erilous position; then the
stranger, who was a fisherman, summoned assistance, and the two young
girls were quickly carried back to the cottage, and a neighbor called
in.

Jessie was the first to recover consciousness. She had suffered a
terrible shock, a severe chill, but the blood of youth bounded quickly
in her veins. Save a little fever, which was the natural result of the
counter-action, she was none the worse for her thrilling experience.

With Margaret Moore it was different. The doctor who had been called in
shook his head gravely over her condition.

"It may be a very serious matter," he said, slowly; "it may result in
both hands having to be amputated, leaving her a cripple for life.
Deranged and a cripple!" he added, pityingly, under his breath. "It
would be better far if the poor thing were to die than to drag out the
existence marked out for her."

"You will do all that you possibly can to save her hands?" said Captain
Carr, anxiously.

"Yes, certainly," returned the doctor, "all that it is possible to do."

Jessie Bain's gratitude knew no bounds when she learned how near she had
come to losing her life, and that she owed her rescue to the heroism of
faithful Margaret Moore. She wept as she had never wept before when she
discovered how dearly it might cost poor Margaret.

Alas! how true it is that trouble never comes singly! At this crisis of
affairs, Captain Carr suddenly succumbed to a malady that had been
troubling him for years, and Jessie Bain found herself thrown homeless,
penniless upon the world. She was thankful that poor Margaret Moore did
not realize the calamity that had overtaken her. That humble cottage
roof which had sheltered her so long would cover her head no more.

"There is only one thing to be done, and that is to place the girl in an
asylum," the neighbors advised.

This Jessie Bain stoutly declared she never would do as long as she had
two hands to work for the unfortunate girl.

"I shall turn all my little possessions into money," she declared, "and
go immediately to New York City and find something to do. She shall go
with me and share my fortunes; my last crust of bread I will divide with
her."

Every one thanked Heaven that by almost a miracle Margaret Moore's hands
were saved to her.

A few days later Jessie Bain bid adieu forever to Fisher's Landing,
accompanied by the girl who followed her so patiently out into the
world.

How strange it is that New York City i