ng from his cabin to learn what all the sudden
outcry was about, received the message and came rushing aft in response
to the call, he in turn was fully prepared for the order which Kennedy
gave him, to go below and set his engine going dead easy astern. Thus
by the time that I reached and got into the buoy, the ship's way through
the water was stopped, and, highly dangerous though such a proceeding
undoubtedly was, under the circumstances, they were able to haul me
gradually alongside and up under the counter without mishap, the engine
of course being stopped again at the right moment. And when once they
had got me under the lee quarter of the ship all the rest was of course
comparatively easy. Two of the hands standing by hove me a couple of
standing bowlines on ropes' ends, one of which I slipped over the
inanimate Julius's head and under his armpits; and when I saw that they
had got the body safely in over the rail I slipped into the other
myself, and was hauled aboard amid the triumphant yells of the crew--to
swoon as my feet touched the deck.

But there was nothing much the matter with me. I had swooned simply
through over-exertion, coupled perhaps with the reaction at finding
myself once more safely aboard the yacht; and Harper, the surgeon,
having had the foresight to order someone to stand by with brandy as a
restorative, in case of need, they soon brought me round again. By
Kennedy's orders I was helped below to my cabin, to turn in and rest for
a bit, learning, as I went, that Harper and the boy's mother had taken
charge of the lad the moment that he was hauled aboard, and had carried
him below to his cabin. I afterward heard, however, that before she
quitted the deck, Mrs Vansittart had given orders that she was to be
informed, at the earliest possible opportunity, how things were going
with me; and I further learned that, upon being told I was doing well,
she fell upon her knees by the side of her boy's bed and, bursting into
tears, sobbed forth audible thanks to God for my preservation.

As for me, after vomiting a considerable quantity of salt water, I was
helped to undress, given a vigorous towelling, and put into my bunk,
where, having swallowed a tumblerful of hot brandy and water, I quickly
dropped off to sleep, and remained asleep until after four bells of the
afternoon watch had struck. Then, feeling pretty much my former self,
although a bit shaky on my pins, and very sore about the chest, I