with a
great cry of grief that he shouted, "Oh, David, David! my brother!" and
fell back heavily on the sand.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

BILLY AND HIS FATHER RETURN HOME.

Who can describe the strange mingling of grateful joy with bitter
anguish that almost burst the heart of David Bright's widow on that
terrible night!

She was singing one of the "Songs of Zion," and busy with household
cares, preparing for the expected return of her husband and her son,
when they carried Billy in.

It might be supposed that she would be anxious on such a stormy night
but if the wives of North Sea fishermen were to give way to fears with
every gale that blew, they would be filled with overwhelming anxiety
nearly all the year round.

When the knock at the door came at last the song ceased, and when the
stout fisherman entered with his burden, and a fair curl, escaping from
the folds of the ulster, told what that burden was, the colour fled from
the poor woman's cheeks, and a sinking of the heart under a great dread
almost overcame her.

"He's all right, missus," said the man, quickly.

"Thank God?" gasped Mrs Bright. "Are--are the rest safe?"

"I b'lieve they are. Some of 'em are, I know."

Obliged to be content, for the moment, with the amount of relief
conveyed by these words, she had Billy laid on a bed, and bustled about
actively rubbing him dry, wrapping him in blankets, applying hot bottles
and otherwise restoring him; for as yet the poor boy showed only slight
symptoms of returning vitality.

While thus engaged the door burst open, and Maggie Davidson rushed in.

"Oh, Nell!" she exclaimed, "what has happened--is it true--Billy!--dead?
No; thank God for that, but--but--the _Evening Star_ must be wrecked!
Are the rest safe? Is Joe--"

The excited young wife stopped and gasped with anxiety.

"The Lord has been merciful in sending me my Billy," returned Mrs
Bright, with forced calmness, "but I know nothing more."

Turning at once, Maggie rushed wildly from the house intending to make
straight for the shore. But she had not gone far when a crowd of men
appeared coming towards her. Foremost among these was her own husband!

With a sharp cry of joy she rushed forward and threw herself into his
ready arms.

"Oh! praise the Lord," she said; but as she spoke the appearance of her
husband's face alarmed her. Glancing hastily at the crowd behind, she
cast a frightened look up at Joe's face.

"Who is it?" she as