as down so low
in the water, that it was not a long step down from the rail to that of
the smaller yacht. Tom took the hand of the old gentleman as he stepped
down; but at that instant the warp-line, which held the bow of the
Skylark, snapped in twain, and her head swung off. His son and the
skipper had just let go of the old gentleman, and Tom's hold was
wrenched away by a jerk of the boat. Mr. Montague went down between the
two craft.

"Merciful Heaven!" cried the colonel. "Father is overboard!"

"Throw me a rope," yelled the sailing-master, as he dropped into the
water and caught the old gentleman as he rose after sinking once.

Several lines were thrown to him, and with so many ready hands
available, they were both drawn on board of the yacht in a moment.
Though the venerable gentleman had received a terrible shock, he was not
rendered insensible. The bow of the Skylark was again hauled up to the
quarter of the Penobscot, and Mr. Montague was safety transferred to the
cabin of the small yacht "What will you do, captain?" asked the colonel
of the sailing-master.

"I will stick by her with the crew. At low tide we will take the ballast
out of her, and float her off the next tide."

"Are your men willing to stay?"

"They must stay; they are as safe here as on shore; at least till the
next tide, and I shall be ready to float her off by that time."

Colonel Montague went on board of the Skylark. A couple of men from the
Penobscot were sent to assist in working her, though Bobtail protested
that he had not the least need of them. The close-reefed mainsail was
hoisted, and the Skylark went off on her course. By this time it was
quite dark, but the light-house on Negro Island was a sufficient guide
to the skipper. The yacht rolled fearfully, and to keep out of the
trough of the sea Bobtail headed her to a point south of his
destination. In an hour he was as near the main land as it was prudent
to venture in the night, and then he put the Skylark before the wind.
Before eleven o'clock he was at the wharf. He had not seen his
passengers since they came on board.

"My father has suffered severely from his mishap," said Colonel
Montague, after the boat was made fast.

"I'm sorry for it, sir. I didn't think of such a thing as that warp-line
breaking," replied Bobtail.

"Of course it was not your fault. You have done well for us, and I have
no fault to find with you. I want some one to go to the hotel, and tell
the l