By degrees the weather lightened; the Osprey was on the wing again, and a week's continuance of this fair wind would bring them into port. The next day, toward sunset, as Mr. Raleigh turned about in his regular pacing of the deck, he saw at the opposite extremity of the ship the same slight figure dangerously perched upon the taffrail, leaning over, now watching the closing water, and now eagerly shading her eyes with her hand to observe the ship which they spoke, as they lay head to the wind, and for a better view of which she had climbed to this position. It was not Mr. Raleigh's custom to interfere; if people chose to drown themselves, he was not the man to gainsay them; but now, as his walk drew him toward her, it was the most natural thing in the world to pause and say,-- "_Il serait fâcheux, Mademoiselle, lorsqu' on a failli faire naufrage, de se noyer_"--and, in want of a word, Mr. Raleigh ignominiously descended to his vernacular--"with a lee-lurch." The girl, resting on the palm of one hand, and unsupported otherwise, bestowed upon him no reply, and did not turn her head. Mr. Raleigh looked at her a moment, and then continued his walk. Returning, the thing happened as he had predicted, and, with a little quick cry, Mademoiselle Le Blanc was hanging by her hands among the ropes. Reaching her with a spring, "_Viens, petite!_" he said, and with an effort placed her on her feet again before an alarm could have been given. "_Ah! mais je crus c'en était fait de moi!_" she exclaimed, drawing in her breath like a sob. In an instant, however, surveying Mr. Raleigh, the slight emotion seemed to yield to one of irritation, that she had been rescued by him; for she murmured quickly, in English, head haughtily thrown back and eyes downcast,--"Monsieur thinks that I owe him much for having saved my life!" "Mademoiselle best knows its worth," said he, rather amused, and turning away. The girl was still looking down; now, however, she threw after him a quick glance. "_Tenez!_" said she, imperiously, and stepping toward him. "You fancy me very ungrateful," she continued, lifting her slender hand, and with the back of it brushing away the floating hair at her temples. "Well, I am not, and at some time it may be that I prove it. I do not like to owe debts; but, since I must, I will not try to cancel them with thanks." Mr. Raleigh bowed, but said nothing. She seemed to think it necessary to efface any unpleasant impression, and, with a little more animation and a smile, added,--"The Captain Tarbell told me your name, Mr. Raleigh, and that you had not been at home for thirteen years. _Ni moi non plus_,--at least, I suppose it is home where I am going; yet I remember no other than the island and my"--