he water.

Hunt was swimming vigorously, cutting through the waves, and was
nearing Martin Holt.

"They are lost! both lost!" exclaimed the captain. "The boat,
West, the boat!"

"If you give the order to lower it," answered West, "I will be
the first to get into it, although at the risk of my life. But I
must have the order."

In unspeakable suspense the ship's crew and myself had witnessed
this scene. None thought of the position of the _Halbrane_, which was
sufficiently dangerous; all eyes were fixed upon the terrible waves.
Now fresh cries, the frantic cheers of the crew, rose above the roar
of the elements. Hunt had reached the drowning man just as he sank
out of sight, had seized hold of him, and was supporting him with
his left arm, while Holt, incapable of movement, swayed helplessly
about like a weed. With the other arm Hunt was swimming bravely and
making way towards the schooner.

A minute, which seemed endless, passed. The two men, the one
dragging the other, were hardly to be distinguished in the midst of
the surging waves.

At last Hunt reached the schooner, and caught one of the lines
hanging over the side.

In a minute Hunt and Martin Holt were hoisted on board; the latter
was laid down at the foot of the foremast, and the former was quite
ready to go to his work. Holt was speedily restored by the aid of
vigorous rubbing; his senses came back, and he opened his eyes.

"Martin Holt," said Captain Len Guy, who was leaning over him,
"you have been brought back from very far--"

"Yes, yes, captain," answered Holt, as he looked about him with
a searching gaze, "but who saved me?"

"Hunt," cried the boatswain, "Hunt risked his life for you."

As the latter was hanging back, Hurliguerly pushed him towards
Martin Holt, whose eyes expressed the liveliest gratitude.

"Hunt," said he, "you have saved me. But for you I should have
been lost. I thank you."

Hunt made no reply.

"Hunt," resumed Captain Len Guy, "don't you hear?"

The man seemed not to have heard.

"Hunt," said Martin Holt again, "come near to me. I thank you.
I want to shake hands with you."

And he held out his right hand. Hunt stepped back a few paces,
shaking his head with the air of a man who did not want so many
compliments for a thing so simple, and quietly walked forward to
join his shipmates, who were working vigorously under the orders of
West.

Decidedly, this man was a hero in courage and self-devotion; but
equally