Grace went joyfully down; and as their boat came ash.o.r.e, she received them with thanksgiving.
"All well, Grace?"
"Yes, father. Mother has been very anxious, lest you should not be able to get here before the storm came."
"It is coming, surely. It will be a very rough night, a night to be at home rather than on the sea. Let us get indoors as soon as possible."
They had not been long within the shelter of their home before the storm burst in all its fury, and it was a storm that even they did not often witness. The wind, which at first had sighed as if in sorrow, and wailed as if for woe, now roared in wild anger, rushing hither and thither in a mad endeavour to shake and destroy all that came in its way. Rain pelted down upon the lighthouse, and hail beat against the windows, while the waves, lashed to fury by the tempestuous winds, leaped so high that they beat with violence against the lighthouse itself. All were glad and thankful to be within doors at such a time, and talked compa.s.sionately of the poor fellows who were exposed to the pitiless rigour of the elements.
Grace sat at the window watching, when presently all were startled by an exclamation of alarm which she involuntarily uttered.
"What is it, Grace!" cried her father, rising hastily, and going to her side. "See, father!" said she in answer.
The sight that met Darling"s eyes was sad enough. A little yacht, quite too small to brave such weather, was seen tossing about on the angry waters. One moment it seemed to rise on the top of a wave-mountain, the next it was engulphed in the watery abyss, but all the time the wind was driving it toward the rocks.
"William, look here," said Darling to his son.
William drew a long breath.
"She is coming with all speed to the rocks," he said.
"Yes, there is not a moment to lose. Come, my son."
The young man needed no second bidding: if he had done, Grace would have added her earnest words. But she knew her father and brothers, and hastened to get their hats and jackets, and prepare them for the battle with the winds and waves.
"Is there anything more that I can do for you, father?"
"Yes, take care of your mother, and do not let her give way."
Mrs. Darling clung to her husband until he gently put her into the hands of her daughter. It is one of the trials of the wife of a lighthouse keeper, that she must often see her husband go forth to dangers which may lead him into death; and Mrs. Darling could not bear this trouble with any degree of composure. It is a singular thing that those who live by the sea are often most alarmed at its power. Mrs.
Darling knew what it did with helpless men; and when her husband went out in the storm, though he had gone on an errand of mercy, she was often so anxious about him as to be quite overpowered; and while he was fighting with the elements she would remain at home in a state of insensibility, from which she was with difficulty aroused.
At such times, it is generally the case that
"Men must work, and women must weep."
And it is the women who have the worst of it. It is not so difficult for heroic men to rush into danger for the salvation of human life, as it is for loving women to sit calmly at home while the lives that are dearest to them are in jeopardy. Mrs. Browning understood this when she wrote her poem, "Parting Lovers," when Italy needed brave men to die for her:--
"Heroic males the country bears, But daughters give up more than sons; Flags wave, drums beat, and unawares You flash your souls out with the guns, And take your heaven at once.
"But we? We empty heart and home Of life"s life--love! We bear to think You"re gone--to feel you may not come-- To hear the door-latch stir and clink, Yet no more you!--nor sink."
Happily, however, on this occasion Mrs. Darling"s suspense was not of long duration; for her husband and son managed to row to the little imperilled yacht, and succeeded, though not without danger to themselves, in rescuing its occupants. A few minutes more, and they must have perished; and their joy and thankfulness at being saved at, as it seemed to them, the eleventh hour, may be better imagined than described.
Away to the friendly lighthouse rowed Mr. Darling and his son, and in a very short s.p.a.ce of time they were safely sheltered from the storm. On the threshold of the home, they were met by Grace, who, with her mother, eagerly and kindly welcomed them.
"Come into the light and warmth," said Mrs. Darling, "and I will find you some warm clothing. Thank G.o.d that you are saved."
"Yes, indeed; and we shall never cease to feel thankful also to our kind deliverers, for their skill and courage in saving us from death."
The party consisted of four persons--a lady, two gentlemen, and the boatman; and were quite an addition to the little household, which was, however equal to the emergency.
"Come with me," said Grace to the lady, "and I will find you some dry clothing."
"Thank you," she said. "I could not have imagined any thing like the rain and spray with which we have been drenched; my face was quite stung with them as they beat against me."
"Yes, it is something dreadful during a storm; and of course it seems worse to those who are not used to it. If you take off everything that is wet, and exchange it for dry, I hope you will take no real harm."
The wardrobe of Grace Darling was not a very extensive one, but she spread her belongings before the visitor with the utmost readiness and kindness.
"Please take any article that can be of the least use to you. I am only sorry that I have no better ones to offer."
"Pray do not speak of that. It will be most delightful to feel warm and dry once more."
In the meantime, the two gentlemen were also supplied with some clothing that belonged to the absent brothers of Grace, and presently they all appeared in the room below, and joined the family. They could scarcely repress a smile as they saw each other arrayed in such unusual attire, but it was with deep feeling that they congratulated one another on their escape. The guests then introduced themselves as Mr.
and Miss Dudley, and Mr. Morrington.
"We have been spending a holiday at Tynemouth," said one, "and have been there several weeks. This morning as the sea was calm, and the weather lovely, we came out for a sail, little thinking that in a few hours the scene would be so greatly changed. It is like our treacherous English climate."
"But we came farther than we had intended, for the sea was so thoroughly enjoyable."
"And the gale came up so suddenly that we had not time to seek a place of safety, and it was so very violent that we were driven quite out of our course."
"Had you no control over the vessel?" asked Mr. Darling.
"Not the least We were quite at the mercy of the winds, and waves."
"And they are most merciless," said one of the young men.
"I do not know how to thank you enough for your great kindness, Mr.
Darling," said Miss Dudley. "Words are quite too weak to express the grateful feelings of my heart; but I shall ever remember your great courage, humanity, and kindness, in attempting and accomplishing our rescue from a watery grave."
"Nay, nay," said the kind lighthouse keeper, "do not say any more on the subject. I am sufficiently rewarded for any little trouble and risk by the happiness of knowing that I have been the means of preserving your lives, by the help of G.o.d."
"Your heroic conduct ought to be reported to the authorities."
"But we are placed here to keep the lamps burning; and though we are very glad to save lives, you understand that is not the work we are paid for doing."
"You are paid though, by the consciousness of having done a good deed, and the grat.i.tude of those whom you have rescued."
"Certainly, but you must please excuse me now, as I must relieve my son, and take my turn in watching by the beacon."
"And now," said Mrs. Darling, "I am sure you will be glad of some refreshment."
Indeed they were; and Mrs. Darling, who was a good housekeeper, and had a few delicacies in her larder, knew how to satisfy the appet.i.tes of her guests. It was a very cheerful party that gathered around the lighthouse-table that evening, and when William Darling joined them there was no lack of conversation. The guests were evidently persons of gentle birth and habits, and the Darlings knew how to appreciate such society. The social Grace was especially delighted, and almost felt thankful for the storm that had brought such interesting and agreeable guests to the lighthouse-home. The two girls, differently reared as they had been, were yet able to fraternise, and find mutual pleasure in the society of each other; and the hours pa.s.sed almost unheeded, while the storm, which had abated none of its tempestuous fury, raged violently without, and failed to disturb the happiness of those who were so pleasantly occupied.
It was very late before they could bring themselves to break up the social party, and retire to rest.