“Don’t be alarmed, madam: I am confident she will be saved,” continued the captain, looking out into the darkness astern of the ship.
“I am sure I did not suspect any thing of this kind. She seemed to be quite cheerful and happy when she retired,” mused Mrs. Frisbone.
“Hurrah! hurrah!” shouted the boat’s crew, in the gloom, where they could not be seen.
“That means good news,” said the captain. “They have her in the boat by this time.”
The party on the deck listened for further sounds in the direction from which the cheers had come. In a few moments they heard the measured stroke of oars at some distance from the ship. Raymond had ordered up all the lanterns on board, which were taken to the gangway.
“Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!” shouted the crew of the third cutter, as the boat approached the steamer.
The party descended from the hurricane-deck, and gathered at the gangway, where the accommodation steps had been rigged by Raymond’s directions. The cutter came up to the platform; and Tom Speers, taking the shivering invalid in his arms, bore her up the steps, and into the cabin.
She was too cold, and exhausted by her struggles in the water, to speak. Tom laid her in the berth, and all retired but her sister. Her wet clothing was removed, and she was wrapped in blankets. In half an hour she was warm and comfortable. Her improved condition was reported by the Prince to the interested officers.
“What induced you to do such a thing?” asked Mrs. Frisbone. “Are you tired of living, Louise?”
“Far from it, Maggie! I don’t know what made me do it. I can’t explain it. I certainly had no intention of jumping overboard. An impulse came over me, and I could not resist it. I have hardly slept a wink for two nights, and I was very nervous.”