The marquis, struck on the head by a piece of the wreck which came near sinking the yawl, had been, by the same violent blow, thrown into the water, while the frightened oarsmen were occupied in relieving the craft from the timber which encumbered it. The canoe had hardly recovered her equilibrium, when the coxswain, seeing that his master had disappeared, looked around the craft in consternation, and at last discovered the marquis as he was held by the rescuing hand of Frederick. The six oarsmen soon gained the spot where the little boat lay, and took on board Raoul de Pont Brillant, who had fainted. Frederick, with David's assistance, came out of the water, and entered the little boat, when the oarsmen from the castle cried out to him in terror: "Take care! a float of wood!" [Illustration: "SEIZING THE PROW OF THE LITTLE BOAT."] In fact, the floating mass, coming rapidly behind the little boat, had not been seen by David, who was entirely occupied with Frederick. At this new danger the preceptor recovered his presence of mind; he threw his boat-hook on the canoe of the marquis, and by means of this support drew himself to her, and thus escaped the shock threatened by the float of wood. "Ah, monsieur," said the coxswain of the oarsmen, while the little boat was lying some seconds by the side of the canoe, "what is the name of the courageous young man who has just saved the marquis?" "The wound of the Marquis de Pont Brillant may be serious," said David, without answering the coxswain's question. "It is the most prudent thing to return to the castle without delay." Then, disengaging the boat-hook from the canoe, so as to give freedom of action to the little boat, David said to Frederick, who with radiant countenance was throwing back his long hair dripping with water: "To your oars, my child. God is with us. When we once reach the dead waters, we are safe." * * * * * God, as David had said, was protecting the little boat. They reached the dead waters without further accident. There danger ceased almost entirely. The preceptor, finding his watch at the prow no longer necessary, took the oars from the weary hands of Frederick, who hastened to make the unfortunate sufferers drink a little wine. Ten minutes after, the little boat landed upon the shore. CHAPTER XXXI. At their disembarking David and Frederick found Madame Bastien. The young woman had assisted at a few of the episodes of this courageous salvage, by the aid of David's field-glass, leaving the scene, and taking another view by turns, as the danger seemed imminent or surmounted. Sometimes Marie found her strength unequal to the sight of the heroic struggle of her son, whom she could not encourage by word or gesture. Again, she would yield to the irresistible desire to know if Frederick had escaped the dangers which threatened him every moment.