THE ACCIDENT
When the party reached the yacht, Mr. Dalken said that chairs had been
placed on the forward deck where they could sit and watch the scenes at
night, as they sailed up to the City. So all but Tom and Polly went
forward and found comfortable seats. Tom had asked Polly to stroll about
with him, and she, feeling guilty of neglecting such an old friend when
on the steamer, consented.
Thus it happened that Tom led her to the side of the craft where they had
climbed the ladder to the deck, as this side was in shadow and farthest
from the group of friends who were seated on the forward deck.
But they had not promenaded up and down many times, before the Captain
gave anxious commands to his crew. Every man jumped to obey, instantly,
while Tom and Polly halted in their walk just at the gap in the rail,
where the adjustable ladder had been lowered to the boat when the
passengers arrived from the steamer. The steps had been hauled in but the
sailor had forgotten to replace the sliding rail. In the dense fog this
neglect had been overlooked.
Immediately following the Captain's shouts, a great hulk loomed up right
beside the yacht, and a fearful blow to the rear end of the pleasure
craft sent her flying diagonally out of her path, across the water. The
collision made her nose dip down dangerously while the stern rose up
clear of the waves.
The group seated forwards slid together, and some were thrown from their
chairs, but managed to catch hold of the ropes and rail to prevent being
thrown overboard.
Polly and Tom, standing, unaware, so near the open gap in the rail, still
arm in arm as they had been walking, were thrown violently side-ways and
there being nothing at hand to hold to, or to prevent their going over
the side, they fell into the dark sea.
Feeling as if the earth had dropped from under her, Polly screamed in
terror before her voice was choked with water. Tom instinctively held on
to her arm, as he had been doing when the impact of a larger vessel came
upon the yacht, and he maintained this grip as they both sank.
Polly had always dreaded water, because it seemed so unfamiliar to her.
After living in the mountains with only narrow roaring streams, or the
glacial lakes found in the Rockies, she had never tried to swim in the
ocean, but preferred swimming in a pool. Consequently, this sudden dive
into the awesome black abyss so frightened her, that she fainted before
she could fight or struggle.
But Tom Latimer was an expert swimmer, having won several medals while at
College for his continued swimming under water. At one time during his
first college days, he had saved the lives of some young folks when their
canoe capsized a long distance from shore. In this supreme test of
ability and presence of mind, with the girl he loved in his arms to save,
Tom was as self-possessed as if on deck with Polly.
In less time than it takes to tell, both victims of the collision sank
until the natural fight between the weight of the water and the force of
the air in their lungs, sent them up again to the surface. In that short
time, Tom used every muscle and physical power to swim far enough _under_
the water to clear away from the boats which might do them more harm than
the water.
Fortunately he found the surface free when he rose for breath, and
finding no resistance from the unconscious form he held, he managed to
change his grip from her arm to a firm hold under the shoulders. In this
position he could manage to keep Polly's head above water, and at the
same time, could swim backwards, by using his feet as propellers.
The only handicap he now had, was his clothing and shoes; these
interfered with his free action in swimming so he managed to kick off his
dancing pumps. The greatest danger he feared, was the sudden coming of
some craft that would compel him to dive again, or might even run them
down, unseen in the dark.
But the very fog that had caused this accident, also befriended them now,
as no wary seaman would recklessly go on his way in such a bewildering
mist, and the majority preferred waiting for a temporary lifting of the
blanket, before continuing their journeys.
Tom felt no concern over the fact that Polly had fainted or had been in
the water for a time, for he knew she was so healthy that no ill would
occur to her from such causes. All he feared now, was his power of
endurance to keep floating until some craft might pick them up, or he
could reach a temporary rest.
Suddenly he felt a sweeping current whirl him about and in another
moment, he was swimming rapidly _with_ instead of _against_ the tide in
the Bay. He realized that in that short time the tide had turned, either
about some point of land, or in the River. He began to tread water while
he tried to lift his head and gaze across the waves. Then a broad shaft
of dazzling light shot across the Bay from a nearby reflector. At the
same time Tom heard the tolling of a bell-buoy, not very far distant.
