the pier, and a gangway was run on board.

The first man who stepped on this gangway was a tall powerful gendarme,
with a huge cocked hat, and a long cavalry sabre, the steel scabbard of
which clattered magnificently as he stalked along. Now it chanced that
this dignified official slipped his foot on the gangway, and, to the
horror of all observers, fell into the water.

Impulsiveness was a part of Teddy Maroon's enthusiastic nature. He
happened to be gazing in admiration at the gendarme when he fell. In
another moment he had plunged overboard after him, caught him by the
collar, and held him up.

The gendarme could not swim. In the first agony of fear he threw about
his huge limbs, and almost drowned his rescuer.

"Be aisy, won't 'ee!" shouted Ted, holding him at arm's length, and
striving to keep out of his grasp. At the same time he dealt him a
hearty cuff on the ear.

The words and the action appeared to have a sedative effect on the
gendarme, who at once became passive, and in a few minutes the rescuer
and the rescued stood dripping on the schooner's deck.

"Thank 'ee, my friend," said the gendarme in English, extending his
hand.

"Och, ye're an Irishman!" exclaimed Teddy eagerly, as he grasped the
offered hand. "But sure," he added, in an altered tone, dropping the
hand and glancing at the man's uniform, "ye must be a poor-spirited
craitur to forsake yer native land an' become a mounseer."

"Ireland is not my native land, and I am not an Irishman," said the
gendarme, with a smile. "My mother was Irish, but my father was French,
and I was born in Paris. It is true that I spent many years in Ireland
among my mother's relations, so that I speak your language, but I am
more French than Irish."

"Humph! more's the pity," said Teddy. "If there was but wan drop o' me
blood Irish an' all the rest o' me French, I'd claim to be an Irishman.
If I'd known what ye was I'd have let ye sink, I would. Go along: I
don't think much of yez."

"Perhaps not," replied the gendarme, twirling his long moustache with a
good-humoured smile; "nevertheless I think a good deal of you, my fine
fellow. Farewell, I shall see you again."

"Ye needn't trouble yerself," replied Teddy, flinging off, testily.

It was quite evident that the unfortunate Irishman found it hard to get
reconciled to his fate. He could scarcely be civil to his mates in
misfortune, and felt a strong disposition to wrench the sword from his
captor