Suddenly above the thunder of the waters a hoarse blast rent the air.  Eben turned, and as he did so his heart gave a great bound, for there but a short distance away was a powerful tug.  Where she had come from he did not know.  Neither did he care.  It was enough for him that she was near, with men standing on the bow with coils of ropes in their hands.  They shouted aloud, but he could not understand what was said.  The tug was coming across the current, and running a fearful risk in attempting the rescue.  Then a rope was flung across the bow of the “Eb and Flo,” and in a twinkling Eben was upon it.  Never in his life had he pulled so hard and fast, for everything depended upon his efforts now.  How long that rope seemed to be.  He could hear the shouts of the men on the tug, and they seemed to be words of encouragement.  The rope was long, and the warp, for which he was pulling, was dragging heavily in the water.  Could he get it aboard?  Would he have the strength?  These thoughts passed through his mind with lightning rapidity.  But still he kept on, and ere long he had the joy of seeing the big hook loom in sight.  Then an almost superhuman pull, and the warp was on deck, and securely fastened around the capstan.  A shout went up from the tug when this had been accomplished, and Eben staggered back, exhausted by his mighty efforts.  He saw the warp suddenly tighten, and felt the “Eb and Flo” swerve to the right.  Would the line hold?  That was the all-important question now.  The strain was terrible, and the rail over which it passed snapped like matchwood.  It creaked, as it bit into the deal below, and at times Eben imagined he could see the strands parting.  Fortunately it was a new rope and held firm as the tug battled its way against that racing current.  Inch by inch it moved, dragging its heavy, helpless burden from the jaws of destruction.  There were no shouts now on board the tug, for in the presence of so great a danger and with so much at stake lips were silent.

Eben stood like a statue near the capstan, his eyes fixed upon that straining warp, to him the rope of deliverance.  He knew that it was holding, and that the tug was making better headway now.  The crisis was past, and in a few minutes he felt sure that he would be safe.  Neither was he mistaken, for ere long the tug escaped the deadly current by drawing somewhat to the left.  Then from the shore he heard cheers and shouts of excited men who had gathered there.  Several blasts from the tug sounded forth as signals of her success, as she triumphantly ploughed her way to a wharf on the right.

Eben could not recall very clearly what happened after that.  He heard numerous voices as the boat was being tied up, saw as in a dream men crowding on board, and listened to their questions and words of congratulation.  He was dazed by the confusion, and longed to be away by himself that he might think.  He was only able to do this, however, when the crowd had departed, and he was left alone upon deck.  He had not deserted his post of duty, and a thrill of pleasure swept over him at the thought that he had been true to his trust.  Then his mind turned suddenly to Jess Randall.  He wondered if she would ever hear of what he had done, and if she did, would she be proud of him?