But no one could come immediately. The heavy sea had got Ivy Ridgeway into difficulties, and Miss Young dared not leave her while she was still out of her depth; and the others were only able to save themselves: so Honor was obliged to do her best alone. By this time the steamer had stopped and was lowering one of its boats, but it took several minutes before the latter could be launched.
"Hold on a bit!" the sailors shouted encouragingly to Honor; and once they were clear of the vessel, they rowed with a will.
They reached the pair at last, and lifted the unfortunate girl, insensible and helpless as a log, over the gunwale.
"Better let us take you in too, miss!" said the coxswain to Honor.
"No, thanks; I'm all right," she replied, and, turning round, she swam straight back to the shore.
The passengers on the steamer gave cheer after cheer as they watched the little figure making its way so pluckily; and more than one person heaved a sigh of relief when it arrived in shallow water, and walked out on to the beach.
Meanwhile, the boat had picked up the young man and the other girl, who had clung to their upturned craft till they were in the last stage of exhaustion.
Poor Miss Young actually shed tears when she saw all her class safe and sound on dry land once more--a weakness of which her pupils never knew her to be guilty before or after.
"I'm not sure if I don't feel a little bit weepy myself," said Maisie Talbot. "Lettice is not a remarkably strong swimmer, and when I saw her so far out in the bay I thought--But there! it's over now, and I won't imagine horrible tragedies."
"It was a near shave for several of us," said Chatty soberly.
Honor took the whole affair with the utmost coolness; indeed, she insisted upon treating it almost as a joke.
"One doesn't always have the luck of picking up a mermaid," she declared. "I may find Father Neptune, or the Sirens, if I go a little farther; or perhaps I might drag back the sea serpent, as a neat little specimen for the school museum. If the trippers are often going to provide us with such entertainment, we shall have very lively times at bathing."
"All the same, I'm sure she's more upset about it than she pretends," said Lettice. "Her hands were trembling so much when she was dressing, she could scarcely button her blouse. It's just like her, though; she'd rather say something funny any time, than look serious."
