s
the word for the boatswain to muster all the light heaving-line he can
lay his hands upon. Range yourselves fore and aft along the lee
bulwarks, my lads, and let each one stand by to heave a rope's-end with
a standing bowline in it as soon as we get near enough. How does he
bear now, Williams?"

"Straight ahead, sir. Luff, or you will be over him! It is Ned, sir."

"Luff!" said the skipper. "Man the main-braces, some of you, and stand
by to heave the main-yard aback."

Captain Blyth then sprang upon a hen-coop, and peered eagerly out ahead.

"I see him!" he eagerly exclaimed at last. "Back your main-topsail.
Luff, my lad; luff and shake her! So, well there with the main-braces,
belay all; and stand by fore and aft with your ropes'-ends. Look out,
for'ard there; now _heave_! Missed him, by all that's clumsy! Try you,
the next man. Missed again; line not long enough. Steady, men, steady,
or you'll lose him yet. Now, look out, Ned, my lad! Heave, boatswain,
and let us see what you can do. _Well_ hove! Pay out the line, pay out
smartly--ha! lost it. Tut! tut! this will _never_ do. Well done! he
has it this time! Let him slip it over his shoulder; that's well.
_Now_ haul in--handsomely, my lads--and mind you don't lose him."

Half a minute more and poor Ned, gasping for breath, speechless, and too
exhausted to stand upright, was dragged triumphantly up over the side
and seated on the deck, where, of course, all hands instantly crowded
around him. Doctor Henderson, however, promptly interfered, and, taking
charge of the patient, was soon able to pronounce that, barring
exhaustion, the poor fellow was all right; upon which the anxious little
crowd dispersed, Sibylla retiring to her state-room, locking herself in,
and gaining relief to her overwrought feelings by abandoning herself to
a perfect tempest of hysterical tears.

Under the doctor's skilful treatment Ned was soon sufficiently restored
to answer a few questions, when he stated that though he had remained
continuously on the watch from the moment of his rising above the
surface after his first plunge to almost the moment of his being picked
up, he had never caught a single glimpse of the mate, and that it was
his impression the unfortunate man must have been hurt in his fall, and
that he had never risen above water again. Notwithstanding this
statement the ship was kept hove-to for another half-hour, with a man on
the look-out on each topgal