i6
U niversity
of
O regon M onthly
waves near shore. What was it? Could he be dreaming? No, he
was sure he knew who it was out there. The'ofher two looked and
started. Each recognized instantly the beautiful brown hair float
ing in the waves.
Jim plunged into the water. His years of athletic training had
made him noted for strength and endurance and now they both stood
him in good stead. He swam as he had never swam before. He was
almost to her. She saw him, gave him one agonized look and sank.
She was chill and cold and unable to move a muscle when he re
covered her. His own strength was fast going but he drew her to
him with his left arm and started for shore. It was only by the
greatest determination that he was able to reach the beach again
with his burden. John and Harry rushed into the waves to meet
him and dragged the two ashore. When they laid her down on the
band, life was almost extinct. ‘.Her lungs were full of water and she
was chilled through and through.
With, a physician’s instinct, John now took charge of affairs
and with the coolness of a hospital surgeon set about means for re
suscitation. ‘¿Marry had succeeded in starting a fire by means he had
learned from the natives on his last trip to Africa. In this John
heated some stones and placed them at Vivian’s feet. She was now
regaining consciousness.
IV
Which of the Three?
,; An hour later Vivian was breathing freely and was lying on a
soft bed of branches and green grass which Jim and Harry had pre
pared for her. She was crying piteously, but between sobs she was
able to tell the three men how the boat which she and her father had
set out in had been capsized. She had seen her father sink beneath
the waves. She could do nothing to save him, but had managed to
grasp an oar and this had helped her to keep afloat until she Was
almost ashore, when she equid hold out no longer. From the time
she saw Jim eoming toward her in the surf, she remembered nothing.
Now there was something for Harry to do. In soothing tones
he told her Of her rescue and spared no pains in making her realize
the bravery of his. brother. Jim and the skill of his brother John.
Jim had disappeared when she finished her story. He had" seen