“You’re late, Tom,” Jasper remarked as the boat’s bow touched the shore where he was standing.  “I expected you an hour ago.”

“It was the wind, sir,” was the reply.  “A number of logs broke loose from the raft and I had a hard time to collect them.  There’s a heavy sea runnin’ below the Bar.”

“It’s bad out there, too,” and Jasper pointed off toward the island.

“Sure thing,” the man replied, turning partly around.  “There’s a boat leavin’ the island now.  Surely it’s not goin’ to try to run over.”

“Where is it?” Jasper demanded.

“Look,” and Tom stretched out his long right arm, “ye kin just see it.  There, it’s plainer now.”

The only answer Jasper made was to give the boat a vigorous push from the shore, leap aboard, seize the wheel and order Tom to start the engine.  In a few seconds they were cutting their way rapidly through the water straight for the big white-caps beyond.  Tom asked no questions, but attended to the engine.  It was all in the day’s work to him, and this was much easier than towing logs.

From the moment he had seized the wheel Jasper had not taken his eyes off of the little boat away in the distance.  He could see that it was in the rough water and was pitching about in an alarming manner.  It seemed to be beyond control and was drifting rapidly toward the rougher water of the main channel.

“We are going very slow, Tom,” he remarked.  “Can’t we do any better?”

“She’s runnin’ full speed,” was the reply.  “I’d like to slow down a bit, for we’re gettin’ soaked.”

“Never mind the water, Tom.  I wish you could make her go as fast again.  Oh! did you see that?”

“See what?”

“The way that little boat pitched.  I thought she had swamped.”

It did not really take them more than ten minutes to run across that stretch of water, but to Jasper it seemed much longer.  The boat pounded and threshed her way forward, shipping water at every plunge, keeping Tom busy with the small suction pump.  At last, however, it was easy for Jasper to see two women sitting in the drifting boat.  That they were helpless and had given up all attempt to reach the shore was quite evident.  One was seated astern, and the other was holding the oars in her hands, but making no use of them.  Jasper’s heart beat quicker as he watched her, for he well knew what a struggle she must have made before giving up in despair.

“They’re women!” Tom exclaimed in astonishment.  “What in the devil are they doin’ out here!”

“Shut up, and attend to your engine,” Jasper sternly ordered.

They were quite close now, and the women saw them.  As they approached Jasper could see Lois’ face turned toward him and it was very white.

“Sit still,” he shouted, and then he motioned to Tom to slow down.  “Stop her,” he presently ordered, and soon they were drifting up close to the little boat.