replaced, however, by spare oars;
and then the lifeboat, being pulled out of danger, hoisted her scrap of
sail and scudded away gaily before the wind for the shore with her
rescued freight.

Of course the news spread like wildfire that the lifeboat had come in
with the crew of the wrecked _North Star_--some said the whole crew,
others, part of the crew; for verbal reports of this kind never do
coincide after travelling a short way.

"Jeff, I must go straight to my sister, and be first wi' the news," said
Captain Millet on landing. "You said my Rosebud is with her just now?"

"Yes, I'll go with 'ee, captain."

"Come along, then, lad; but I fear you've got hurt. You're sure it
isn't broken ribs?"

"Oh, nothing to speak of," replied the youth, with a light laugh.

"First however, I must telegraph to the owners," said the captain.

This duty performed, and his men comfortably housed in a neighbouring
inn, Captain Millet and Jeff went off to the cottage. It was about two
in the morning when they reached it. No one had yet been there. In his
excited state of mind, the captain, who had no nerves, thundered at the
door.

If there was one thing that Miss Millet had a horror of, it was
housebreakers. She leaped out of bed, and began to dress in terror,
having roused Rose, who slept with her.

"Burglars never thunder like that, auntie," suggested Rose, as she
hastily threw on her garments.

Miss Millet admitted the force of the argument and then, somewhat
relieved, concluded that it must be tipsy men. Under this impression
she raised the window-sash--her bedroom being on the upper floor--and
looked timidly out.

"Go away, bad, naughty men!" she said, in a remonstrative tone. "If you
don't I shall send for the police!"

"Why, Molly, don't you know me?"

"Brother!" shrieked Miss Millet.

"Father!" exclaimed the Rosebud.

Need we say that, after a few more hurried touches to costume, the door
was opened, and the untimely visitors were admitted? Need we add that
when Rose, with a little cry of joy, leaped into her father's arms and
received a paternal hug, she leaped out of them again with a little
shriek of surprise?

"Father, you're all wet! a perfect sponge!"

"True, darling, I forgot! I've just been wrecked, and rescued by the
lifeboat through God's great mercy, 'long with all my crew; and there,"
he added, pointing to Jeff, "stands the man that saved my life."

If Rose loved the young coastguards