Thus reassured, the little fellow put his arms around my neck. [I at once struck out for the sloop], and reaching it, clambered on deck. As I did so the woman I had saved seemed to come to her senses, and rising to her feet she clasped the boy in her arms.
“My Willie! my darling Willie!” she cried. “Thank God you are saved!”
“Yes, mamma; that big boy saved me. Wasn’t it good of him?”
“Yes, indeed, my child!”
Looking around, I discovered that the two men were clinging to the keel of the large sloop, which had now turned bottom upwards. I pulled up the anchor, hoisted the sail again, and was soon alongside.
“Here you are!” I called out, throwing them a rope by which they might come on board.
“Did you save my son?” demanded the elder one anxiously.
“Yes, William; he is safe,” returned the woman.