"That means they left her!" said Mary Bell, trembling with nervous
terror. She shouted again in the darkness, before turning for the
homeward trip. It seemed very long. Once she thought she must be
going aimlessly back and forth on the same bit of rail, but a moment
more brought her to the missing rail again, and she knew she had
been right. Blown by the wind, struck by the now flying rain,
deafened by the gurgling water and the rising storm, she fought her
way back to the fire again. The others were all there, and with them
three cramped and chilled little boys, crying fright and relief, and
clinging to the nearest adult shoulder. The Chinese boy and Grandpa
Barry had found them, standing on a hummock that was still clear of
the rising tide, and shouting with all their weary strength.

"Oh, thank God!" said Mary Bell, her heart rising with sudden hope.

"We'll get the others, now, please God!" said Henderson, quietly.
"We were working too far over. You said they were all right when you
left them, Lesty?" he said to one of the shivering little lads.

"Ye-es, sir!" chattered Lesty, eagerly, shaking with nervousness.
"They was both all right! Davy wanted to git Billy over to the
fence, so if the tide come up!"--terror swept him again. "Oh, Mr.
Henderson, git 'em--git 'em! Don't leave 'em drowned out there!" he
sobbed frantically, clutching the big man with bony, wet little
hands.

"I'm going to try, Lesty!"

Henderson turned back to the marsh, and Mary Bell went too.