It was, however, only the result of the tail of the squall
passing by. Suddenly a bright light burst forth, which we knew must
proceed from the deck of the brig.

"The captain has not forgotten the trick we played the pirates!"
exclaimed Peter. "Shove off, my lads!"

With lightened hearts we pulled away to leeward, and were soon once more
on the deck of the brig, with our boat hoisted up and secured. Every
care and attention which we could possibly bestow was paid to the poor
starving wretches. Captain Gale was enlightened as well as brave and
generous, so that he knew well how to treat them. First he gave them
only a little liquid--tea and cocoa; and then after a time a little
simple arrowroot; afterwards he gave them some with broth; and, lastly,
he mixed a few drops of wine with the arrowroot.

Scarcely, however, had we got them down below, than the gale which had
been threatening came on; and while the captain went to the helm, all
hands had to spring aloft to shorten sail. Happily the gale was in our
favour, so that we were able to run before it, and keep our course.
There can be little doubt that had we not providentially appeared that
very night, everybody on board the wreck would have perished. We had
hard work enough to do the duty of the ship and to attend to our
passengers, who could for some days do nothing to help themselves. They
were all too weak to speak without fatigue, so we forbore to question
them as to the particulars of the events which had brought them into the
condition in which we had found them.

For some days all we knew was, that the ship was the _Eagle_, from
Quebec, laden with timber, and that she had been six weeks very nearly
in the condition we found her--water-logged, with spars and sails
carried away. The captain had died, and the lady we had rescued was his
wife. Poor thing! at first she was almost insensible to everything; but
when she recovered her health and strength, it was pitiable to see her
grief.

The tall, gaunt man, whom we found deranged, had been a merchant's
clerk, and had gone out to Canada in the vain hope of finding
employment. Disappointed in his expectations, he was returning home.
At first he appeared to recover strength, but a relapse took place, and
he rapidly seemed to grow weaker and weaker. I was sent to watch him.
Suddenly he sat up in his berth, and glared wildly around.

"Where am I?--where am I going?--what has occurred?" he exclaimed.