_I_ don't know how I did it. There's times when a man has strength
given to him, seemin'ly, over and above human strength. 'Twas like
as if the Lord ketched holt and helped me: maybe He did, seein' what
'twas I was doing. Maybe He did!" He paused a moment in thought, but
Star was impatient.

"Well, Daddy!" she cried. "And then you looked and found it was--go
on, Daddy dear!"

"I looked," continued the old man, "and I found it was a sail, that
had showed so white against the spar; a sail, wrapped tight round
somethin'. I cut the ropes, and pulled away the canvas and a tarpaulin
that was inside that; and thar I seed--"

"My poor mamma and me!" cried the child, joyously, clapping her hands.
"Oh, Daddy Captain, it _is_ so delightful when you come to this part!
And my poor mamma was dead? You are quite positively sure that she
was dead, Daddy?"

"She were, my lamb!" replied the Captain, gravely. "You needn't never
have no doubt about it. She had had a blow on the head, your poor
ma had, from one o' the bull's horns, likely; and I'll warrant she
never knowed anythin' after it, poor lady! She was wrapped in a great
fur cloak, the same as you have on your bed in winter, Blossom: and
lyin' all clost and warm in her cold arms, that held on still, though
the life was gone out of 'em, was"--the old man faltered, and brushed
his rough hand across his eyes--"was a--a little baby. Asleep, it
seemed to be, all curled up like a rose on its mother's breast, and
its pooty eyes tight shut. I loosed the poor arms--they was like a
stattoo's, so round and white and cold; and I took the child up in