the ship, and the poor woman's hands played nervously
about the folds of the shawl, as she tried to adjust them more securely
round her infant. Again the boat rose on a wave; the woman stood ready,
and Bax stooped. It did not come quite near enough, but the
disappointed woman, becoming desperate, suddenly put her foot on the
gunwale, stood up at full length, and stretched out her arms. Bax just
caught her by the hands when the boat was swept from under her.

Similar incidents had occurred so often that little anxiety was felt;
but our hero's strength was now thoroughly exhausted. He could not haul
her up, he could only hold on and shout for assistance. It was promptly
rendered, but before the poor woman could be rescued the infant slipped
from the shawl, which the straightening of the mother's arms and her
suspended position had loosened. A cry burst from the agonised father,
who stooped, and stood in the attitude of one ready to plunge into the
sea. The mother felt the child slipping, and a piercing shriek escaped
from her as she raised her knees and caught it between them. With
muscular power, intensified by a mother's love, she held the infant in
this strange position until both were drawn up and placed in safety on
the deck!

This was the last of Bax's achievements on that eventful night. He was
so thoroughly worn out by the long-continued and tremendous exertions he
had been called on to make, that his strength, great though it was,
broke down. He staggered down into the cabin, flung himself, wet as he
was, on a couch, and almost instantly fell into a sleep so deep that he
could not be roused for more than a moment or two at a time. Seeing
this, Tommy bade the bystanders leave him alone for a few minutes until
he should come back, when, according to his own expression, "he would
screw him up all right and tight!" Every one was by this time so
thoroughly convinced that the boy was quite able to manage his friend
that they stood still awaiting his return with much curiosity.

Tommy soon returned with a tumbler of hot brandy and water, followed by
the steward with a pile of blankets.

"Hold that a minute," said the boy, handing the tumbler to a little old
gentleman who stood swaying to and fro with the motion of the vessel,
and staring at Bax as if he had been a half-drowned sea-monster.

"Now, then," cried Tommy, punching his friend severely in the ribs,
seizing the hair of his head with both hands,