friendly boats; but the probability was that it was one or other
of them. Had they seen any other fisherman's boat near the point
they would have rowed high up so as to intercept the hatch before
it reached the stranger. Harry could not hear voices; for although
the water had conveyed the sound of the oars a considerable distance,
he could hear no sound in the air.

The oars came nearer and nearer, and by the quickness with which
the strokes followed each other he knew that two boats were at
hand. Then the hatch was suddenly lifted, and as Harry raised his
head above water there was a loud cheer, and he saw Adolphe and
Pierre, one on each side, stretch out their arms to him. The girls
were first lifted into Pierre's boat, for Jeanne was as incapable
of movement as her sister, then Harry was dragged in, the rough
sailors shaking his hand and patting him on the shoulder, while
the tears ran down their cheeks.

"Give them some hot brandy and water," were his first words. Pierre
had a kettle boiling. A glass of hot liquor was placed to Jeanne's
lips.

At first she could not swallow, but after a few drops had passed
her lips she was able to take a sip, and would then have stopped,
but Harry insisted upon her drinking the whole contents of the
glass.

"You must do as you are told, Jeanne," he said in her ear. "You
belong to me now, you know. It can do you no harm chilled as you
are, and may save you from illness."