ty on the
schooner's deck.

The whole thing was done in much less time than is required to tell it.
Only one of the boats that were out searching discovered the schooner,
just as the female was got on board.

"All right?" inquired one of the men.

"All right--saved," was the answer, and the boat pulled away into the
obscurity of the morning mist with a cheer of congratulation. Then all
was again silent, and the sluggish tide glided slowly past the dark
hulls that rested on the bosom of the Thames.

On carrying the girl into the small cabin of the "Nancy" it was found
that she was still in a state of insensibility. The dim light of the
swinging lamp fell on her pale face, and revealed to the surprised and
sympathetic beholders features of great beauty and delicate form, over
which masses of dark brown hair straggled in wild confusion.

"Now, lads, clear out o' the way," cried Captain Bluenose, pulling off
his coat energetically. "Leave this here little craft to me. I know
'xactly wot's got to be done, d'ye see. Turn her on her face--there;
never go for to put a drownded body on its back, be it man or woman.
Stick that coat under her breast, and her arm under her forehead. So,
now we'll go to work."

There is no doubt that the worthy captain understood precisely what he
meant to do, and was working on a systematic plan; but what the result
of his labours might have been it is impossible to say, for at that
moment he was interrupted by the tread of hurried footsteps on deck, and
the sudden entrance of a silvery-haired man, whose black coat, vest, and
pantaloons contrasted strangely with his heavy oilskin coat and
sou'-wester, and tended to puzzle the beholder as to whether he was a
landsman in nautical outer garments, or a seaman clothed partly in what
Jack calls "shore-going toggery."

There was an expression of wild anxiety on the man's face as he sprang
towards the prostrate form of the girl, fell on his knees, and, seizing
her hand, exclaimed, "Lucy, dearest Lucy!" He stopped suddenly as if he
had been choked, and, bending his ear close to Lucy's lips, listened for
a few seconds with knitted brow and compressed lips. At that moment
there was a flutter on the eyelids of the girl, and a broken sigh
escaped her.

The man kneeling at her side sprang convulsively to his feet, raised his
hands high above his head, and exclaimed, "O God, in Christ's name I
thank thee," in tones so fervent, as almost to appro