oar against her
body, and looked ahead.

"No; I was not thinking about that--only of your danger, and my awful
position. I was never so frightened before."

"Can you still see the vessel?"

"Just a shadow against the sky. I--I think she is moving straight
ahead."

"Then we have not been missed, nor the mate. Doubtless he was going
below for his supper. Now lean well over to port--yes, the left--and
balance the boat; I am going to climb in."

With a struggle, I made it, rolling over the low gunwale, the water
draining from me into a pool at the bottom, the slight chill of the
night air making me shiver. It was not raining now, although there was
a vapory mist in the atmosphere, almost a drizzle. I sat up, and
touched her hand where it grasped the oar.

"You are a fine brave girl," I said sincerely, unable to restrain my
admiration.

She dropped her head, and began to sob.

"Oh, no, no! I am not," she replied, tremblingly. "I am such a
coward. You cannot know the terror I have felt."

"That is the test of courage; you faced peril realizing all you risked.
Not one in a thousand would have done as well."

"You--you really think so?" and she glanced toward me, "or are you
merely seeking to encourage me? But you are soaking wet, and must be
cold."

"A little damp--yes," and I laughed, stretching my limbs, "but there is
plenty to do now to keep me warm. Where is the _Sea Gull_? I hardly
know in which direction to look."

She pointed over the port bow, and, with an effort, I managed to make
out, through the misty gloom, a faint shadow against the sky. Not a
light was visible, nor could I decipher any real outline of the vessel.
Even as I stared in uncertainty this dim spectral shade vanished,
swallowed up in the night.

"Why," she said, "it is gone now; I cannot see it at all any more."

"The best luck that could happen to us. Now we will widen the stretch
of water as much as possible." I leaned over, and clawed about until I
found the discarded oilskins, and wrapped them about her, despite
protests.

"No, not another word, young lady. I shall have to work and cannot be
bothered with such things, while you must sit there and hold that oar
until we have some sail spread. This mist is as bad as rain; your
jacket is soaked already. Have n't you learned yet to obey your
captain's orders?"

"I was never very good at that."

"Obeying, you mean? Well, you have no choice now. Hold steady whi