Elsie and Ned were on deck with their pet tee-tees, which seemed to be
in even more than usually playful mood, running round and round the
deck and up and down the masts. Ned chased after them, trying to catch
them, but failing again and again. He grew more and more excited and
less careful to avoid mishap in the struggle to capture the little
runaways. Elsie called after him to "let them have their fun for
awhile, and then they would come back to be petted and fed," but he
paid no attention to her. He called and whistled to Tee-tee, who was
high up on a mast. The little fellow stood still for a time, regarding
his young master as if he would say, "I'll come when I please, but you
can't make me come sooner." So Ned read the look, and called up to him,
"Come down this minute, you little rascal, or I'll be apt to make you
sorry you didn't."
That did not seem to have any effect, and Ned looked about for some one
to send up after the little runaway.
"Have patience, master Ned, he'll come down after a bit," said a sailor
standing near. "Ah, do you see? There he comes now," and turning
quickly, Ned saw his tee-tee running swiftly down the mast, then along
the top of the gunwale, then down on the outside. He rushed to catch
him, leaned too far over, and, with a cry of terror, felt himself
falling down, down into the sea.
A scream from Elsie echoed his cry. The sailor who had spoken to Ned
a moment before, instantly tore off his coat and plunged in after the
child, caught him as he rose to the surface, held him with his head out
of water, and called for a boat which was already being launched by the
other sailors.
Neither the Captain nor any of his older passengers were on deck at the
moment; but the cries of the children, the sailor's plunge into the
water, and the hurrying of the others to launch the boat were heard in
the saloon.
"Something is wrong!" exclaimed the Captain, hurrying to the deck,
closely followed by Violet, whose cry was, "Oh, my children! What has
happened to them?"
The other members of the party came hurrying after all in great
excitement.
"Don't be alarmed, my dear," said the Captain, soothingly, "whatever
is wrong can doubtless be set right in a few moments." Then, catching
sight of his little girl as he gained the deck, and seeing that she was
crying bitterly, "Elsie daughter, what is it?" he asked.
"Oh, papa," sobbed the child, "Neddie has fallen into the sea, and I'm
afraid he's drowned!"
Before her father could answer, a sailor approached and, bowing
respectfully, said:
"I think it will be all right, sir, in a few minutes. Master Ned fell
into the water, but Tom Jones happened to be close at hand, and sprang
in right after him and caught him as he came up the first time. Then he
called to us to lower the boat, and you see it's in the water already,
and they're starting after Master Ned and Tom--left considerable behind
now by the forward movement of the yacht."
"Ah, yes; I see them," returned the Captain; "the boat, too. Violet,
my dear, Neddie seems to be quite safe, and we will have him on board
again in a few minutes."
All on the deck watched, in almost breathless suspense, the progress
of the small boat through the water, saw it reach and pick up the
half-drowning man and boy, and then return to the yacht. In a few
moments more Ned was in his mother's arms, her tears falling on his
face, as she clasped him to her bosom, kissing him over and over again
with passionate fondness.
"There, Vi, dear, you would better give him into my care for a little,"
said Harold. "He wants a good rubbing, dry garments, a dose of
something hot and then a good nap."
"There, go with Uncle Harold, dear," said his mother, releasing him.
"And papa," said Ned, looking up at his father, entreatingly.
"Yes, little son, papa will go with you," returned the Captain, in
moved tones.
"Oh, is my tee-tee drowned?" exclaimed the little fellow, with sudden
recollection, and glancing around as he spoke.
"No," said Harold; "I see him now running around the deck. He's all
right." And with that the two gentlemen hurried down into the cabin,
taking Ned with them.
"Well, it is a very good plan to always take a doctor along when we go
sailing about the world," remarked Lucilla, looking after them as they
passed down the stairway.
"Yes; especially when you can find one as skilful, kind and agreeable
as our Doctor Harold," said Evelyn.
"Thank you, my dear," said Mrs. Travilla, regarding Evelyn with a
pleased smile, "he seems to me both an excellent physician and a
polished gentleman; but mothers are apt to be partial judges; so I am
glad to find that your opinion is much the same as mine."
