"He was lying at the look-out, and Carlo was licking his face. It was a dream, and yet the voice was strong and clear in his ears, 'Awake! Awake! Look! Look!'
"A heavier hand than his wife's was on his shoulder, and Barker's rough voice (hoarser than usual), repeated the words of his dream.
"The captain's eyes followed the outstretched hand to the horizon; and then his own voice grew hoarse, as he exclaimed—
"'My God! it is a sail!'"
Ida was not leaning on the little old lady's footstool now. She sat upright, her pale face whiter than its wont.
"Did the ship take them away?" she asked eagerly.
"Yes, my dear. Their signals were seen, and the ship took them home to their friends, who had believed them to be dead."
"Do people who have been drowned—I mean who have been thought to be drowned—ever come home really?" the child asked.
"Yes, really. Ida, my dear, I want you to remember that, as regards the captain and the crew, this is a true story."