"Oh, Mr. Appleby, I don't want to stay out here!" cried Della Ford, "and neither does my Aunt Bess! The young men here say their boat is going to Portland. Maybe we had better go there and take the train to Boston." "Oh, there is no use in doing that, Miss Ford," answered the manager. "The fire is out, and it is perfectly safe on board now. You had better come up here. I will help you," and he reached down with his hand. "I don't suppose it will be just the right thing to do, to desert the company," said Mrs. Ford, the girl's aunt. "We still have to act in several scenes on the ship, you must remember." "Very well, Aunty, just as you say," returned the girl. "But oh! I must thank this young man for what he did for me!" she went on. And at the danger of causing the rowboat to tip, she bent over and caught Dave's hand in both of her own. "Won't you please tell me your name?" "It's Dave Porter," was the answer. "Come, let me help you up the ladder." "My name is Della Ford, and I belong in Boston. You are a very brave young man, and I shall never forget you. Some time when you are in Boston you must come to see me." "Thank you, Miss Ford, perhaps I will," answered Dave. And after a word or two more, he assisted the young lady up the ladder. Then the boys helped Mrs. Ford, who was still so weak that she could hardly stand. The first mate of the _Eaglet_ was on the deck of the steam yacht, talking to the captain. In the meantime several sailors were at work putting out the last sparks of the fire. Quite a quantity of fireworks had gone off, and the burnt portions were thrown overboard. The moving-picture manager explained that the fireworks had been brought along to be used in one of the film dramas. "Might as well get back to the steamer," suggested Roger, after several minutes had passed, during which time the boys had been calling to those on the deck of the steam yacht. "We can't do anything more here." "All right," returned Phil, and gave orders to pull away. "Good-bye, Mr. Porter!" called out Della Ford, waving her hand. "Thank you ever so much for what you did. And don't forget to call and see me when you come to Boston." "Good-bye," returned Dave; and a moment later the rowboat shot out of hearing and was headed toward the _Eaglet_. CHAPTER IV BACK TO CRUMVILLE "I think those on board that steam yacht can congratulate themselves because the fire was no worse," remarked Roger, when the boys had returned to the _Eaglet_. "Yes indeed," answered Dave. "Some fires at sea are terrible things, and cause a great loss of life." "Seems to me Dave was the hero of the occasion!" burst out Ben. "He did the really-and-truly rescue act." "Come now, don't start anything like that!" interrupted Dave, hastily. "I only did what any of you might have done." "I know one thing," remarked Phil, closing one eye suggestively. "Dave made some hit with the young lady he pulled out of the water."