But a rope dexterously pitched reached him where he floated, and we had the unspeakable joy of seeing him at last hauled safely on board, exhausted, but as unconcerned as if drowning were an ordinary occurrence with him.
How thankfully we saw the last cable which held us to the wreck cast loose, and found ourselves at length, with our twenty rescued souls on board, heading once more for Kingstairs! Little was said on that short voyage home.

Sail and oar carried us rapidly through the storm.

The waves that broke over us from behind were as nothing to those that had broken over us from in front.

And as if in recognition of the gallant exploit of the tough old "Dreadnought," the very surf off Kingstairs beach had moderated when we reached it.
As we sighted the jetty we could see lights moving and hear a distant shout, which was answered by a ringing cheer from our men, in which Jack and I and the eighteen Germans and the two women joined.

What a cheer it was! At the jetty-head we could see a large crowd waiting to receive us, and as we passed a stentorian voice shouted, "Ahoy! Have you got them two boys on board ?" "Ay, ay!" cried the coxswain; "safe and sound--the rascals!" Rascals, indeed! As we clambered up the ladder, scarcely believing that we touched _terra firma_ once more, and found our poor old grandfather almost beside himself with joy and excitement at the top, we considered we deserved the title.
"Thank God you're safe!" he cried, when at last he had us before a blazing fire and a hot breakfast in his dining-room.