"Take both of them down to the saloon," said my father, "and tell Johnston to get some hot water ready as soon as possible." "Fire's out, sir," replied one of the crew. "We had to unship the galley funnel." "Then re-ship the funnel, and rig preventer stays to it. Should it be carried away it can't be helped; if not, so much the better." "Very good, sir." "And what's this man's name?" asked my parent, indicating the gallant rescuer, who was being assisted down the companion. "Lewis, sir; Bill Lewis." "Capital fellow! Capital fellow!" exclaimed my father; and, having seen that the "Fortuna" once more lay on her proper course, he went down into the saloon, I following him. The excitement of the last half-hour had driven away all feelings of sea-sickness, and, strangely enough, I felt no discomfort at being in the cabin. The rescued yachtsman was lying motionless on one of the berths, his body enveloped in blankets. I noticed that there was a clean cut on his cheek, extending from the right ear nearly to the chin, which had bled freely; and I also remarked that his hands, though hardened by manual labour, were well cared for. Apparently he had not swallowed much sea water, for he was sleeping soundly as if tired out with sheer exhaustion. His rescuer, Lewis, was little the worse for his gallant efforts, and was sitting awkwardly in a deck chair as if out of place in the saloon of a yacht. He rose as my father entered the cabin, and shuffled with his feet in his embarrassment. "I am proud of you, Lewis!" exclaimed my father, shaking him by the hand. "'Twas nothing, sir." "It was a gallant deed." "May be, sir; but I didn't stop to think. If I did I mightn't have gone overboard." "I'll not forget it, Lewis. I hope to send a report of your bravery to the proper quarter at the first opportunity. Is there anything I can do for you now?" "No, sir, not as I knows of. Leastways, I'd like to go for'ard and have a pipe. I'm just longing for a draw." "Certainly, Lewis; but how did you get that bruise?" added the pater, noticing the man's eye, which was considerably damaged and rapidly turning a greenish black. "While I was in the water, sir. Directly I saw the gent yonder I swam for him, pushing the lifebelt afore me. Then I bore in mind the instructions for saving drowning persons, to assure him with a loud and firm voice that he was safe, though I'll allow my voice didn't strike me as being particularly loud and firm, and neither did I feel so very sure that he was safe. However, I did as was directed, and, getting up behind him, I tugged at his hair to turn him on his back. It's all very fine a-laying down regulations for saving a man, but I reckon the fellow as wrote 'em never had to do the trick hisself, for directly I laid hold of the young gent he twists round somehow and plugs me in the eye. So I had to let go, and down he went again. The next time he came up I pitched the belt over his head, and he grabbed at it like grim death.