He changed his course that the outgoing tide would assist him in reaching
this light that might be coming from a ship, or maybe, from an island in
the Bay. As his powerful strokes carried him along, the sound of the
bell-buoy seemed to come so plainly that he felt sure it was not far
away. If he could but hang on to it for a time, in order to gain second
wind!
Suddenly there was a momentary lift of the heavy fog, and he discovered
he was quite near Bedloe's Island. The powerful search light had
reflected from the arc held aloft in the hand of the Goddess of Liberty;
and the light that danced upon the waves all about him came from the
smaller arcs which were placed along the sea-wall of the Island.
The current now carried him helplessly past the pier where the boats from
the Battery land, but just as he tried to lift his head once more and
yell for help, a motor boat was heard chugging through the fog. His cry
was heard by those in the boat, and in a few moments the flash-light in
its prow was blinding Tom because of its proximity.
A chorus of amazed voices now mingled with the noise of the water dashing
against the wall and the ringing of the buoy, and Tom began to feel faint
and dazed. But almost before he knew what was happening, a powerful grip
caught him on his thick hair, and he was dragged partly out of the water.
A commanding voice shouted: "Help grab the girl--we'll take care of the
man!"
Then Tom heard no more, nor indeed, knew more until he indistinctly heard
a far-off call of "Guard! Guard!" Then he opened his eyes to find he was
on the solid earth, once more. Polly was stretched out on the sand. The
Guards tumbled out of the barracks and rushed for the spot where the
officer stood calling.
While a few of the boys lifted and half carried Tom to the general
assembly room, others ran to assist the boatman with the girl. She was
carefully conveyed to the barracks and the doctor sent for. Meantime the
men applied the Schaefer Method to both the strangers; Tom instantly
recovered himself fully but Polly's faint lasted longer.
When the doctor hurried in, his kindly wife followed. Tom was able to sit
up and tell the story of how the accident happened; then he begged
someone to notify the Wharf Police to keep a lookout in the Harbor as
there might be a yacht in distress after that collision. Also, if inquiry
was made at Police Headquarters, the news was to be given that both Polly
and he were safe on Liberty Island.
A Corporal of the Guard was sent to attend to these messages, and Tom was
taken to a cot in the ward of the Barracks. His wet clothing was removed
and he was rolled in a hot blanket and given hot lemonade. In a few
moments he was sound asleep.
Polly was taken to the doctor's cottage where his wife attended the
patient as well as any trained nurse could have done. The girl also was
rolled in warm blankets with hot-water bottles placed about her cold
body. Slowly she began to show more animation, and when she could speak,
she asked if Tom was saved.
[Illustration: TOM AND POLLY ARE RESCUED.
Polly's Business Venture. Page 39]
"Yes, dear; you both are safe now," replied Mrs. Hall.
"And can we get word----" began she.
"We have taken care of that, too, dear. Now try to drink this nice hot
lemonade and then go to sleep."
Polly obediently drank the hot drink and sighed in relief. Then she sank
back and, almost instantly, Nature claimed her rights to make up for the
unwonted interference with her customary routine.
Mrs. Hall sat beside the cot for some time after Polly was asleep, but
she finally succumbed to weariness, and finding her patient fully
recovered and warm, she threw herself upon a nearby cot.
Both young people slept late in the morning, and when Tom finally opened
his eyes, feeling a bit stiff in his joints, he had to collect his
thoughts to remember where he was. Like a flash, everything came back,
and he jumped up to dress and find out how Polly was.
His suit had been dried and pressed and hung over a chair beside the cot.
His dress-coat seemed ridiculously out of order after that swim and, now,
for the morning's work. But he smiled as he donned the clothes, and
started for the door of the long room.
Just as Tom reached the door one of the men entered and greeted him
warmly. "I see you're all right again!"
"Yes, thank you. I hope the little girl is feeling as well," ventured
Tom, anxiously.
"Doctor Hall just left her and says she is right as a fiddle. I'm the
young fellow that telephoned the Police for you. I got back word, early
this morning, that your folks finally got home, without any harm to
anyone. And say! Maybe there wasn't some joy when they heard you two were
safe with us!"
