een her. She was, he judged, at
least three miles distant. His benevolent disposition, stimulated by the
reflection, and, perhaps, by some unconscious resolution of the previous
hour, prompted him to hasten to her relief. Leaving the helm, he took
from the little cabin a stay-sail, and by the light of the lantern
attached it to the lines and hoisted it. The lively little craft,
feeling the additional impulse, careened till her gunnel was nearly
submerged, and cut her way with increased velocity through the
unfavorable current. Half an hour elapsed before he approached near
enough to make out the condition of the shattered steamer. Another
steamer lay as near to her as the flames, which had apparently been
partly subdued, would permit. Men were busily engaged in throwing on
water, and their efforts promised to be crowned with success, for the
volume of flame was rapidly decreasing. A line was passed from the bow
of the Chalmetta to the Flatfoot, No. 3 (for these were the steamers),
which enabled the latter to control the drift of the former. Dr.
Vaudelier was too far off, however, to form a very correct idea of the
casualty.

Portions of the wreck were floating by him, and occasionally his boat
struck against a timber or cask. While anxiously straining his vision,
to ascertain further particulars of the disaster, he heard a faint cry
close ahead of him. By the light of his lantern, which he had hung up by
the foremast, to attract the eye of any sufferer who might need aid, he
saw a man clinging to a barrel floating by him. Hastily letting go the
halyards, the fore and main sails came down, the boat was put about, and
Dr. Vaudelier, with much exertion, succeeded in saving the almost dying
sufferer. Conveying him to the cabin, which was of sufficient size to
contain two berths, he placed him upon one of them, and proceeded to
ascertain his ailments. These, as far as he could discover them,
consisted of a broken arm, a severe contusion of the head, and several
severe scalds. The wounded man's endeavors to aid in his own rescue had
been too violent, and on being placed in the berth he had fainted. After
administering such relief as he was able, he returned to the
stern-sheets, hoisted the sails, and the boat, which had been drifting
down-stream, again approached the wreck.

The flames of the Chalmetta were now extinguished. Before the benevolent
physician could reach her, the Flatfoot had taken her in tow, and both
were ra