e rock a gentleman who had
committed the young lady to my charge.

"I will try and save him!" I exclaimed.

At that moment loud shrieks were heard, for the sea had lifted the boat
and swept her and all clinging to her off the rock. The rope still
held, and my men hauled on it with right good-will. The other rope was
still round my waist. I plunged into the water, and swam towards the
boat. I caught sight of the gentleman just at the moment that he had
been forced from his hold. In another instant he would have been
carried away, when, grasping him tightly, I shouted to my men to haul me
in. Almost exhausted, I was drawn on shore with the person I had
rescued. Of the rest, three were thrown on the rocks, one of whom was
carried away before he could make good his footing, while the remainder
were swept out to sea. Besides the two we had first seen, only eight
were saved. The sorrow exhibited by the ladies and the old gentleman
when they saw how severely injured the young man had been in his effort
to help them, made me suppose that they were relatives.

"Oh, Henri, Henri!" they murmured, bending over him.

Their accent and the last words they uttered showed me that they were
French.

The young man opened his eyes and tried to smile, as if to reassure
them.

"I am not so very much hurt," he answered, in a low voice.

Just then I was sure I knew the expression of his countenance; his eyes,
too, glanced at my face.

"Are you not Frenchy?" I asked, "My old friend Henri de Villereine?"

"Yes, Charley. I thought I knew you," he answered. "Thank you, thank
you, for what you have done!"

His companions looked at me with surprise. "I am an old schoolfellow,"
I said; "and I am doubly thankful that I have been the means of helping
those belonging to him."

There was, however, no time for conversation or explanation beyond this.
Having formed two rough litters with our oars and ropes, we placed my
old schoolfellow on one and the elder lady on the other, while I and the
other gentleman assisting the young ladies, we proceeded back to the
boats. The provisions we had brought somewhat restored all the party.

The evening was approaching, and when I looked out for the ship I could
but just distinguish her topsails above the horizon. We had a long pull
before us, and I feared we should not reach her before dark, and, if so,
we might have to spend the night tossed about on the stormy sea. I
cheered my men, a