myself up to meet him like a man, it was as
if something went off inside me, and I ran down all at once when I found
we were not to die after all."

"It was awful," said Brace, to whom the words were addressed. "I
expected it to be over every instant."

After a while Briscoe said:

"I am glad we have come safely through it all. It is more than I had
dared to hope for."

"That it was," said Lynton. "I don't know how you were, but I felt like
a great girl. Well, it's all over, and very thankful I am. Mind
shaking hands with me, Mr Briscoe?"

"Mind?" cried the American warmly, as he held out both his own to the
mate. "No; why should I mind?"

"Because I turned round on you and cut up rough when we were in trouble.
Thank you. I beg your pardon."

"Bah! nonsense, man. It was quite natural."

And there was a warm exchange of pressure as the two men gazed in each
other's eyes.

"Perhaps you wouldn't mind either, sir?" said Lynton, turning to Brace.

"I was waiting for my turn," replied Brace heartily.

And again there was a warm pressure of hands exchanged.

"I say, both of you," said the second mate, in a low voice: "you don't
think I was very cowardly over it, do you?"

"Cowardly?" cried Briscoe. "My dear fellow, I think you behaved like a
hero."

"No," said Lynton, flushing. "You mean Mr Brace here."

"He means we all behaved well," said Brace laughingly; "and I think you
ought to say a few words to the men."

"That's what I feel, sir; but don't you think it would come better from
you?"

"Certainly not. You ought to speak. You are their officer."

"Perhaps Mr Briscoe would not object to speaking to them?"

"No; it would come best from you: so say something at once."

"All right," said Lynton, clearing his throat with a good cough, and
turning to the men. "Look here, my lads.--Would you mind taking the
helm for a few minutes, Mr Brace? Thankye.--Look here, my lads."

"Ay, ay, sir!" came heartily, and it seemed to put the mate out, for he
coughed again, took off his straw hat, wiped his streaming brow, and
made a fresh start.

"Look here, my lads," he began.

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Heave to a minute, will you?" cried the mate. "You put me out. Look
here, my lads: we've just now jolly well escaped from being drowned,
and--and I--we--I--here, shake hands, all of you. Brave boys!--brave
boys!--brave boys!"

He repeated the last two words again and again in a husky voice, as he
shook h