d, drawing her a little to one side to let his brothers
step past them and embrace the tender mother, who wept for joy as she
received them, almost as if restored to her from the very gates of
death.

"There, love, I must let you go while I take off this dripping coat,"
Edward said, at length, releasing Zoe. "How wet I have made you! I fear
your pretty dress is quite spoiled," he added, with a tender, regretful
smile.

"That's nothing," she answered, with a gay laugh; "you'll only have to
buy me another, and you've plenty of money."

"Plenty to supply all the wants of my little wife, I hope."

"Ah, mother dear," as he threw aside his wet overcoat and took her in
his arms, "were you alarmed for the safety of your three sons?"

"Yes, indeed I was," she said, returning his kisses; "and I feel that I
have great cause for thankfulness in that you are all brought back to me
unharmed. 'Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for
His wonderful works to the children of men!'"

Betty had started up on the entrance of her cousins, glancing eagerly
from one dripping figure to another, then staggered back and leaned,
pale and trembling, against the wall. In the excitement no one had
noticed her, but now she exclaimed, in tremulous accents, and catching
her breath, "Bob--my brother; where is he?"

"O Betty," Harold answered, turning hastily at the sound of her voice,
"forgive our thoughtlessness in not explaining that at once! Bob went to
a hotel; he said we could bring the news of his safety and our own, and
it wasn't worth while for him to travel all the way up here through the
storm."

"No, of course not; I wouldn't have had him do so," she returned, with a
sigh of relief, her face resuming its wonted gayety of expression; "but
I'm mighty glad he's safe on terra firma."

"But your story, boys; let us have it," said Mr. Dinsmore.

"Yes, we _have_ a story, grandpa," said Edward, with emphasis and
excitement; "but Harold should tell it; he could do it better than I."

"No, no," Harold said; "you are as good a story-teller as I."

"There!" laughed Herbert. "I believe I'll have to do it myself, or with
your extreme politeness to each other you'll keep the audience waiting
all night.

"The storm came suddenly upon us when we were about half way home, or
maybe something more; and it presently became evident that we were in
imminent danger of wreck. The captain soon concluded that our only
chance was in let