ach to a shout.

With this irrepressible cry of gratitude every trace of strong emotion
appeared to vanish from the countenance and the manner of the stranger.
Turning to Bluenose, who had been gazing at this scene in much surprise,
not unmingled with anxiety, he said in a calm but quick voice:--

"My friend, this child is my daughter. Pray leave me alone with her for
a few minutes."

"Excuge a oldish man, sir," said the Captain; "p'raps you'd better let
me stay, 'cause why, I knows how to treat drownded--"

"Thank you, it is unnecessary," said the stranger. "Besides, I myself
am acquainted with the rules of the Humane Society. But you can aid me
by getting hot blankets and warm coffee."

"Come along, Captain," cried Bax, seizing his friend by the arm and
dragging him out of the cabin.

Guy had quitted it, followed by Tommy, the instant the old man had
expressed a wish to be left alone with his child.

"There, now, you obstinate man," cried Bax, relaxing his grasp on
gaining the foot of the companion ladder; "up with you, and send Tommy
to look after coffee and blankets. He knows where to get 'em. I'll go
and put on dry toggery; the best thing that _you_ can do, is to keep out
of people's way."

This latter piece of advice was not very agreeable to one whose heart
was tender, and his desire to engage in works of active benevolence very
strong. But feeling that the advice was good, and thoroughly
appreciating the fact that, having shipped as a "suppernummerary hand,"
he was bound to obey his young commander, he went on deck without
remonstrance, walked aft to the binnacle, and began to fill his pipe.

Guy and Tommy were already there, engaged in earnest conversation. The
ruddy light of the binnacle lamp streamed up in the face of the latter,
and revealed his curly fair hair clustering in wild disorder over his
flushed brow, as, with fire gleaming in his blue eyes, he stared up in
his companion's face and related how that Bax, in the coolest manner
possible, had kept treading water with the girl in his arms, knowing
quite well that not even _his_ strength, great though it was, could
enable him to pull himself by the rope to the ship against the tide, and
knowing that, in a few minutes, some one would get into the boat and
pick them up.

"And so _some one_ did, and very cleverly and bravely done it was,
Tommy," said Guy, laying his hand kindly on the boy's shoulder.

"Well, I don't think much o' that,"