r man on board would have done the same. I was the nearest, and
therefore had to be first. That was all!'

Mr. Stonehouse came to him and said as he grasped Harold's hand so hard
that his fingers ached:

'I cannot thank you as I would. But you are a man and will understand.
God be good to you as you have been good to my child; and to her mother
and myself!' As he turned away Pearl, who had now been holding close to
her mother's hand, sprang to him holding up her arms. He raised her up
and kissed her. Then he placed her back in her mother's arms.

All at once she broke down as the recollection of danger swept back upon
her. 'Oh, Mother! Mother!' she cried, with a long, low wail, which
touched every one of her hearers to the heart's core.

'The hot blankets are all ready. Come, there is not a moment to be lost.
I'll be with you when I have seen the men attended to!'

So the mother, holding her in her arms and steadied by two seamen lest
she should slip on the wet and slippery deck, took the child below.

Harold was taken by another set of men, who rubbed him down till he
glowed, and poured hot brandy and water into him till he had to almost
use force against the superabundance of their friendly ministrations.

For the remainder of that day a sort of solemn gladness ruled on the
_Scoriac_. The Stonehouse family remained in their suite, content in
glad thankfulness to be with Pearl, who lay well covered up on the sofa
sleeping off the effects of the excitement and the immersion, and the
result of the potation which the Doctor had forced upon her. Harold was
simply shy, and objecting to the publicity which he felt to be his fate,
remained in his cabin till the trumpet had blown the dinner call.

CHAPTER XXV--A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD

After dinner Harold went back to his cabin; locking himself in, he lay
down on the sofa. The gloom of his great sorrow was heavy on him; the
reaction from the excitement of the morning had come.

He was recalled to himself by a gentle tapping. Unlocking and opening
the door he saw Mr. Stonehouse, who said with trouble in his voice:

'I came to you on account of my little child.' There he stopped with a
break in his voice. Harold, with intent to set his mind at ease and to
stave off further expressions of gratitude, replied:

'Oh, pray don't say anything. I am only too glad that I was privileged
to be of service. I only trust that the dear little girl is no wo