Mrs. Vincent, and the two children, while the crew were
clinging to the rigging of the bowsprit to prevent being washed
overboard.

"O, Levi!" cried Bessie, when she saw the manly form of her true
friend.

In the blast and the spray, Levi clasped her hands, and both of them
wept. It was more than three months since they had parted in the house
of Mr. Watson. There was no time to think of the past, or even of the
future; the present absorbed all the energies of the young seaman. With
the assistance of Bob Thomas, Levi conveyed Bessie along the fallen
spar, and lowered her into the life-boat. Mrs. Vincent and her two
children were assisted into the boat in the same manner. Mat Mogmore
and two men--all that were left of the crew--were then permitted to
enter the boat, which pulled back to the yacht.

With much difficulty, and the exercise of no little skill, the
life-boat was kept right side up, and the rescued party were safely
placed on board of The Starry Flag, though the females had to be
hoisted up in slings over the stern.

"You are safe, Bessie," said Levi, as he conducted her to the cabin.

"Thanks to our Good Father, and to you, Levi, I am!"

"I have the inexpressible happiness of greeting you again," said Mr. C.
Augustus Ebenier, as he threw open the door of her state-room.

The gale rapidly subsided, and in the afternoon, after the wreck had
been boarded again, the yacht sailed for Melbourne.

CHAPTER XXV.

A HAPPY REUNION.

The sea in the Strait was comparatively smooth, and the yacht sped on
her way to Melbourne. Mrs. Vincent and her children had been installed
in Mr. Watson's state-room, while Bessie occupied her own. From her
Levi had obtained all the particulars of her voyage. She told him what
she had suffered, what she had feared, and what she had hoped.

"Who had charge of the Caribbee?" asked Levi, when, after Bessie and
Mrs. Vincent had been made comfortable, they gathered in the cabin.

"Captain Gauley," replied Bessie.

"Who was he?"

"He was a pilot on a steamer," replied Mrs. Vincent. "He and my husband
became acquainted while they were on a boat near New York. I never saw
him till just before we sailed from the Cape. He is a bad man."

"That is plain enough," added Levi; "but where is he now?"

"He and three other men were washed overboard when the vessel struck on
the rocks."

"And three of the men were saved?"

"Yes; Mat Mogmore, the steward, and another man."

"