It was lowered into the boat and the middle-aged woman was placed in it. She hesitated at first at trusting herself to be hoisted into the air; but the man I took to be her husband urged her, and after a little demur she sat down as directed. Mr. Johnson had stepped into the boat to see that the sling was properly managed, and before the order was given to hoist away he passed a rope around the sling and its passenger, so that in case she became frightened and lost control of herself she would not be likely to fall out. When all was ready the word was given and the men on the deck of the Washington hauled away with a will. When the sling was well above the level of our rail it was drawn in on deck by means of a line that had been fastened to it independent of the hoisting-line. As it was drawn in the sailors who had hoisted it eased away on the rope, and in less time than it takes me to tell it the fair passenger stood on the deck of our ship. Captain Dawson approached the lady, raised his hat, and said,-- "Madam, please walk into my cabin and make yourself at home. Your friends will join you immediately as they are brought on board." [Illustration: "THIS IS JACK CRANE," SAID CAPTAIN DAWSON. Page 159.] The lady, for she was a real lady, thanked Captain Dawson for his politeness, and accepted his invitation. He accompanied her to the door of his cabin, again raised his hat to her, and returned to his place on deck near the mainmast. A minute or so after he came back the other woman was safely hoisted on deck. Captain Dawson repeated in almost the same words the invitation to go to his cabin. The young woman thanked him, and said,-- "If you please, sir, I'll stay here until my sister comes. She will be next, I believe, so your officer said, and we two will go together." The captain bowed, saying, "Just as you please; the cabin is at your service at any moment, and the lady who first came on board is now there." Very speedily the little girl reached the Washington's deck, and immediately seized her sister by the hand. "What a nice way of getting on board that is!" said the younger one; "seemed to me as though I was a bird and flying through the air; but I wouldn't like to go far that way." "No," replied the other; "neither would I. It's very kind of the people on this ship to take so much trouble on our account." "Pardon me, but it is always a sailor's duty to aid those in distress," said Captain Dawson, who was standing so near that he could not help overhearing all that was said by the two sisters. "And what greater distress can there be than yours as we found you on the open ocean? Come, please, now you are together, and go to my cabin." Without waiting for a reply he led the way to the entrance of the cabin followed by the young woman and girl. Then he bowed himself away as he had done in the previous instance.