over, and had seized upon
the little one.

His companions immediately reached out friendly hands, and both were
drawn into the plunging boat, amid frantic cheers from all who had seen
the daring rescue.

One woman seized hold of the boy as he pushed his way through the crowd
to his place at the oars, and looked wildly in his face.

He supposed she must be the mother of the child he had saved, and not
wishing for any scene just then, when he was needed at his place, as
they were about to cast off, Darry gently broke her hold, leaving on her
knees and staring after him.

Although he little suspected the fact it was something else that had
chained the attention of this woman passenger; and even as she knelt in
the bottom of the boat, which was beginning its perilous passage toward
the shore, her eyes continued to be riveted upon his face, and she was
saying to herself over and over:

"Oh! who is he, that boy? I must see him again if we both live. Can it
be possible he had any connection with Paul's telegram? I have come far,
but I would go over the distance a thousand times if only a great joy
awaited me. Yes, I must see him surely again!"

From which it would appear that the friendly fortune that seemed to be
attending the affairs of our young hero of late had again started work;
and that even in gratifying his wild desire to serve as a life saver
Darry had been advancing his own cause.

Now the lifeboat was headed for the shore, and sweeping in on a giant
roller.

Great care had to be exercised lest the boat broach-to, and those in her
be spilled out, when some must be drowned, for having taken so many
aboard they lacked the buoyancy that had previously marked their
progress.

Standing in his place the steersman carefully noted every little point,
and high above the rush of the storm his voice rang out as he ordered
the crew to cease rowing, or to pull hard.

It was well worth experiencing, and Darry was glad he had at last found
a chance to go out with the crew.

Abner knew that at least one more trip would have to be made, in order
to take off the crew of the steamer, and he was determined that if there
should have arrived any substitute on the beach while they were away
Darry must not be called upon to undertake the second voyage.

The strain was terrific for a mere stripling of his build, and only old
seasoned veterans could stand under it.

There was no need of questioning the willingness of the la