The next minute he had dropped from the rigging on the crest of a mighty wave and was being borne onward to the shore . Speedily the backwater was reached and the man , sucked down by the swirl of the wave , threw up his arms and disappeared . Alan dashed in , groping , swimming ; it seemed an eternity before his hand clutched the drowning man and wrenched him from the undertow . And , with the seaman in his arms , he staggered back through the foam and dropped his burden on the sand at Lynde 's feet . Alan was reeling from exhaustion and chilled to the marrow , but he thought only of the man he had rescued . The latter was unconscious and , as Alan bent over him , he heard Lynde give a choking little cry . `` He is living still , '' said Alan . `` We must get him up to the house as soon as possible . How shall we manage it ? '' `` Lynde and I can go and bring the Captain 's mattress down , '' said Emily . Now that Alan was safe she was eager to do all she could . `` Then you and I can carry him up to the house . '' `` That will be best , '' said Alan . `` Go quickly . '' He did not look at Lynde or he would have been shocked by the agony on her face . She cast one glance at the prostrate man and followed Emily . In a short time they returned with the mattress , and Alan and Emily carried the sailor on it to Four Winds . Lynde walked behind them , seemingly unconscious of both . She watched the stranger 's face as one fascinated . At Four Winds they carried the man to a room where Emily and Alan worked over him , while Lynde heated water and hunted out stimulants in a mechanical fashion .
When Alan came down she asked no questions but looked at him with the same strained horror on her face which it had borne ever since Alan had XXXXX his burden at her feet .
Go carried cast dropped drowning hunted living returned walked worked