h came alongside the spar. Busy hands were
outstretched. The Englishwoman was the first to be taken aboard, after a
few quick slashes had freed her from the binding cord.

[Illustration: "Help!"]

"Why, here's Lieutenant Commander Darrin!" exclaimed a voice. Dave,
almost too weak to speak, was hustled into the boat, then the other two
men were taken over.

Blankets were wrapped about the rescued ones, and the launch dashed back
to her ship.

"A woman, Lieutenant Commander Darrin and two other men!" the officer in
charge of the launch hailed the destroyer.

"Darrin!" cried a voice. There was even greater bustle at the top of the
gangway that had been lowered as the launch ran alongside. As swiftly as
possible the four rescued ones were rushed up the side.

"Old Darry himself, eh?" cried a joyous voice, as Danny Grin hurried up.
"Has the woman any relative in the party?"

"Yes; her husband," Dave answered weakly, then collapsed.

"Take the woman and her husband to my quarters," Dalzell directed. "Have
a cot put in and lashed for the husband, and put the woman in the berth.
Mr. Darrin and the other man will go to the sick bay."

Willing hands bore the rescued ones as ordered. Dan himself followed
Dave's bearers down to the sick bay and there supervised the treatment
given Dave and Captain Kennor, while the medical officer went to Dan's
quarters, the best on the craft.

The Englishman was soon more comfortable. His wife, however, required
serious attention. Dalzell shook his head over Dave, who appeared all in
and not able to talk.

"Was he in the water longer than the rest of you?" asked Dalzell, as soon
as Captain Kennor was able to talk.

"No; but he vas der water in vonce before," was the reply. "Der second
time he could stand not so well."

That gave Dan the clue. As soon as the medical officer could be spared
from the care of the Englishwoman for a few moments he was ordered to the
sick bay.

"Mr. Darrin may pull through, but I won't guarantee anything," said the
surgeon, after an examination. "The chances are all against him. I am
afraid the woman is going to die also."

CHAPTER XIV

DAVE PLEDGES HIS WORD FOR RESULTS

THAT double report helped Dan Dalzell to make up his mind.

"Run straight for port," he ordered the executive officer, naming the
nearest British haven that offered rail connection.

In an hour and a half the destroyer had dropped anchor at the port.

More medical aid w