He was lost
at sea while captain of a ship, and her mother has since died, so that
she is very precious to us."

I looked at little Maggie with even more interest than before, and I
said--

"My father was also drowned, and so was my grandfather, and I believe
his father before him, for I come of a seafaring family."

"That has been likewise the fate of many of the Troils," said the lady;
"but I must not let you talk more now. Before long my father and your
young shipmate will be returning, and they will be glad to hear from
your own lips how you feel. In the meantime try to go to sleep again.
The doctor says that the more you sleep the sooner you will regain your
strength. Saying this, the lady, followed by the little girl, left the
room."

I thought over what she had said to me, and kept repeating to myself,
"Margaret Troil! Margaret Troil! I know that name, I am sure!" but I
did not think long before I forgot where I was and what had happened.

I saw Maggie's sweet face peeping in at me when I woke, but as soon as
she saw that my eyes were open she ran off, and shortly afterwards Mr
Troil and Jim came into the room. The old gentleman spoke very kindly;
told me that I must consider myself at home, and that though he hoped I
should soon get well, I must be in no hurry to go away. He then went
out, saying to Jim, "I can let you stay only five minutes with your
friend. When the time is up I must call you."

Jim could at first scarcely speak for joy at seeing me so much better.
He then told me how highly Mr Troil spoke of me and him for the way we
had kept the brig afloat, and brought her to the coast of Shetland.

"I told him as how it wasn't us who did it," continued Jim, "but that
God sent the wind as blew us here; and he says to me, `To be sure, that
was the case in one way, but then that God rewarded your efforts, and
thus you deserve great credit for what you did.' He promises to see
that we are rewarded, and to do all he can for us himself. I told him
as how you were really captain, and that I couldn't have done anything
by myself, except pump, and that I had done with a will, seeing I am
bigger and stronger than you."

I was inclined to smile at Jim's modesty, though I felt very grateful to
him for speaking so well of me, and was about to ask him what Mr Troil
said in return, when our host called him out of the room. I was thus
left to myself, except when the lady, who Jim had told me was Miss