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Brown； keeping fast possession of his own telescope； communicated his
observations。
'Ay； I see them。 Where are they？ He's climbing now。 There's a
breaker just there； will wash them off； as sure as they're alive！ I
don't see 'em。 Yes； I dothere's Redcap！ There's something stirring
on the rock！'
So they watched till； after an interval； in which the boats disappeared
behind the rocks； they were seen advancing over the waters againone
yesboth； and loaded。 They came fast； they were in sight of all；
growing larger each moment； mounting on the crest of the huge rolling
waves； then plunged in the trough so long as to seem as if they were
lost； then risingrising high as mountains。 Over the roaring waters
came at length the sound of voices； a cheer； pitched in a different key
from the thunder of wind and wave； they almost fancied they knew the
voice that led the shout。 Such a cheer as rose in answer； from all the
Redclyffe villagers； densely crowded on quay； and beach； and every
corner of standing ground！
The sun was just up； his beams gilded the crests of the leaping waves；
and the spray danced up； white and gay； round the tall rocks； whose
shadow was reflected in deep green； broken by the ever…moving swell。
The Shag and its attendant rocks； and the broken vessel； were bathed in
the clear morning light； the sky was of a beautiful blue； with
magnificent masses of dark cloud； the edges； where touched by the
sunbeams； of a pearly white； and across the bay； tracing behind them
glittering streams of light； came up the two boats with their freight
of rescued lives。 Martin's boat was the first to touch the landing…
place。
'All saved；' he said； 'all owing to him；' pointing back to Sir Guy。
There was no time for questions； the wan； drenched sailors had to be
helped on shore； and the boat hauled up out of the way。 In the
meantime； Guy； as he steered in past the quay； smiled and nodded to Mr。
Ashford and Markham； and renewed the call； 'All safe！' Mr。 Ashford
thought that he had never seen anything brighter than his facethe
eyes radiant in the morning sun； the damp hair hanging round it； and
life； energy； and promptitude in every feature and movement。
The boat came in； the sailors were assisted out； partly by their
rescuers； partly by the spectators。 Guy stood up； and； with one foot
on the seat； supported on his knee and against his arm a little boy；
round whom his great…coat was wrapped。
'Here； Jem！' he shouted； to his rejected volunteer； who had been very
active in bringing in the boat； 'here's something for you to do。 This
poor little fellow has got a broken arm。 Will you ask your mother to
take him in？ She's the best nurse in the parish。 And send up for Mr。
Gregson。'
Jem received the boy as tenderly as he was given； and； with one bound；
Guy was by the side of his two friends。 Mr。 Ashford shook hands with
heartfelt gratulation； Markham exclaimed；
'There； Sir Guy； after the old fashion！ Never was man so mad in this
world！ I've done talking！ You'll never be content till you have got
your death。 As if no one could do anything without you。'
'Was it you who carried out the line on the rock？' said Mr。 Ashford。
'Ben Robinson and I。 I had often been there； after sea anemones and
weeds； and I had a rope round me； so don't be angry； Markham。'
'I have no more to say；' answered Markham； almost surly。 'I might as
well talk to a sea…gull at once。 As if you had any right to throw away
your life！'
'I enjoyed it too much to have anything to say for myself；' said Guy；
'besides； we must see after these poor men。 There were two or three
nearly drowned。 Is no one gone for Mr。 Gregson？'
Mr。 Gregson； the doctor； was already present； and no one who had any
authority could do anything but attend to the disposal of the
shipwrecked crew。 Mr。 Ashford went one way； Markham another； Guy a
third； but； between one cottage and another； Mr。 Ashford learnt some
particulars。 The crew had been found on a flat rock and the fishermen
had at first thought all their perils in vain； for it was impossible to
bring the boats up； on account of the rocks； which ran out in a long
reef。 Sir Guy； who knew the place； steered to the sheltered spot where
he had been used to make fast his own little boat； and undertook to
make his way from thence to the rock where the crew had taken refuge；
