he condition of our boat
and ourselves, I did not think we could possibly reach our destination,
that my wife was very sick, and unless she could have better attention
than we were able to give her, might not recover.

"Of course we will take you on board--and the poor lady. Pass the word for
the doctor, you there! But what on earth are you doing with a lady in a
craft like that, so far out at sea, too?"

Without waiting for an answer to his question, the officer ordered a
hammock to be lowered, in which we carefully placed Angela, who was
thereupon hoisted on the frigate's deck. We men followed, and were
received by a fine old gentleman with a florid face and white hair, whom I
rightly conjectured to be the captain.

"Well," he said, quietly, "what can I do for you?"

"Water," I gasped, for the exertion of coming on board had been almost too
much for me.

"Poor fellow! Certainly. Why did I not think of it before? You shall have
both food and drink. Somebody bring water with a dash of rum in it--not
too much, they are weak. And Mr. Charles, tell the wardroom steward to get
a square meal ready for this gentleman. Might I ask your name, sir?"

"Nigel Fortescue."

"Thank you, Mr. Fortescue. Mine is Bigelow, and I have the honor to
command the United States ship Constellation. Here's the water! I hope you
have not forgotten the dash of rum, Tomkins.--There! Take a long drink.
You will feel better now, and when you have had a square meal, you shall
tell me all about it. And the others? You are an old salt, anybody can see
that."

"Yes, sir. Bill Yawl at your service, an old man-o'-war's man, able-bodied
seaman, bo's'n, and ship's carpenter, anything you like sir. Ax your
pardon, sir, but a glass of half-water grog--"

"Not until you have eaten. Then you may have two glasses. Tomkins, take
these men to the purser and tell him to give them a square meal. The
doctor is attending to your wife, Mr. Fortescue. She is in my state-room
and shall have every comfort we can give her."

"I thank you with all my heart, Captain Bigelow. You are really too good,
I can never--"

"Tut, tut, tut, my dear sir. Pray don't say a word. I have only given her
my spare state-room. Mr. Charles will take you to the ward-room, we can
talk afterward. Meanwhile, I shall have your belongings got on board, and
then, I suppose, we had better sink that craft of yours. If we leave her
to knock about the ocean she may be knocking against some ship