<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. <br/><span class="cheaderfont">IN WAL JESSOP’S COTTAGE.</span></SPAN></h2>
<p>When Wal Jessop reached Edgar Foster—for it was
our hero who had been so miraculously saved from
sudden death—he found him sitting with his back to
the rock, and gazing out to sea with wistful eyes.
Edgar smiled faintly as he approached, and held out
his hand, which Wal Jessop seized in a hearty clasp.
Edgar began to talk, but Wal Jessop told him not to
excite himself, and to leave anything he had to say
until they were safe and sound on the top of the
rocks.</p>
<p>‘The little one is safe,’ said Wal. ‘It was easy
enough to take her up, but it will be more difficult
with you, and I shall want you to help me all you
can.’</p>
<p>‘I’ll do my best,’ said Edgar, ‘but I feel very weak.
What an awful night it was!’ And he shuddered as he
spoke.</p>
<p>‘You’ll be able to tell me about it later on,’ said
Wal Jessop. ‘Try and walk a bit; put your arm
round my neck, and lean on me heavily.’</p>
<p>Edgar managed to stand on his feet, but he felt so
weak he almost fell down again. However, he succeeded
in dragging along, with Wal Jessop’s assistance,
as far as the dangling rope. Edgar saw how
long it was, and said:</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[75]</span></p>
<p>‘Will it bear us both? You ought not to run any
risk.’</p>
<p>It’s strong enough to hold an elephant,’ said Wal;
‘and there’s plenty of good sturdy fellows on top to
haul us up.’</p>
<p>Without further delay he proceeded to make preparations
for the ascent. He tied the rope firmly
under Edgar’s arms, then made a loop lower down in
which he could fix his feet. When Wal had put his
feet in the loop, Edgar put his feet on the top of
Wal Jessop’s, and, facing each other, they were ready
to be hauled up. Wal Jessop also had his arms
round Edgar, in case the rope was not sufficient
support for him.</p>
<p>‘Do you feel firmly fixed?’ said Wal.</p>
<p>‘Yes,’ replied Edgar; ‘but it will be a stiffish pull
for those on the top.’</p>
<p>‘Never you fear!’ said Wal. ‘They’ll manage it.
It’s what they have been at all their lives, hauling in
ropes either on board or ashore.’</p>
<p>He gave the signal, and they commenced slowly to
ascend.</p>
<p>It was with a hearty cheer the men hauled them
out of danger, and when Wal Jessop and Edgar stood
on the top of the rock the good fellows capered with
delight like so many schoolboys. They surrounded
Edgar, and were so boisterous in their expressions of
goodwill towards him, that Wal Jessop felt he ought
to interpose, or else the excitement would be too
much for the lad.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[76]</span></p>
<p>‘Hold hard, boys!’ he shouted, forcing them back.
‘This is my prize, and I’m going to carry him off
home. A rest will do him good, and we shall hear
all about his escape later on.’</p>
<p>‘What ship was it?’ asked one of the men.</p>
<p>‘The <em>Distant Shore</em>,’ said Edgar sadly.</p>
<p>‘And the skipper?’</p>
<p>‘Lost—all lost, I am afraid, but myself and the
little one,’ said Edgar.</p>
<p>Good-natured Wal Jessop, wishing to prevent more
painful questions, hurried Edgar Foster away from
the scene as quickly as he could walk.</p>
<p>‘Where are we going to?’ asked Edgar.</p>
<p>‘My cottage,’ said Wal. ‘The wife has taken the
young one, and has probably put her in bed ere
this.’</p>
<p>‘You are very kind to us,’ said Edgar.</p>
<p>‘I shouldn’t be much of a man if I didn’t do all I
could for you,’ said Wal. ‘I’ll bet you’d have done
as much for me.’</p>
<p>‘I should have done my best,’ said Edgar.</p>
<p>‘I know it, lad, and therefore there is all the more
pleasure in helping you. Mind the path here, it’s a
bit rough and steep,’ said Wal.</p>
<p>When they reached Wal Jessop’s cottage, Edgar
felt exhausted, and sank helplessly into the easy-chair
Mrs. Jessop placed ready for him. Tears stood
in her eyes as she looked at Edgar’s youthful face,
and thought of those who would mourn him as lost
until they learned the truth.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[77]</span></p>
<p>‘Poor lad!’ she said in a whisper to Wal. ‘He’s
worn out, and no wonder. You must get him into
bed, and I’ll make something hot for him.’</p>
<p>‘He’ll be best there,’ said Wal. ‘Here goes!’</p>
<p>He lifted Edgar out of the chair, and carried him
into a small bedroom. He helped him off with his
clothes, such as they were, all ragged and torn, and
wrapped him in the blankets. Mrs. Jessop brought
him a bowl of beef-tea and bread, and after Edgar
had done justice to it, he fell into a sound sleep.</p>
<p>‘Wonder who he is?’ said Mrs. Jessop. ‘He’s a
fine lad.’</p>
<p>‘And a brave one,’ said Wal. ‘He’ll sleep a good
many hours, I guess. I’ll go up to Sydney by the
boat, and give what information I can about the
wreck. I’ll hurry back as quickly as possible. If he
asks for me, tell him I shall not be long away.