carrying a rope to serve as a kind of hand…rail； when fastened from one
rock to the other。 Ben insisted on sharing his peril； and they had
crept along the slippery； broken reefs； lashed by the surge； for such a
distance； that the fishermen shuddered as they spoke of the danger of
being torn off by the force of the waves； and dashed against the rocks。
Nothing else could have saved the crew。 They had hardly accomplished
the passage through the rising tide； even with the aid of the rope and
the guidance of Sir Guy and Ben； and； before the boats had gone half a
mile on their return； the surge was tumbling furiously over the stones
where they had been found。
The sailors were safely disposed of； in bed； or by the fireside； the
fishers vying in services to them。 Mr。 Ashford went to the cottage of
Charity Ledbury； Jem's mother； to inquire for the boy with the broken
arm。 As he entered the empty kitchen； the opposite door of the stairs
was opened； and Guy appeared； stepping softly； and speaking low。
'Poor little fellow！' he said； 'he is just going to sleep。 He bore it
famously！'
'The setting his arm？'
'Yes。 He was quite sensible； and very patient； and that old Charity
Ledbury is a capital old woman。 She and Jem are delighted to have him；
and will nurse him excellently。 How are all the others？ Has that poor
man come to his senses？'
'Yes。 I saw him safe in bed at old Robinson's。 The captain is at the
Browns'。'
'I wonder what time of day it is？'
'Past eight。 Ah！ there is the bell beginning。 I was thinking of going
to tell Master Ray we are not too much excited to remember church…going
this morning； but I am glad he has found it out only ten minutes too
late。 I must make haste。 Good…bye！'
'May not I come； too； or am I too strange a figure？' said Guy； looking
at his dress； thrown on in haste； and saturated with sea…water。
'May you？' said Mr。 Ashford； smiling。 'Is it wise； with all your wet
things？'
'I am not given to colds；' answered Guy； and they walked on quickly for
some minutes； after which he said； in a low voice and hurried manner；
'would you make some mention of it in the Thanksgiving？'
'Of course I will' said Mr。 Ashford； with much emotion。 'The danger
must have been great。'
'It was；' said Guy； as if the strong feeling would show itself。 'It
was most merciful。 That little boat felt like a toy at the will of the
winds and waves； till one recollected who held the storm in His hand。'
He spoke very simply； as if he could not help it； with his eye fixed on
the clear eastern sky； and with a tone of grave awe and thankfulness
which greatly struck Mr。 Ashford； from the complete absence of self…
consciousness； or from any attempt either to magnify or depreciate his
sense of the danger。
'You thought the storm a more dangerous time than your expedition on
the rock？'
'It was not。 The fishermen； who were used to such things； did not
think much of it； but I am glad to have been out on such a night； if
only for the magnificent sensation it gives to realize one's own
powerlessness and His might。 As for the rock； there was something to
do to look to one's footing； and cling on； no time to think。'
'It was a desperate thing！'
'Not so bad as it looked。 One step at a time is all one wants； you
know； and that there always was。 But what a fine fellow Ben Robinson
is！ He behaved like a regular heroit was the thorough contempt and
love of danger one reads of。 There must be a great deal of good in
him； if one only knew how to get hold of it。'
'Look there！' was Mr。 Ashford's answer； as he turned his head at the
church wicket； and； at a short distance behind； Guy saw Ben himself
walking up the path； with his thankful； happy father； a sight that had
not been seen for months； nay； for years。
'Ay；' he said； 'such a night as this； and such a good old man as the
father； could not fail to bring out all the good in a man。'
'Yes；' thought Mr。 Ashford； 'such a night； under such a leader！ The
sight of so much courage based on that foundation is what may best
touch and save that man。'
After church； Guy walked fast away； Mr。 Ashford went home； made a long
breakfast； having the whole story to tell； and was on to the scene of
action again； where he found the master； quite restored； and was
presently joined by Markham。 Of Sir Guy； there was no news； except
th