"You would break her heart," moaned she. "Our poor, poor wedding day."

"There will be another glad and joyous day," he said, trying to find
heart.

"I will go where you go, Hugh," she said.

A few long sweeps of the oars and the white boat, with its blue
trimmings, shot upon the beach, and the officer leaped forward to meet
the waiting pair.

"I am Ensign Carruthers, United States cruiser _Winnetka_, Captain
Hildebrand commanding. We saw your flag and were considerably
mystified," he said, doffing his cap to her Ladyship. But Ridgeway,
forgetting politeness, dignity and reserve, rushed up and grabbed him by
the hand, mad with the exuberance of joy.

"Saved! Saved! Saved!"

Carruthers, dumbfounded, looked from one to the other of the now frantic
couple. He saw white people dressed in most unusual garments, the woman
possessing a gloriously beautiful face and the air of royalty, the man
bushy haired and stalwart, every inch a gentleman and an American.

"What does this mean?" he demanded.

"You are the first white man we have seen in more than a year," cried
Hugh.

"We have seen none but savages," added she, tears of happiness starting