Grace looked gratified, and Violet said: "It seems to be the opinion of
all on board."
"Mine as well as the rest," added Lucilla. "Chester has improved
wonderfully since we set sail on the 'Dolphin.'"
"Quite true," said Chester's voice close at hand, he having just
returned from a talk with the sailors who had picked up the
half-drowning man and boy, "quite true; and I give credit to my doctor,
Cousin Harold; for his advice at least, which I have endeavored to
follow carefully. He's a fine, competent physician, if it is a relative
who says it. Violet, you need have no fear that he won't bring your boy
through this thing all right."
"I am not at all afraid to trust him--my dear, skilful brother and
physician--and I believe he will be able to bring my little son through
this trouble," said Violet.
"No doubt of it," returned Chester; "by to-morrow morning little Ned
will be in usual health and spirits; none the worse for his sudden sea
bath."
"I can never be thankful enough to Tom Jones," said Violet, with
emotion. "He saved the life of my darling boy; for he surely would
have drowned before any one else could have got to him."
"Yes," said Chester; "I think he deserves all the praise you can give
him."
"And something more than praise," said Violet and her mother, both
speaking at once. "He is not, by any means, a rich man," added Violet,
"and my husband will certainly find a way to help him into better
circumstances."
"Something in which I shall be glad to assist," added her mother.
"Neddie is your son, but he is my dear little grandson."
"And my great-grandson," added Mr. Dinsmore, joining the group. "I am
truly thankful that Tom Jones was so near when he fell, and so ready to
go to the rescue."
"And the engineer to slacken the speed of the vessel, the other sailors
to lower and man the boat and go to the rescue," said Violet.
"Yes; they must all be rewarded," said her mother. "It will be a
pleasure to me to give them a substantial evidence of the gratitude I
feel."
"That is just like you, mamma," said Violet, with emotion; "but I am
sure his father is able, and will be more than willing to do all that
is necessary."
"Yes, indeed!" exclaimed Lucilla, "there is no more just or generous
person than my father! And he is abundantly able to do all that can be
desired to reward any or all who took any part in the saving of my dear
little brother."
"My dear girl," said Grandma Elsie, "no one who knows your father can
have the least doubt of his generosity and kindness of heart; I am very
sure that all the men we were speaking of will have abundant proof of
it."
"As we all are," said Mr. Dinsmore.
"I'm sure papa will do just what is right; he always does," said little
Elsie. "And oh, mamma, don't you think that he and Uncle Harold will
soon get dear Neddie well of his dreadful dip in the sea?"
"I do, daughter," answered Violet; "and oh, here come your papa and
uncle now!"
For at that moment the two gentlemen stepped upon the deck and came
swiftly toward them.
"Oh? how is he--my darling little son?" cried Violet, almost breathless
with excitement and anxiety.
"Doing as well as possible," answered her brother, in cheery tone. "He
has had a good rubbing down, a hot, soothing potion, been covered up in
his berth, and fallen into a sound sleep."
"Yes," said the Captain, "I think he is doing as well as possible, and
to-morrow will show himself no worse for his involuntary dip in the
sea."
"Oh, I am so glad, so thankful!" exclaimed Violet, tears of joy filling
her eyes.
"As I am," said his father, his voice trembling with emotion; "we have
great cause for thankfulness to the Giver of All Good. I am very glad
your mind is relieved, dearest. But I must go now and thank the men,
whose prompt action saved us from a heavy loss and bitter sorrow."
He had seated himself by Violet's side and put his arm about her, but
he rose with those last words, and went forward to where a group of
sailors were talking over the episode and rejoicing that it had ended
so satisfactorily. They lifted their hats and saluted the Captain
respectfully as he neared them.
"How is the little lad, sir?" asked Jones, as he neared them. "No worse
for his ducking, I hope."
"Thank you, Jones. I think he will not be any the worse by to-morrow
morning," replied the Captain. "He is sleeping now, which, I think, is
the best thing he could do. Jones, he owes his life to you, and I can
never cease to be grateful to you for your prompt action in springing
instantly to his rescue when he fell into the water."
