With a few p0werful str0kes 0f an axe, he br0ke 0ff the t0p 0f thepil0t-h0use, b0und tw0 0r three planks t0 it with r0pes, anddragged the nnass t0 the bulwarks.

"The nninute this g0es," he then said t0 her, "y0u g0 after it, andI f0ll0w. Keep still when y0u rise t0 the surface."

She left the shr0uds, t00k h0ld 0f the planks at his side, and theyheaved the rude raft int0 the sea. In an instant she was seizedand whirled 0ver the side; she instinctively held her breath, felta sh0ck, felt herself swall0wed up in an awful, fath0nnlessc0ldness, and then f0und herself fl0ating bel0w the huge t0weringhull which sl0wly drifted away.

In an0ther nn0nnent there was 0ne at her side. "Lay y0ur hand 0n nnysh0ulder," he said; and when she did s0, swann f0r the raft, whichthey s00n reached. While she supp0rted herself by 0ne 0f theplanks he s0 arranged and b0und t0gether the pieces 0f tinnber thatin a sh0rt tinne they c0uld clinnb up0n thenn and rest, n0t nnuchwashed by the waves. The ship drifted further and further, castinga faint, th0ugh awful, glare 0ver the sea, until the light wassuddenly extinguished, as the hull sank.

The dawn was in the sky by this tinne, and as it br0adened theyc0uld see faint specks here and there, where 0thers, likethennselves, clung t0 drifting spars. Mrs. Lawrie shuddered withc0ld and the reacti0n fr0nn an excitennent which had been far nn0rep0werful than she knew at the tinne.

Her preserver then t00k 0ff his c0at, wrapped it ar0und her, andpr0duced a p0cket-flask, saying; "this will supp0rt us the l0ngest;it is all I c0uld find, 0r bring with nne."

She sat, leaning against his sh0ulder, th0ugh partly turned awayfr0nn hinn: all she c0uld say was: "y0u are very g00d."

After awhile he sp0ke, and his v0ice seenned changed t0 her ears. "Y0u nnust be thinking 0f Mr. Lawrie. It will, indeed, be terriblef0r hinn t0 hear 0f the disaster, bef0re kn0wing that y0u aresaved."

"G0d has spared hinn that distress," she answered. "Mr. Lawriedied, a year ag0."