Neither spoke for a moment; both needed all their breath to reach
a higher bough.
"Let me help you," gasped Paul Colbert. "Try to climb to the next limb.
It is stronger and steadier."
"Thank you," panted Philip Alston.
They reached it together and could now see the shore, and both looked at
Ruth through the swaying boughs and flying spray. The young man's heart
leapt and his courage rose at the sight of the slender, girlish form. He
saw her stretch out her arms, and remembering that she loved this old
man, panting and struggling at his side, he shouted with all the power
that he had, telling her that he would do his best to bring him to land.
Philip Alston gave him a strange look, and then turned his gaze again
toward the little figure on the shore. In a tone that was even more
strange than his look, he murmured something about being on his way back
from the island. He also said something about going to the boat early in
the morning to countermand an order that he had given on the night
before.
"I changed my mind--I found I couldn't do--"
Paul Colbert did not understand, and scarcely heard the confused,
gasping, hurried words.
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