Grace looked behind her, and saw the people on the rock. They were waving, shouting, laughing. But there were eight, mine, perhaps ten of them! too many for this small boat.
She looked back at the waves and pulled hard and carefully with her oars. It was more than a kilometre around the island from the lighthouse to the ship, and every wave, every rock was different and dangerous. She was tried now, but the job was not finished. The wrecked ship on Harker's Rock was still fifty metres away.
How many can you say, Grace? Her father shouted.
She looked again. 'Ten... twelve perhaps, ' she said. It's too many, father. We'll all drown, if they try to get in.
Yes, put me on the rock, lass, and then take the boat out again, shouted William. I'll take to them. We can't take more than five, the first time.
It was very dangerous near the rock. In the best place, the waves went up and down two or three metres every minute. If we make one mistake, Grace thought, the boat will break into fifty small pieces, and we'll be on the rock with the others.
Carefully, slowly, Grace and her father tried to get the boat and the rock, but three times they had to pull away at the last minute. Then, the fourth time, William Darling jumped. The passengers pulled him onto the rock.
Grace quickly rowed the boat out to sea again. She was alone in the boat now, and the boat moved differently. She was tired, and her arms and back were hurting. But she knew about boats. Watch the see all the time, she told herself. The waves must meet the front of the boat first, or the boat will turn over. Forget the cold, and the rain, and the wet. God will help me.
On the rock, William Darling spoke quickly. I'm going and my children, cried Mrs Dawson, don't forget my children!
William looked at her unhappily. He held out his arms. Give the children to me, mother, he said.
Carefully, he took the boy and the girl from her, and put little bodies on the rock, near the sea. They were dead and cold. They are in God hands, mother, he said.
Then he spoke and quickly and quiet to Daniel Donovan. When the boat comes, help me get the woman in. We can't take her children.
Daniel agreed. William put his arm around Mrs. Dawson, and waved to Grace.
Carefully, slowly, she rowed the boat in to the rock. It was harder without her father. The wind and the waves moved the boat more quickly,and Grace was very tired now. One mistake meant death for them all. She came closer-twenty metres, ten, seven, five... A big wave lifted the boat, then a smaller one behind it. She pulled hard on the oars, and threw a rope to a man on the rock. Then her father got into the boat, with a woman in his arms. She was screaming.
My children! Bring the children, please!
No, Mother. William Darling took the oars. Help her, Grace.
Grace went to the back of the boat with the woman, and held her. Daniel Donovan and two other men got in. They were carrying the man with the broken leg. The front of the boat was very near the rock now-too near. Grace looked behind her, and saw a big wave.
Pull, father! she shouted. Pull hard! She stood up, and pushed against the rock with an our. The boat was very heavy now, with all thees people in it.
William pulled hard with his oars. The big wave came in, and broke into white water all around them. But the boat did not hit the rock. William pull again,and shouted. Youmen help me! Take the oars. One each!
The little boat was very full. The sides were only just a ablove the water, and often the water came in. Grace threw it out with her hat. The wind and waves were against them now, and the four men had to row hard. But slowly, very slowly, the lighthouse came nearer. At last, from the top of the waves, they could see Thompson Darling. She was standing in front of the lighthouse, and waving to them.
They were very tired when they got to the lighthouse. William and Daniel carried the man with the broken leg into the kitchen, and Grace and her mother helped Mrs. Dawson.
Inside the kitchen, William smiled it his daughter. He did a good job, lass, he said. Thank you.
I'll come back again with you, father, he said.
No, he side. You're too tired. I'll take two of these.
He looked at Daniel and the other two men. Which are the strongest ? he asked.
Daniel was very tired. There was a fire in the kitchen- a warm, beautiful fire. He wanted to lie down in front of the fire and go to sleep for a long, long time. But William Darling's quiet brown eyes were looking at him. I'll come with you, Daniel said.
I'll come too,said Thomas Buchanan.
William Darling smiled. Good men, he said. Can you two men row as well as my daughter?
Daniel looked at Grace, who was busy helping Mrs. Dawson. she looked very small,here, in the kitchen- like any young woman. I'll try, he said.
Right, said William. Come on then.
So Daniel and Thomas Buchanan followed the old lighthomeman away from the warm kitchen fire, out into the r