he
moment I had got hold of the brace.

Down we swept direct for the ship's weather-quarter, the fair girl
standing again upon the poop and watching our motions with the most
overwhelming anxiety.

At exactly the right instant, Bob eased his helm gently down, and the
cutter shot along the ship's lofty side within ten feet of it. I stood
just forward of the rigging, ready to seize the brace the moment it came
within reach, and in another instant I had it. Shouting to Bob to luff,
I swung myself off into the air, and made the best of my way aloft hand
over hand.

It had been my original intention to ascend to the yard-arm, and, laying
in from thence, descend the fore-rigging to the deck; but, pausing for a
moment, in my anxiety to see whether Bob would scrape clear--which he
very cleverly did, having kept good way on the boat--I found that, aided
by the roll of the vessel, I might easily swing myself in upon her rail.

This I soon managed, landing upon the deck to find myself confronted by
the most lovely little creature you can imagine, who extended both her
hands impulsively to me as she exclaimed:

"Oh, welcome, sir, welcome! and a thousand thousand thanks for coming to
my help! and at such danger too! How can I ever repay you?"

"I am more than repaid already," replied I, "for the very slight trouble
I have taken, by the happiness of finding it in my power to rescue you
from your present situation. The first thing to be done," I continued,
"is to provide for the safety of my little craft, after which we shall
have ample time, I hope, to make suitable arrangements for transferring
you on board her. Ah! a lucky thought," continued I, as I saw the
sounding-rod and line attached to the fife-rail, "let us see what water
the craft has in her."

I sounded, and found there was barely two feet of water in the hold, so
it was evident that the vessel was perfectly tight and seaworthy, except
as to the damage aloft Bob had by this time passed ahead and to leeward,
and was now approaching on our lee quarter once more. I waited until he
was within hail, and then told him to heave-to well clear of the ship,
as I proposed to cut adrift all the wreck, a task which I thought I
could manage without very much difficulty, and which, when done, would
enable the _Water Lily_ to come alongside to leeward.

He waved his hand in reply, and the fore-sheet being already to
windward, he left the cutter to take care of herself, whil