"
"If anything further happens this evening, I think I shall go mad,"
Philippa sighed.
"And something is going to happen," Lessingham declared, rising to
his feet. "Did you hear that?"
Above even the roar of the wind they heard the brazen report of a
gun from almost underneath the window. The room was suddenly
lightened by a single vivid flash.
"A mortar!" Lessingham exclaimed. "And that was a rocket, unless
I'm mistaken."
"The signal for the lifeboat!" Philippa announced. "I wonder if we
can see anything."
She hastened towards the window, but paused at the abrupt opening
of the door. Nora burst in, followed more sedately by Helen.
"Mummy, there's a wreck!" the former cried in excitement. "I heard
something an hour ago, and I got up, and I've been sitting by the
window, watching. I saw the lifeboat go out, and they're signalling
now for the other one."
"It's quite true, Philippa," Helen declared. "We're going to try
and fight our way down to the beach."
"I'll go, too," Lessingham decided. "Perhaps I may be of use."
"We'll all go," Philippa agreed. "Wait while I get my things on.
What is it, Mills?" she added, as the door opened and the latter
presented himself.
"There is a trawler on the rocks just off the breakwater, your
ladyship," he announced. "They have just sent up from the beach
to know if we can take some of the crew in.
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