Tom felt a strange gripping at his throat, and his voice quavered as he
replied: "I _know_ there was!"
The young man glanced at the evening dress and then said, "I'm going to
loan you one of my long coats to cover those togs."
Tom responded gratefully, and said: "If I can only do as much for you
boys some time!"
"Say," laughed the soldier, "don't wish such an experience on any of us!"
Then both laughed. As they reached the house where Polly had spent the
night, the doctor opened the door and smiled. When he saw that Tom was
feeling as good as ever, he said: "I just hung up the 'phone. A gentleman
called 'Dalken' told me that they were all coming over to take you away.
But I warned him that the entire party would be arrested if they landed
on Government Ground without a permit.
"Then I remembered that he might secure a permit, so I said: 'Anyway,
before you people can get here, my patients will be on their way to the
Battery.' I said that, because the young lady ought to be kept perfectly
quiet all morning, after such a fearful experience, you know."
"Yes, I know," admitted Tom. "And I am glad you said what you did."
"Now we had her dress dried and pressed, and the little miss will be up
and ready to thank you for your courageous deed, in an hour or so,"
explained the doctor, significantly.
"Thank you, ever so much!" said Tom, grasping his hand.
"Let Ted, here, show you about the place and entertain you until it's
time to call again," suggested the doctor.
So Tom went away with his companion, not to explore the Island, but to go
to the telephone and have a long talk with his friends in the city, who
were anxious to hear about the accident.
Just before noon, an orderly came to Tom to say that Mrs. Hall said, "Mr.
Latimer could call, if he liked." Tom laughed at the message--"if he
liked."
As he entered the little sitting-room of the doctor's house, Tom tiptoed
as if he felt he had to tread softly. But Polly sat in an arm-chair by
the window and saw him coming. She jumped up and ran to the door to greet
him, and Mrs. Hall went out of the room by the kitchen-door.
Tom was unable to speak a word when he finally came into Polly's
presence. She caught hold of his hands and shook them gladly, as she
cried: "Oh, Tom! What do I not owe you after last night!"
Tom wanted to demand payment, but he knew that would ruin his chances
forever, so he held a tight leash on his feelings and smiled wanly. Then
he said in an unnatural tone: "Lucky for us both that I knew how to swim,
eh, Polly?"
Polly was relieved to hear him speak in such a way, but her next act was
the outgrowth of spontaneous gratitude. She flung both arms about his
neck and being too short to reach his cheek, kissed him on the chin as
she would have done had he been John. Tom trembled, but realized at the
same time, that Polly's kiss meant nothing. Still he was humbly grateful
for even that token of gratitude from the reserved girl.
"Now tell me, Tom dear, what did the folks say about our sudden
elopement?" Polly laughed as she used the term.
"Oh, Polly! I'd swim from here to China for you if only it could be an
elopement!"
The girl instantly took alarm, and looked about for Mrs. Hall. But Tom
forced a laugh and tried to make her believe he was joking. "Do you think
that any man would do _that_ for a girl?" he added.
Then he hurried on to say that no one on the yacht had been injured by
the collision, but they were hours in reaching their dock. He said that
they (Polly and Tom) were not missed at first, and not until conditions
had calmed down somewhat, did Eleanor call for Polly. Then it was found
that neither Tom nor Polly were to be found.
"It was Eleanor who remembered seeing us promenade along the side where
the rail was detachable, and it was Eleanor who said we must have been
thrown out where the steps came up. So the captain was taken to task for
having such a careless man on board, and both the man and the captain
were discharged."
"Poor man--it wasn't his fault!" sighed Polly.
"Well, if you hadn't recovered, I'd have sent him to jail for life,
because it was criminal negligence to leave that rail open as it was!"
was Tom's threatening reply.
"I'm glad there is no cause for such harsh treatment," responded Polly.
Tom gazed, with his soul in his eyes, as he breathed fervently: "You're
not half as glad as I am, darling!"
Polly sprang away at that, and ran to the window, saying: "Don't you
think we might start for the City? Mrs. Hall went to fetch a hat and wrap
for me and she ought to be back by this time."