O’Hara tried to explain how easy it would be to get the ladies into the cutter; but Mr. Frisbone seemed to be unwilling to leave the steamer while there was a chance to save her. He conducted the young officer into the cabin, the door of which opened from the main deck. “Here, Maggie,” said the Prince, calling to his wife, who was in her state-room. “One of the vessels of the academy squadron has come to get us out of this scrape.” Mrs. Frisbone came out of the state-room, looking very pale and sick. She was followed by her sister the invalid, who, however, looked better than the Prince’s wife. “This is Lieut. O’Hara, of the Tritonia; Mrs. Frisbone.” The young officer took off his cap, and bowed politely to the lady. “Miss Louise Rodwood, my wife’s sister,” continued the prince. O’Hara thought she was a very pretty girl, and he indulged in an extra flourish as he saluted her. “With the compliments of the captain, I beg to tender you the hospitalities of the Tritonia,” said the lieutenant, when he had formally greeted the ladies. “Good!” roared the American Prince. “That is a very pretty way to address a couple of shipwrecked women; and it is a credit to your bringing-up.” “I beg to place our vessel at the disposal of the ladies; and whatever else we may not be able to do for you, we will keep the ship right side up.” “That’s handsome; and the boat is all ready to take you to the steamer, Maggie.” “I would rather drown where I am than attempt to get into that boat,” protested Mrs. Frisbone. “I saw it from the window in my room; and it jumps about like a wild horse.” “I am sure I can’t slide down a rope into the boat as I saw that man come up,” added Miss Rodwood. “All right; and we will stay where we are for the present,” said Mr. Frisbone. “We can rig a whip, and lower the ladies into the cutter without any difficulty,” persisted the young officer, who perhaps thought it would be pleasant to have such a passenger as the younger lady. “If we are in no danger here, as Mr. Frisbone says we are not, I prefer to stay where I am,” replied Mrs. Frisbone; and her sister was of the same mind. “All right, lieutenant,” added the Prince. “I thought the women would rather stay where they are; and I think you had better return to your ship, and report to the captain. If he will send as many men as he can spare, I believe we can put this craft into sailing-trim in a few hours.” “I will do so, sir. But you forget that we have no engineers on board of the Tritonia to run the engine,” suggested O’Hara. “I will run the engine myself. I never went to sea much, but I have run an engine on a river and bay steamer enough to understand the business,” replied the American Prince. “If you will find firemen, I will look out for the engine.” “I will report all you say to the captain.” “Let me see: you have a vice-principal, or something of that sort, in each of the consorts. Of course he will direct in this matter.”