ng due entirely to the raging fever in
his veins."

"I am afraid you are right, captain," agreed Sir Edgar, whose binoculars
were again glued to his eyes.

Lady Emily audibly sobbed as she clasped her beautiful white hands
convulsively together, and pressed them tightly to her breast; the tears
sprang to her eyes, and she stamped her foot impatiently on the deck as
she exclaimed--

"Oh, mercy! shall we never, _never_ reach them?"

Miss Merrivale exhibited her sympathy in a totally different and far
more practical way than her sister. Her cheeks glowed, and her eyes
flashed with excitement as she laid her hand upon my arm, and said--

"Captain, be pleased to understand that you may count upon me to assist
you in the treatment of those unfortunate people, as soon as you have
got them safely on board here. I know exactly what to do, for,
singularly enough, I was reading only this morning an account of a very
similar rescue to this, effected by a British man-o'-war, some years
ago. The narrative fully describes the measures adopted by the ship's
doctor in the treatment of his patients; I have, therefore, all the
information at my fingers' ends, and you may confidently trust me not to
forget anything. I shall go below now, and make my preparations at
once."

"Thank you, most heartily," said I. "Such assistance as you proffer
will be of priceless value, and may indeed be the means of saving many
lives. I accept it cordially, and with the deepest gratitude."

"I will go with you, Agnes," exclaimed Lady Emily; "I am sure I, too,
can help, if you will only tell me what to do."

And, to my unspeakable relief, the two charming women retired to the
saloon, taking the nurses with them.

"I am heartily glad that the ladies have left the deck," said I to Sir
Edgar, as his eyes followed his wife's form to the companion, "and I
fervently hope that they will remain below until this business is over;
for, to speak plainly, I am beginning to fear that when that boat is
brought alongside she will present such a sight as no delicate,
susceptible woman could endure to look upon without sustaining a
terrible and long-enduring shock."

"Say you so?" ejaculated Sir Edgar. "Then I will go at once and tell
them that they are on no account to come on deck until they have your
permission. I am greatly obliged to you for the hint, captain."

Every eye in the ship was by this time riveted upon the boat ahead,
which was now distin