. He
raised the field-glass he had carried from the veranda to his eyes. He
was watching a yacht making across the bay towards them.

She spoke again. "You are going again to-morrow?"

"Yes; all the ships of the squadron but one get away."

"How long shall you be gone?"

"Six months at least----Great God!"

He had not taken the glasses from his eyes as they talked, but had
watched the yacht as she came on to get under the lee of the high shore
at their right. He had noticed that one of those sudden fierce winds,
called Southerly Busters, was sweeping down towards the craft, and would
catch it when it came round sharp, as it must do. He recognised the boat
also. It belonged to Laura Harman's father, and her brother Archie was
in it. The gale caught the yacht as Dibbs foresaw, and swamped her.
He dropped the glass, cried to the girl to follow, and in a minute had
scrambled down the cliff, and thrown off most of his things. He had
launched a skiff by the time the girl reached the shore. She got in
without a word. She was deadly pale, but full of nerve. They rowed hard
to where they could see two men clinging to the yacht; there had been
three in it. The two men were not hauled in, for the gale was blowing
too hard, but they clung to the rescuing skiff. The girl's brother was
not to be seen. Instantly Dibbs dived under the yacht. It seemed an
incredible time before he reappeared; but when he did, he had a body
with him. Blood was coming from his nose, the strain of holding his
breath had been so great. It was impossible to get the insensible body
into the skiff. He grasped the side, and held the boy's head up. The
girl rowed hard, but made little headway. Other rescue boats arrived
presently, however, and they were all got to shore safely.

Lieutenant Archie Harman did not die. Animation was restored after great
difficulty, but he did not sail away with the Ruby next morning to the
Polynesian Islands. Another man took his place.

Little was said between Commander Dibbs and Laura Harman at parting late
that night. She came from her brother's bedside and laid her hand upon
his arm. "It is good," she said, "for a man to be brave as well as
ambitious. You are sure to succeed; and I shall be proud of you,
for--for you saved my brother's life, you see," she timidly added; and
she was not often timid.

.........................

Five months after, when the Ruby was lying with the flag-ship off one
of the Marshal