assisted by the mate, lifted the sick man on to the
ladder, and half-dragged, half-carried him up to the deck above.

"Where is Miss Petrovitch?" Browne asked, when they reached the deck.

"In the house, sir," the captain replied. "We thought she would prefer
to be alone there. She knows that you have arrived."

"In that case I will take you to her at once," said Browne to the old
man, and slipping his arm through his, he led him towards the place in
question. When he pushed open the door he assisted the old man to
enter; and, having done so, found himself face to face with Katherine.
She was deadly pale, and was trembling violently. Madame Bernstein was
also present; and, if such a thing were possible, the latter was
perhaps the more agitated of the two. Indeed, Browne found his own
voice failing him as he said, "Katherine, I have brought you your
father!"

There was a moment's hesitation, though what occasioned it is difficult
to say. Then Katherine advanced and kissed her father. She had often
pictured this moment, and thought of the joy she would feel in
welcoming him back to freedom. Now, however, that the moment had
arrived it seemed as if she could say nothing.

"Father," she faltered at last, "thank Heaven you have escaped." She
looked at him, and, as she did so, Browne noticed the change that came
over her face. It was as if she had found herself confronted with some
one she did not expect to see. And yet she tried hard not to let the
others see her surprise.

"Katherine, my daughter," replied the old man, "do you remember me?"

"Should I be likely to forget?" answered Katherine. "Though I was such
a little child when you went away, I can remember that terrible night
perfectly."

Here Madame Bernstein interposed, with tears streaming down her face.
"Stefan," she sobbed, "Heaven be thanked you have at last come back to
us!"

Thinking it would be as well if he left them to themselves for a short
time, Browne stepped out of the house on to the deck, and closed the
door behind him. He found MacAndrew, Maas, and Jimmy Foote standing
together near the saloon companion-ladder.

"Welcome back again," began Jimmy, advancing with outstretched hand.
"By Jove! old man, you must have had a hard time of it. But you have
succeeded in your undertaking, and that's the great thing, after
all--is it not?"

"Yes, I have succeeded," returned Browne, in the tone of a man who is
not quite certain whether h