Thus reassured, the little fellow put his arms around my neck. I at once struck out for the sloop, and reaching it, clambered on deck. As I did so the woman I had saved seemed to come to her senses, and rising to her feet she clasped the boy in her arms. [Illustration] “My Willie! my darling Willie!” she cried. “Thank God you are saved!” “Yes, mamma; that big boy saved me. Wasn’t it good of him?” “Yes, indeed, my child!” Looking around, I discovered that the two men were clinging to the keel of the large sloop, which had now turned bottom upwards. I pulled up the anchor, hoisted the sail again, and was soon alongside. “Here you are!” I called out, throwing them a rope by which they might come on board. “Did you save my son?” demanded the elder one anxiously. “Yes, William; he is safe,” returned the woman. “All right; then we’ll come aboard too,” said the man. “Here, Brown, you go first. This accident is entirely my fault.” “No more yours than mine,” returned the man addressed, as he hauled himself up over the stern. “It was I who wanted to go out without a man to manage the boat, Mr. Markham.” “Yes; but I tied the knots in the ropes,” was the reply, as the elder man also came on board. They were all well-dressed people, and I rightly guessed that they were boarders at one of the hotels at Bayport. “Well, young man, it was lucky you came along,” said Mr. Markham, turning to me. “You have saved at least two lives.” He was still excited, and put the case rather strongly. “Oh, no, I didn’t!” I protested. “I only picked you up. Any one would have done that.” “Didn’t you jump overboard and rescue my son?” “Well, yes; but that wasn’t much to do.” “I think it was a good deal. If my son had gone down I would never have wanted to go back. All of us owe you a deep debt of gratitude.” “Yes, indeed!” burst out Mrs. Markham. “What would I have done without my precious Willie?” And she strained the little fellow to her breast. The situation was both novel and uncomfortable for me. I had but done my duty, and I didn’t see the use of making such a fuss over it. “Where are you bound?” I asked, by way of changing the subject. “We started for a trip down the lake about an hour ago,” replied Mr. Markham. “Will you take us back to Bayport?” “Certainly; that is just where I am bound. But what do you intend to do with your sloop?” “Leave her adrift. I never want to see the craft again.” And Mr. Markham shuddered. “She can easily be righted,” I went on. “If you want her, you may have her. I will pay the present owner what she is worth.” “Thank you; I’ll accept her gladly,” I cried; “but it won’t cost much to bring her around, and hadn’t you better pay her owner for the damage done, and let him keep her?” “No; I’ve given her to you, and that’s settled.” “Then let me thank you again, sir,” I said warmly, greatly pleased at his generosity. “Humph! it isn’t much. May I ask who you are?”