Where’s the child?’</p>
<p>Mrs. Jessop, with her finger on her lips to ensure
silence, noiselessly opened their bedroom door.</p>
<p>Fast asleep in his own bed Wal Jessop saw the
child he had rescued from a cruel death. How calm
and peaceful she lay; not a thought of trouble haunted
her as she slept! One tiny hand peeped out from
the coverlet, and Wal Jessop could not resist covering
it with his large hand. The little one returned the
pressure, but did not awake.</p>
<p>‘I wish she belonged to us,’ he said to his wife.</p>
<p>‘So do I,’ was her reply. ‘Who knows but what
she may do, if she has lost her father and mother?’</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[78]</span></p>
<p>‘We shall find out all about them when I return,’
he said. ‘Rest is what they want now, poor things.
I’ll bring some clothes back for him. You can get
the little one some when you go out. It will be a
bit of fresh shopping for you,’ he added with a smile
that brought the colour into his wife’s cheeks.</p>
<p>When Wal Jessop reached Sydney, he found
everyone in a state of excitement about the wreck,
so many different accounts having been given by
irresponsible persons. But he did not stay to gratify
mere idle curiosity. He went direct to the offices of
the Marine Board, and gave all the evidence he could
about the wreck of the <em>Distant Shore</em>. His story was
listened to with rapt attention, for Wal Jessop was
a man who could be depended upon in all he did or
said.</p>
<p>At the conclusion of his story, Captain Fife, President
of the Board, complimented him upon his
bravery, and asked him to bring the youth he had
rescued to the offices of the Board as soon as he was
in a proper state to give his version of the disaster.</p>
<p>‘By the way, what sort of a lad is he, Jessop?’
asked Captain Fife.</p>
<p>‘If looks go for anything, he’s one of the right sort,’
said Wal; ‘and that he’s brave goes without saying,
after what I have told you.’</p>
<p>‘Then, I dare say I can find him something to do,’
said Captain Fife; ‘that is, I mean, if he has no friends
out here to help him.’</p>
<p>‘I’m sure it is very kind of you,’ said Wal. ‘I<span class="pagenum">[79]</span>
don’t know who or what he is, at present; but he’s
been brought up a cut above me, I guess.’</p>
<p>‘That may be,’ said Captain Fife, smiling; ‘but if
he turns out as good a man as Wal Jessop, his father
will have reason to be proud of him.’</p>
<p>Wal Jessop’s honest face shone with pleasure at
this remark, and he said:</p>
<p>‘If I can be of any use to him, he’s welcome to
all I know about Australia.’</p>
<p>‘And that is more than most of us,’ said Captain
Fife. ‘He is in good hands, at any rate. Bring him
here as soon as you can.’</p>
<p>Wal Jessop made the best of his way home. He
avoided the busy shipping quarters, but was waylaid
by several of his acquaintances, who knew he could
tell them more about the wreck than anyone. The
pressmen were also on his track, and, in order to
quiet them, Wal Jessop gave them a short account of
what had occurred.</p>
<p>‘It’s not all I know,’ he said at the conclusion of
his remarks; ‘but it is quite enough for you chaps
with vivid imaginations to work upon. I reckon,
when I read the accounts, they’ll be equal to anything
that could have been strung together on the spot.
