As he spoke he gently lowered Isabel to her feet, and supporting her with one hand, held out the other to Captain Simmons. The sailor gripped it in his huge brown paw. "Thank God, you're safe, Sir Antony," he exclaimed heartily. "I'd have given anything to be able to lend a hand, but I didn't dare leave the boat. We'd have been done if they'd cut us off." "Oh, we didn't want any more help," said Tony laughing. "The whole beach is littered with corpses as it is." He paused. "Let me introduce you to Miss Francis," he ended, "the lady I'm going to marry." For a moment the skipper stared at Isabel in dumb amazement: then with that readiness in emergency which always distinguishes the British sailor, he took off his cap and made her an abrupt bow. "Pleased to meet you, Miss," he remarked huskily. At that instant through the entrance to the jetty appeared the dishevelled figure of Jimmy limping cheerfully along between Guy and Bugg. "Here come the others," said Tony. "We'd better get aboard before there's any more trouble." He dropped down into the boat, and steadied himself in the stern. "You pass Miss Francis down to me, will you, skipper?" Like a man in a dream, but with the most respectful and solicitous care Captain Simmons lifted up Isabel and lowered her gently into Tony's arms. As her feet touched the planks Bugg, Guy, and Jimmy appeared on the causeway above, and the next moment they too were scrambling hastily down into their places. Captain Simmons followed with the painter. "Let her go," he exclaimed curtly. The two sailors swung back together, and with a steady gliding motion the boat drew away from the strenuous shores of Livadia into the blue waters of the sunlit bay. CHAPTER XXIV MAKING SURE OF ISABEL For the second time that morning Lady Jocelyn opened the _Daily Mail_ and adjusting her glasses bent over the centre column with its staring and heavily leaded headlines. AMAZING DEVELOPMENT IN LIVADIA KING PEDRO MARRIED TO THE PRINCESS ISABELLA THE CIVIL WAR ENDED In Saturday's issue we were able to give our readers the exclusive information that King Pedro and the ex-prime minister of Livadia, the Marquis da Freitas, had landed in Portriga. Our well informed special correspondent, who transmitted the news, hinted also that within a short time we might expect to hear of some dramatic developments in the situation. The correctness of his forecast has been amply demonstrated in a further and lengthy message received late last night; a message which conveys the striking information that King Pedro and his rival claimant to the throne, the beautiful daughter of the late Don Francisco, were married on Sunday morning in the Cathedral at Portriga. The situation from the political point of view is dealt with fully in our leading article. We feel certain, however, that all readers of the _Daily Mail_ will join in congratulating the Royal and happy pair upon their romantic union.