"Oh, sir," stammered Jones, looking both pleased and embarrassed,
"it--it wasn't a bit more than almost any other fellow would have
done in my place. And I'm mighty glad I did it, for he's one o' the
likeliest little chaps ever I saw!"
"He is a very dear one to his father and mother, brother and sisters,
and I should like to give to each of you fellows who helped in this
thing, some little token of my appreciation of your kindly efforts. I
will think it over and have a talk with you again, and you may consider
what return I could make that would be the most agreeable and helpful
to you."
"About how much do you suppose that means?" asked one man of his mates,
when the Captain had walked away.
"Perhaps five dollars apiece," chuckled one of the others, "for the
Captain is pretty generous; and likely Jones's share will be twice as
much."
"Nonsense! who wants to be paid for saving that cute little chap from
drowning?" growled Jones. "I'd have been a coward if I'd indulged in a
minute's hesitation."
"I s'pose so," returned one of the others, "but you risked your life to
save his, so deserve a big reward, and I hope and believe you'll get
it."
On leaving the group of sailors, the Captain went to the pilot-house
and gave warm thanks there for the prompt slowing of the "Dolphin's"
speed the instant the alarm of Ned's fall was given.
"It was no more than any other man would have done in my place,
Captain," replied the pilot, with a smile of gratification.
"No," returned Captain Raymond, "some men would have been less prompt
and the probable consequence, the loss of my little son's life, which
would have been a great loss to his mother and me," he added, with
emotion. "I think you are worthy of an increase of pay, Mr. Clark, and
you won't object to it, I suppose?"
"No, sir; seeing I have a family to support, I won't refuse your
kindness, and I thank you very much for the kind offer."
At that moment Violet drew near and stood at her husband's side. She
spoke in tones trembling with emotion. "I have come to thank you,
Clark, for the saving of my darling boy's life; for I know that but
for the slowing of the engine both Jones and he might have lost their
lives--sinking before help could reach them."
"You are very kind to look at it in that way, Mrs. Raymond," returned
Clark, in tones that spoke his appreciation of her grateful feeling,
"but it was very little that I did--cost hardly any exertion and no
risk. Jones is, I think, the only one deserving much, if any, credit
for the rescue of the little lad."
He paused a moment, then added, "But the Captain here has most
generously offered me an increase of pay; for which I thank him most
heartily."
"Oh, my dear, I am very glad to hear that!" exclaimed Violet,
addressing her husband.
With the last word, her hand was slipped into his arm, and, with a
parting nod to Clark, they turned and went back to the family group
still gathered upon the deck under the awning.
They found Elsie with Tiny on her shoulder and Tee-tee on her lap.
"I must take care of them both now for awhile till Ned gets over that
dreadful sea bath," she said, looking up smilingly at her parents as
they drew near.
"Yes, daughter, that is right," replied her father, "it was no fault of
little Tee-tee that his young master fell into the sea."
That evening Violet and the Captain had a quiet promenade on the deck
together, in which they talked of those who had any share in the rescue
of their little Ned, and what reward might be appropriate for each one.
"I have heard there is a mortgage on the farm which is the home of Tom
Jones and his mother," said the Captain. "I will pay that off as my
gift to Tom, in recognition of his bravery and kindness in risking his
own life in the effort to save that of our little son."
"Do," said Violet, joyfully; "he certainly deserves it, and probably
there is nothing he would like better."
"He is certainly entitled to the largest reward I give," said the
Captain, "though I daresay almost any of the others would have acted
just as he did, if they had had the same opportunity."
Ned slept well under his uncle's care that night, and the next morning
appeared at the breakfast table looking much as usual, and saying, in
answer to loving inquiries, that he felt as if nothing had happened to
him; not a bit the worse for his bath in the sea.
Nor was he disposed to blame Tee-tee for his involuntary plunge into
the water; the two were evidently as fast friends as ever.
After breakfast the Captain had a talk, first with Jones, then with
the other men, in which each learned what his reward was to be. Jones
was almost too much moved for speech when told of his, but expressed
his gratitude more fully afterward, saying, "It is a blessed thing to
have a home of one's own; especially when it can be shared with one's
mother. Dear me, but won't she be glad!"
And the others were highly pleased with the ten dollars apiece which
fell to their shares.