"All safe with you?"
"All safe!"
As the boat was pushed up as near as it could with safety be brought to the wreck, the frozen and famished men began to climb down and drop into it. When they were all in, even to the professor, Ishmael stepped down and took his place among them with a smile of joy and a deep throb of gratitude to God, For, ah! the strong young man had loved that joyous and powerful life which he had been so prompt to offer up on the shrine of duty; and he was glad and thankful to return to life, to work, to fame, to love, to Bee!
The boatmen laid themselves to their oars and pulled vigorously for the steamer. They were soon alongside.
The men made a rush for her decks. They wanted to be warmed and fed. Ishmael let them all go before him, and then he followed and stepped upon the steamer.
And the next moment he found himself seized and clasped in the embrace of—Mr. Brudenell!
"Oh, my son, my brave and noble son, you are saved! God is kinder to me than I deserve!" he cried.
"One moment, Brudenell! Oh, Ishmael, thank Heaven, you are safe!" fervently exclaimed another voice—that of Judge Merlin, who now came forward and warmly shook his hand.
"Ant dere ish—von more—drue shentlemans—in te vorlt!" sobbed the
German Jew, seizing and pressing one of Ishmael's hands.
Captain Mountz, Doctor Kerr, and in fact all Ishmael's late fellow- passengers, now crowded around with earnest and even tearful congratulations.