In silence the two descended the cabin ladder, and with the tenderness of a lover, which in such men as Hardy has the sweetness of a woman's love, he placed her upon a locker and poured out a little water. She drank with the passion of thirst, and asked for more with her eyes, but Hardy knew better and gave her a biscuit, which would lightly soothe the craving of the hunger that is often felt after thirst is assuaged. She bit a little piece of biscuit, and said: "Won't you give me a little more water?" "Very soon. Eat that biscuit." He stepped to the pantry where some brandy was kept, and poured a tablespoonful in a wine-glass, and this filled up with water he gave her after she had eaten the biscuit. The stimulant helped her, and even as he stood watching her with his heart beating fast with this wonder, this miracle, of almost unparalleled meeting, he witnessed symptoms of a reviving spirit, of a reanimated body in her face. At this moment Captain Layard came down the companion-steps and approached them with an eager, strained expression. His eyes, alight with mania--for madness has its expectations and disappointments--rested with a searching gaze upon the girl. "Have you seen him?" he asked. "No, sir," answered Hardy, quickly trying to catch Julia's eye, but she was staring with alarm at the captain, as you would, or I, under such conditions of inexplicable confrontment. "She is a dear friend of mine and is ill with the sufferings of an open boat, but her presence in this ship may mean more than we can dream of now." The captain's face changed, his eyes took a fresh illumination with his smile. "See to her, Mr. Hardy, see to her, and I'll start the ship afresh." He left the cabin. "May I have another biscuit?" said Julia. Hardy handed one and smiled, for he saw again the sweet unconscious cock of her head, not the less fascinating to him because her eyes were dim, her cheeks a little hollow, her lips pale. "Was that the captain?" she asked. "Yes," he answered. "What was he asking? Is he right in his mind?" "His only son, a little boy, a beautiful bright-haired little boy, fell overboard and was drowned, and--But we will talk about the captain and your adventures when you are stronger." He mused a moment or two, and then added, "You will take the rest you need in my cabin, and a berth shall be made ready for you. A good long sleep will restore you. So come." He put his arm through hers and caused her to rise, and indeed she still needed the support he gave her. He took her to his cabin, and as she walked she looked about her with growing animation, which is a cheering sign, and once she exclaimed, "Thank God, I am safe! Thank God, I have met you! But how wonderful--oh, how wonderful!"