“Oh, yes, we will, we will,” responded several voices as the poor fellow was lifted from the boat and swiftly carried to the nearest house—the one occupied by our friends.
Arthur understood his business thoroughly and there were plenty of willing, helping hands. The news flew fast, and presently Croly’s aunt came, full of distress, to ask if there was any life, any hope.
“We have not given up, we will not while the least spark of hope remains,” Elsie answered; then told of the long and at last successful fight which had once saved her Harold from the grave.
“Oh, dear fellow, I hope he will be saved,” said the aunt, weeping. “You probably know, Mrs. Travilla, how anxious he has been about his parents: we have just had a telegram from his father, saying that they have landed in New York and will be here this evening. I think it will kill his mother—father too, perhaps, for he is their only child and just an idol with them both—to learn that he is lying here, to all appearance dead. I’ll have to put them off with the news that he went out on the sea before their telegram came and may be back in an hour or two.”
“Yes, I hope he will soon show signs of life,” Elsie said with emotion. “Oh, how sad, how heart-breaking for them to lose their only child in such a way—so suddenly and without a parting word!”
“They are coming home very happy,” continued the aunt; “the mother having almost entirely recovered her health, and if only they could find poor Will all right——” she ended with a burst of weeping.
“Dear Mrs. Croly, do not give up hope; we are all praying for him—that his life may be spared if the will of God be so.”
“Then I believe it will be, for God is the hearer and answerer of prayer,” returned the aunt; “and oh, I want to thank you for having poor Will brought here; for if he was with us the state of affairs could hardly be kept a moment from his parents, but now I hope it will be all right before they need to know.”
“You are very, very welcome,” Elsie replied, and Mrs. Croly went away somewhat consoled and hopeful.
The rides and the shopping expedition had been given up and the children and younger members of the family had gone down to the beach to be out of the way of those working with Croly; but Rosie, Lulu, Grace, and Walter were in a sad, subdued, and anxious mood. Mary and Marian presently joined them, and they talked feelingly of him whom they hardly dared to hope to see in life again.