The answer came with a settled conviction bearing hope with it:

'The wind and tide are wi' him, an' he's a strong swimmer. Perhaps half
an hour will take him there. He's all right in himself. He can swim it,
sure. But alack! it's when he gets there his trouble will be, when none
can warn him. Look how the waves are lashing the cliff; and mark the
white water beyond! What voice can sound to him out in those deeps? How
could he see if even one were there to warn?' Here was a hope at any rate. Light and sound were the factors of safety. Some good might be effected if she could get a trumpet; and there were
trumpets in the rocket-cart. Light could be had--must be had if all the
fences round the headland had to be gathered for a bonfire! There was
not a moment to be lost. She ran to the rocket-cart, and got a trumpet
from the man in charge. Then she ran to where she had left her horse. She had plenty of escort, for by this time many gentlemen had arrived on
horseback from outlying distances, and all offered their services. She
thanked them and said:

'You may be useful here. When all these are ashore send on the rocket-
cart, and come yourselves to the headland as quick as you can. Tell the
coastguards that all those saved are to be taken to the castle. In the
rocket-cart bring pitch and tar and oil, and anything that will flame. Stay!' she cried to the chief boatman. 'Give me some blue lights!' His
answer chilled her:

'I'm sorry, my lady, but they are all used. There are the last of them
burning now. We have burned them ever since that man began to swim
ashore.' 'Then hurry on the rocket-cart!' she said as she sprang to the saddle,
and swept out on the rough track that ran by the cliffs, following in
bold curves the windings of the shore. The white Arab seemed to know
that his speed was making for life. As he swept along, far outdistancing
the groom, Stephen's heart went out in silent words which seemed to keep
time to the gallop:

'Oh, to be God, and be able to do things! Give me this man's life, oh,
God! Give me this man's life, to atone for that noble one which I
destroyed!' Faster and faster, over rough road, cattle track, and grassy sward; over
rising and falling ground; now and again so close to the edge of the high
cliff that the spume swept up the gulleys in the rocks like a snowstorm,
the white Arab swept round the curve of the bay, and came out on the high
headland where stood the fisher's house. On the very brink of the cliff
all the fisher folk, men, women and children, stood looking at the far-
off burning ship, from which the flames rose in leaping columns. So intent were all on the cliff that they did not notice her coming; as
the roar of the wind came from them to her, they could not hear her voice
when she spoke from a distance. She had drawn quite close, having
dismounted and hung her rein over the post of the garden paling, when one
of the children saw her, and cried out:

'The lady! the lady! an' she's all in red!' The men were so intent on
something that they did not seem to hear. They were peering out to the
north, and were arguing in dumb show as though on something regarding
which they did not agree. She drew closer, and touching the old
fisherman on the shoulder, called out at his ear:

'What is it?' He answered without turning, keeping his eyes fixed:

'_I_ say it's a man swimmin'. Joe and Garge here say as it's only a
piece o' wood or sea-wrack. But I know I'm right. That's a man
swimmin', or my old eyes have lost their power!' His words carried
conviction; the seed of hope in her beating heart grew on the instant
into certainty. 'It _is_ a man. I saw him swim off towards here when he had taken the
rope on shore. Do not turn round. Keep your eyes on him so that you may
not lose sight of him in the darkness!' The old man chuckled. 'This darkness! Hee! hee! There be no differ to me between light and
dark. But I'll watch him! It's you, my lady! I shan't turn round to do
my reverence as you tell me to watch. But, poor soul, it'll not be for
long to watch. The Skyres will have him, sure enow!' 'We can warn him!' she said, 'when he comes close enough. I have a
trumpet here!' He shook his head sorrowfully:

'Ah! my lady, what trumpet could sound against that storm an' from this
height?' Stephen's heart sank. But there was still hope. If the
swimmer's ears could not be reached, his eyes might. Eagerly she looked
back for the coming of the rocket-cart. Far off across the deep bay she
could see its lamp sway as it passed over the rough ground; but alas! it
would never arrive in time. With a note of despair in her voice she
asked:

'How long before he reaches the rocks?' Still without turning the old
man answered:

'At the rate he's going he will be in the sweep of the current through
the rocks within three minutes. If he's to be saved he must turn seaward
ere the stream grips him.' 'Would there be time to build a bonfire?' 'No, no! my lady. The wood couldn't catch in the time!' For an instant a black film of despair seemed to fall on her. The
surging of the blood in her head made her dizzy, and once again the
prayer of the old memory rang in her brain:

'Oh to be God, and able to do things!' On the instant an inspiration flashed through her. She, too could do
things in a humble way. She could do something at any rate. If there
was no time to build a fire, there was a fire already built. The house would burn! The two feet deep of old thatch held down with nets and battened with
wreck timber would flare like a beacon. Forthwith she spoke:

'Good people, this noble man who has saved a whole shipload of others
must not die without an effort. There must be light so that he can see
our warning to pass beyond the rocks! The only light can be from the
house. I buy it of you. It is mine; but I shall pay you for it and
build you such another as you never thought of. But it must be fired at
once. You have one minute to clear out all you want. In, quick and take
all can. Quick! quick! for God's sake! It is for a brave man's life!' The men and women without a word rushed into the house. They too knew
the danger, and the only hope there was for a life. The assurance of the
Countess took the sting from the present loss. Before the minute, which
she timed watch in hand, was over, all came forth bearing armloads of
their lares and penates. Then one of the younger men ran in again and
out bearing a flaming stick from the fire. Stephen nodded, he held it to
the northern edge of the thatch. The straw caught in a flash and the
flame ran up the slope and along the edge of the roof like a quick match. The squeaking of many rats was heard and their brown bodies streamed over
the roof. Before another minute had passed a great mass of flame towered
into the sky and shed a red light far out over the waste of sea.