Meanwhile the wind rose higher, and the tide gained on the rocks, and the sacred darkness came down.  At first Eric could think of nothing but storm and sea.  Cold, and cruel, and remorseless, the sea beat up, drenching them to the skin continually with, its clammy spray; and the storm shrieked round them pitilessly, and flung about the wet hair on Eric’s bare head, and forced him to plant himself firmly, lest the rage of the gusts should hurl them from their narrow resting-place.  The darkness made everything more fearful, for his eyes could distinguish nothing but the gulfs of black water glistening here and there with hissing foam, and he shuddered as his ears caught the unearthly noises that came to him in the mingled scream of weltering tempest and plangent wave.  It was fearful to be isolated on the black rent rock, and see the waves gaining on them higher, higher, higher, every moment and he was in ceaseless terror lest they should be swept away by the violence of the breakers.  “At least,” thought he, as he looked down and saw that the ledge on which they had been standing had long been covered with deep and agitated waves, “at least I have saved Edwin’s life.”  And he bravely made up his mind to keep up heart and hope, and weather the comfortless night with Russell in his arms.

And then his thoughts turned to Russell, who was still unconscious; and stooping down he kissed fondly the pale white forehead of his friend.  He felt then, how deeply he loved him, how much he owed him; and no mother could have nursed a child more tenderly than he did the fainting boy.  Russell’s head rested on his breast, and the soft hair, tangled with welling blood, stained his clothes.  Eric feared that he would die, his fainting-fit continued so long, and from the helpless way in which one of his legs trailed on the ground he felt sure that he had received some dangerous hurt.

At last Russell stirred and groaned.  “Where am I?” he said, and half opened his eyes; he started up frightened, and fell-back heavily.  He saw only the darkness; felt only the fierce wind and salt mist; heard only the relentless yell of the blast.  Memory had no time to wake, and he screamed and fainted once more.

Poor Eric knew not what to do but to shelter him to the best of his power, and when he showed any signs of consciousness again, he bent over him, and said, “Don’t you remember, Edwin?  We’re quite safe.  I’m with you, and Monty’s gone for help.”

“Oh!  I daren’t jump,” sobbed Russell; “oh mother, I shall be drowned.  Save me! save me!  I’m so glad they’re safe, mother; but my leg hurts so.”  And he moaned again.  He was delirious.

“How cold it is, and wet too! where’s Eric? are we bathing? run along, we shall be late.  But stop, you’re smoking.  Dear Eric, don’t smoke.  Poor fellow, I’m afraid he’s getting spoilt, and learning bad ways.  Oh save him.”  And as he wandered on, he repeated a prayer for Eric, which evidently had been often on his lips.