ay, tracing behind them glittering streams
of light, came up the two boats with their freight of rescued lives.
Martin's boat was the first to touch the landing-place.

'All saved,' he said; 'all owing to him,' pointing back to Sir Guy.

There was no time for questions; the wan, drenched sailors had to be
helped on shore, and the boat hauled up out of the way. In the meantime,
Guy, as he steered in past the quay, smiled and nodded to Mr. Ashford
and Markham, and renewed the call, 'All safe!' Mr. Ashford thought that
he had never seen anything brighter than his face--the eyes radiant in
the morning sun, the damp hair hanging round it, and life, energy, and
promptitude in every feature and movement.

The boat came in, the sailors were assisted out, partly by their
rescuers, partly by the spectators. Guy stood up, and, with one foot on
the seat, supported on his knee and against his arm a little boy, round
whom his great-coat was wrapped.

'Here, Jem!' he shouted, to his rejected volunteer, who had been very
active in bringing in the boat, 'here's something for you to do. This
poor little fellow has got a broken arm. Will you ask your mother to
take him in? She's the best nurse in the parish. And send up for Mr.
Gregson.'

Jem received the boy as tenderly as he was given; and, with one bound,
Guy was by the side of his two friends. Mr. Ashford shook hands with
heartfelt gratulation; Markham exclaimed,--

'There, Sir Guy, after the old fashion! Never was man so mad in this
world! I've done talking! You'll never be content till you have got your
death. As if no one could do anything without you.'

'Was it you who carried out the line on the rock?' said Mr. Ashford.

'Ben Robinson and I. I had often been there, after sea anemones and
weeds, and I had a rope round me, so don't be angry, Markham.'

'I have no more to say,' answered Markham, almost surly. 'I might as
well talk to a sea-gull at once. As if you had any right to throw away
your life!'

'I enjoyed it too much to have anything to say for myself,' said Guy;
'besides, we must see after these poor men. There were two or three
nearly drowned. Is no one gone for Mr. Gregson?'

Mr. Gregson, the doctor, was already present, and no one who had
any authority could do anything but attend to the disposal of the
shipwrecked crew. Mr. Ashford went one way, Markham another, Guy a
third; but, between one cottage and another, Mr. Ashford learnt some
particulars. The cre