ieutenant Gerardin and our comrades have arrived."

The crew began to rush to the sides to throw themselves into the boats,
but a warning cry was raised in English, "Keep back, or we pull away!"
One boat, however, dashed alongside. Ropes were hove to the people in
her by the captain and others, and an officer climbed up on board, and
instead of Alfonse Gerardin, whom she expected, Edda beheld, to her
unspeakable joy, Ronald Morton. The bright glare revealed her to him.
He did not look to see who else was there. He knew her in a moment. He
asked not how she came there, but clasping her in his arms, he carried
her to the side of the vessel.

"Oh, Ronald, my mother!" she exclaimed.

Several persons had followed him.

"I'll look after her, miss," said Job Truefitt, taking up Mrs Armytage,
with as much ease as if she had been a child, and accompanying his
chief. An officer--it was Glover--who had got on board from one of the
other boats, seeing Donna Julia, without a word, lifting her in his
arms, carried her to the ship's side. With the assistance of Pedro
Alvarez they were lowered safely into the boats. Many of the seamen
were then about to leap in, but the captain drove them back with his
sword.

"Shame on you! there are old men and a priest to be first placed in
safety," he shouted. "Help them first, and then think about
yourselves."

Even at that awful moment the men obeyed. The marquis and the priest
were lowered down, and Colonel Armytage followed. As Pedro Alvarez was
helping him down the side he said in a low voice, "Keep an eye on old
Tacon, he is even now meditating how he may escape. I will lower him
down to you."

The captain then caught hold of Tacon, and without much ceremony sent
him down after the rest.

Ronald's boat was now full enough, and he ordered the men to shove off
and lie on their oars, while the other boats took off the remainder of
the crew.

A considerable number of the Frenchmen had been taken off the burning
ship, when Ronald saw the brave captain standing by himself, he having
refused to quit her till his men were in safety.

"It were a pity so brave a fellow should be lost," said Ronald.

"Oh, do--do save him!" cried Edda, who heard the remark. "He is kind
and good as well as brave."

This was enough; he once more steered the boat towards the burning ship.
Just then a burning spar fell from aloft. It appeared to strike him,
for he disappeared. A groan escaped al