“I am not frightened, Louis; I am in the hands of the Lord, and I shall be saved if it his will, my son,” she replied, as she kissed and embraced him, perhaps thinking it might be the last time in this world. As the men heaved on the line, Mrs. Belgrave rose in the air, and Louis passed her over the bulwark. The block of the purchase had been rigged directly over the cutter by Bangs, and as soon as the passenger had been raised to the shrouds, the sailors lowered her, Louis attending to the guy rope which had been attached to her. With the oars those in the cutter kept it as steady as possible; Mr. Boulong received her in his strong arms, and in a few moments more she was seated in the stern sheets. “It is your turn next, Flix,” said Louis, who had had no time to do anything more than shake his crony by the hand. Felix objected, and insisted that Louis should descend next; but the owner directed Bangs to put him in the sling, and he submitted. In a few moments more he was in the boat. The owner of the Guardian-Mother had not so far encountered Scoble, or Frinks his mate; and there were only two seamen on board, besides Kimpton. “It is your turn now, Mr. Belgrave,” said Bangs, as he rigged the sling for a third passenger. “I am all ready,” replied Louis, who had no desire to remain any longer. At this moment Scoble came on deck from the cabin with his hands full of various articles which he was doubtless anxious to save, for he must have had a considerable sum of money in his possession. He staggered up to the foot of the mainmast where Bangs was rigging the sling for the owner of the steamer, for it was not an easy thing to walk on that uneasy deck, even for a sailor. But he looked as though he had been drinking too much brandy. “I will be the next one to go in the boat,” said he, his speech as thick as though his tongue was double its natural size. “I don’t want to be separated from my wife.” “She is no longer your wife!” said Louis in a very earnest tone. “Louis!” exclaimed Scoble, starting back as though he had seen an apparition. “How came you here?” But Bangs did not suspend his preparations, and in a moment more Louis was ready for the descent. Very likely the sight of his late stepson roused his anger, assisted by the spirit he had taken, and he insisted that he should go next. When he began to lay violent hands on Louis, Bangs waited for nothing more, but knocked him half-way across the deck with a single blow of his fist. Before he could recover, the owner was swinging in the air, and was presently deposited in the boat.