erienced some very
rough treatment, if the "gentleman" had not come running up, and covered
him with his own body, exclaiming,--

"Let that poor boy go! I am the only one to blame!"

The captain, in a great rage, pushed him back, and, looking at him
savagely, said,--

"Ah! so it is you who have dared"--

"Yes, I did it. But I had my reasons. This is surely 'The Saint Louis,'
eh, coming from Saigon?"

"Yes. What next?"

"You have on board Lieut. Champcey of the navy?"

Daniel, who had been a silent witness of the scene, now stepped forward,
very much puzzled.

"I am Lieut. Champcey, sir," he said. "What do you desire?"

But, instead of replying, the "gentleman" raised his hands to heaven in
a perfect ecstasy of joy, and said in an undertone,--

"We triumph at last!"

Then, turning to Daniel and the captain, he said,--

"But come, gentlemen, come! I must explain my conduct; and we must be
alone for what I have to tell you."

Pale, and with every sign of seasickness in his face, when he had first
appeared on deck, the man now seemed to have recovered, and, in spite of
the rolling of the vessel, followed the captain and Daniel with a firm
step to the quarter-deck. As soon as they were alone, he said,--

"Could I be here, if I had not used a stratagem? Evidently not. And yet
I had the most powerful interest in boarding 'The Saint Louis' before
she should enter port; therefore I did not hesitate."

He drew from his pocket a sheet of paper, simply folded twice, and
said,--

"Here is my apology, Lieut. Champcey; see if it is sufficient."

Utterly amazed, the young officer read,--

"I am saved, Daniel; and I owe my life to the man who will hand you
this. I shall owe to him the pleasure of seeing you again. Confide in
him as you would in your best and most devoted friend; and, I beseech
you, do not hesitate to follow his advice literally.

"Henrietta."

Daniel turned deadly pale, and tottered. This unexpected, intense
happiness overcame him.

"Then--it is true--she is alive?" he stammered.

"She is at my sister's house, safe from all danger."

"And you, sir, you have rescued her?"

"I did!"

Prompt like thought, Daniel seized the man's hands, and, pressing them
vehemently, exclaimed with a penetrating voice,--

"Never, sir, never, whatever may happen, can I thank you enough. But
remember, I pray you, under all circumstances, and for all times, you
can count upon Lieut. Champcey."

A strang