her feet as he staggered out of the cabin.
“That’s torn it ... we’re out of gas. Doc must have emptied the spare tin last time he was out, and like a fool I didn’t think to check it.”
Sheila stared at him blankly. “What do we do, then?”
Jim looked at her wryly. “Hope you can swim, lass. Remember to keep your mouth shut when you hit the water or else the cold shock will stop you taking the next one. Here, shove this lifebelt on and pray harder than you’ve ever prayed before.”
Sheila slipped the lifebelt on with fingers that had gone numb suddenly. She was conscious of not being frightened, only angry that they hadn’t succeeded. Would Alan believe that they had tried? Would ...
Mercifully, Sheila was to remember very little of the next little while. There was an impression that she heard Alan calling to her... but of course he couldn’t be there. He couldn’t be saying Sheila ... try to answer me ... Sheila, forgive me ... for sending you .. . Then it faded as had all the other sounds and she only knew that her head ached relentlessly and her eyelids were too heavy to lift. She couldn’t move ... her hands ... her legs ... were like lead.
Eventually there came a time when she managed to open her eyes, wincing with the effort as even the shaded light seemed too much. There was someone beside the bed. She squinted a little unt il her eyes finally focused.
“That’s more like it, lass. Given us a fair turn you have.”
“What ... happened, Jim?” Her tongue felt as if it hadn’t been used for speech for a long time.
He glanced anxiously toward the door. “The Matron will have my life if I talk too much. You struck your head as the Sea Witch hit the reef and keeled over. We drifted clear and luckily a fishing boat picked us up. You looked half dead, so we arranged for the plane to collect us before heading for the Harbor. Luckily the wind had dropped a bit, so it wasn’t so bad until we landed. Then all hell broke loose. If the Matron hadn’t turned up just then and rescued me there wouldn’t have been enough pieces to sweep up.”
“What
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