Chapter III.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6713, 28 November 1889, Page 1

Chapter 111.

: An anxious crowd was gathered once more upon the Bhingle. Mr Carlos ? Ma daughter, and his nephew were there. The lifeboat was already in the surf, close upon the shore; and now there wa3 another figure in it, another, whose ghastly face ■was plainly visible among those of the bronzed crew. All in a moment, as the excited spectator^ gazed, the boat, which had fought so bravely with the storm, capsized, and rescuers and rescued were straggling in the surf. A cry of horror arose; There was a bewildering moment, and then Angelo's powerful form was Been amid the breakers. And now the sun broke out from between the angry clouds, and struck a blood-red glow on the gold bracelet on j Angelo-'B wrist. It lit also with a glory i the fair curls of— Arthur Godney, whose head Angelo was supporting. Edmee clung to her father, unable to cry out, unable to do anything but gaze with eyes dilated with horror. A moment more and Angelo had placed his rescued rival out of reach of the wares and was pouring brandy dowahis throat, unheeding the applause that arose on all hands. Ajfchnr-openedbis eyes and heaved a-sigh. Then, an&Bofc tall then, Angela turned toiia cousin, who was supported by her father, and, standing before her drenched with sea water, he said, * l I have given. himbflcfc-toyou,Edin6e; now you will try tofffXf^v&iEae." Than, he staggered away

vociferously cheering the crew, all of whom had safely reached the land. * * # * s? In a private sitting-room at the Imperial Hotel sat Arthur Godney, and near him Edmee Carlos, her hand in his. At a little distance stood Mr Carlos reading aloud a letter from Angelo. He had started for Some, he said, and meant to work hard at his art. Two days had passed since the rescue of Arthur Godney : long enough for an explanation and for a promise to be asked and given. At length the young man oroke the silence. "I promised to tell you to-day all about that awful night and day on those dreadful sands." " Are you Btrong enough yet ? " asked the artist, solicitously. "I -want to tell you," said Arthur; " it won't haunt me co then. After that night at Chamounix I wandered hither and thither reckless enough. "When I left Bordeaux in that ill-fated vessel I little knew what was to come. I wag glad of the storm ; it echoed the tumult within me. " The haze hid the green light on the lightship, and the currents had driven us !on to these sands. The seas that swept our decks carried away the masts, and the craohing sound of the severing timber mingled with the cry of the drowning. Sometimes I seemed to lose my senses and to wake up to find myself still the target of the furious wavea. Then, Edmee, the morning dawned, and I saw the tide ebb gradually away, and I knew that I could have been only just above water all night, for fcha vessel had settled into the sands even above her decks. Slowly the yellow sands revealed themselves, and by-and-by the waves were quite afc a distance from me." " I had taken no food for twelve hours, and a burning thirst was upon me. My torn garments were etained with blood, and I saw that the cords that bound me had cut into my flesh as the waves had tried to drag me— their last victim, for all the rest had perished — from my poor haven. As I looked round I saw projecting spars and jutting pieces of wreckage everywhere. And how soon would such a tombstone mark my resting place ! Perhaps our signals had been seen, and a lifeboat may have tried to reach us. Would they — oh, would they return to-day ? " I began to run along the sand, but my progreaa was soon barred by an intersecting river. The sand near it I found to be treacherous. Backwards and forwards I paced like a caged animal on an island, with the surf forming a wall about me | cutting off all retreat. I began to think of going to meet my foe — this slow advance of death was awful. If I were to cast myself into the sea and end it. * * * * Only the thought of you, Edmee, prevented it. " I continued to pace the sands, and as time passed they seemed to be growing looser. "I chall never forget the horror this knowledge brought mo. I found I must keep running.no vr or I should gink in the sands. " I can't tell how long it was, but a moment came when I fell face downwards, resolved to strive no more, but to die with your dear name upon mj lips. The sand shivered beneath me. I " At that moment I heard a lusty human voice calling. I eprang up, and there was the lifeboat. " I knew no more till I found myselE on the raging sea once more, borne amid those brave fellows — Heaven bless them ! And then, Edme'e, when the lifeboat was upset at last, Angelo carried me on shore himself, and I lost consciousness again, to wake with those sweet eyes above me looking through a mist of tears. I knew then, Edme'e, that it had all been a mistake." "To think that Angelo should himself have been the one to save me !" said Arthur as if to himself. " God speed him in his art, and give him a wife as worthy as mine one day I" As for the wife, she baa not yet appeared, but Mr and Mrs Arthur Godney visited the Academy last season to add their praises to those of the multitude which crowded round Angelo Carlos' magnificent picture "Rescued from the Goodwins," which, ib ia said, is to be bought by the Academy, and will soon obtain bio admission to the Associateship,