But the weakness passed away as quickly as it had come, and Lynton sprang up, to give a sharp glance round at the surface of the broad stretch of water, and then he turned to the others, but he did not speak for a few moments. "We're all right," he said then, in a quiet voice. "That current don't spread as far as this. Why, it was exactly like looking death right in the face, and when I'd wound 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 hands heartily with each of the men in turn, and then uttered a sigh of relief as he took his place at the tiller again.