burst forth from the ship, showing clearly her rigging and sails
as she bore down towards us.

Scarcely an expression of anxiety or alarm had escaped my new friends,
although to them the foaming seas, as we made our way over them that
dark night, must have appeared truly terrible.

In a short time the ship appeared like a phantom moving over the ocean.
I let off another blue light, to show our position. She hove-to, and we
pulled up under her lee. As we approached, I ordered a chair to be
slung, to hoist our passengers on board. The operation would be a
dangerous one.

By the time we were alongside the chair was ready, with lanterns let
down on either side of it. The old lady was first sent up, and then his
sister and cousin entreated that Henri might go. I secured him in the
chair, for he had not strength to hold on. He groaned as I did so, the
boat all the time rising and falling, and there was a risk that, before
he could be hoisted clear of her, she might be lifted up and strike the
chair. This risk, indeed, was run by all the party. I was anxious to
get the old gentleman to take his seat next, as I knew that I could with
greater ease carry the lighter forms of the young ladies up in my arms.
Henri was lifted on deck, and then, almost by main force, I placed
Monsieur de Villereine in the chair. As soon as I saw him swinging well
out of the way of the boat, taking Sophie round the waist, and telling
my coxswain to follow with her cousin, I sprang up the side. It was
well that I did so, for at that moment, a sea surging round almost stove
in the boat and half filled her with water; but the men were ready, and,
hooking on, the falls were let down, and the boat was hoisted up in time
to save her being completely knocked to pieces. The party in Dick's
boat took but a short time in getting on board, and she also was quickly
hoisted up.

While the ship stood off the land, I went down to the cabin to attend to
my passengers.

I fortunately had plenty of berths. The steward set to work to get them
ready, and the cook meantime was busy in preparing hot soup and
arrowroot, and other things which he thought might conduce to the
comfort of my unexpected guests. Having served in passenger ships, I
was at no loss what to do, and the mates and I turning out our
wardrobes, supplied clothing which might serve while that of the party
was washed in fresh water and dried.

The night was stormy, and I was obliged cons