Some of you have fathered stirring yarns on to me
before now. Give me a rest this time, and I’ll forgive
you.’</p>
<p>‘We can’t let you off so easily, Wal,’ said one
pressman. ‘If I don’t get your photo for my paper
I shall have to find another shop to work in.’</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[80]</span></p>
<p>‘You’ll get no photo from me,’ said Wal. ‘I’m
not a particularly good-looking man, but I draw the
line at those outrages in your paper, Billy.’</p>
<p>When Wal Jessop arrived home, he found Edgar
had just awoke out of a refreshing sleep, for which he
felt much better.</p>
<p>‘I have brought you some new clothes,’ said Wal;
‘your garments were rather knocked about with
rough usage. How do you feel now, my lad?’</p>
<p>‘Excepting the pain in my head, I am all right,’
said Edgar. ‘It is very good of you to purchase me
clothes. I have lost all I had on board the ship. I
put a draft in my coat-pocket, but I had to get rid of
my coat to save our lives. I must let my father
know I am saved, as he will be anxious about me
when he hears of the wreck.’</p>
<p>‘I’ll send a cablegram,’ said Wal. ‘We can
manage to advance you cash enough,’ he added,
smiling. ‘Now put on your clothes and come and
have a chat with the lassie.’</p>
<p>‘She’s a dear little child,’ said Edgar, ‘and the
captain’s daughter.’</p>
<p>‘Poor Manton!’ said Wal; ‘I fancied as much.
She’s got the look of her father about her.’</p>
<p>When Edgar appeared in the cosy room, he saw
Eva quietly sitting on Mrs. Jessop’s knees. The
child cried out, and slipping down, toddled towards
him, holding out both hands.</p>
<p>Edgar clasped her in his arms and kissed her
fondly.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum">[81]</span></p>
<p>‘Poor little Eva,’ he said. ‘I promised to save
you if I could, and, now I have done so, I will look
after you.’</p>
<p>Eva commenced to prattle in her childish way, and
asked for her mother.</p>
<p>‘She’s gone a long way off,’ said Edgar. ‘You
will stay with me, won’t you, dear?’</p>
<p>‘Yes. Stay till mamma comes back,’ said Eva.
‘Where’s daddy?’</p>
<p>‘Gone with mamma,’ said Edgar. ‘He said you
must be a good girl.’</p>
<p>‘Always good girl with Eddy,’ she said, snuggling
up against him.</p>
<p>This was more than Mrs. Jessop’s motherly heart
could stand, and she beat a hasty retreat.</p>
<p>‘Me go too,’ said Eva; and Edgar let her patter
after Mrs. Jessop.</p>
<p>‘Now,’ said Wal Jessop, ‘we may as well introduce
ourselves. I’m Pilot Walter Jessop, and am as well
known along this coast as a good many sailors.’</p>
<p>‘Edgar Foster is my name,’ said Edgar, who proceeded
to relate how it came about he was on board
the <em>Distant Shore</em>. He also told Wal Jessop about
his school-days and life at home. Wal Jessop was a
man who inspired confidence, and Edgar felt it would
be good for him to make a friend of the man who
had rescued him from a watery grave.</p>
<p>‘We had a splendid passage,’ said Edgar, ‘until
we were somewhere off the coast of Tasmania, I believe.
It was then the storm commenced to brew,<span class="pagenum">[82]</span>
and Captain Manton became anxious. We could not
have had a better skipper, and no blame can be attached
to him for the loss of the ship. It was a pure
accident. The rudder chains snapped at a critical
moment, and the ship was not under control. It was
a terrible time, and I shall never forget it. Captain
Manton asked me to do what I could to save his
wife and child, as he had to try and look after the
ship and those on board. The last I saw of him he
was standing as cool and collected as though sailing
calmly into port. What the agony of his mind must
have been I fail to imagine. When the crash came
I snatched Eva from Mrs. Manton’s arms, and
directly afterwards I was hurled against the side of
the vessel, and the support almost immediately gave
way. I was pitched into the seething waves, with the
child in my arms. For a moment I was stunned,
but when the dazed feeling passed I caught hold of
a floating spar, which I managed to grasp with one
hand and to hold Eva with my other arm. The
child was insensible from the shock, and luckily for
us she did not know what happened.</p>
<p>‘After a few minutes I scrambled on the spar,
which was tossed up and down by the waves in a
fearful manner. I expected every moment would be
my last, and that we should be dashed to pieces on
the rocks. How we escaped is really marvellous, and
God must have been very near us at that time. One
huge wave lifted the spar on to the rocks, and as I
felt it roll backwards I slipped off and clung to a<span class="pagenum">[83]</span>
jagged edge of rock. Another wave came rushing
over us, and must have rolled me higher up the
rocks, for I remember nothing more until I saw you
bending over me. I can hardly realize I am saved,
and can still hear the roar of the waves, and seem to
feel the water dashing over me.’</p>
<p>‘When you see the place where you were cast up
by the sea,’ said Wal, ‘you will wonder still more
that you were not dashed to pieces. I see you are
tired now. In the morning we can talk over what is
best to be done.’</p>
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