As I helped Maud over the rail and felt her form close to mine, it was all I could do to keep from crying out, "I love you! I love you!" Truly Humphrey Van Weyden was at last in love, I thought, as her fingers clung to mine while I lowered her down to the boat.

I held on to the rail with one hand and supported her weight with the other, and I was proud at the moment of the feat.

It was a strength I had not possessed a few months before, on the day I said good-bye to Charley Furuseth and started for San Francisco on the ill-fated _Martinez_.
As the boat ascended on a sea, her feet touched and I released her hands.
I cast off the tackles and leaped after her.

I had never rowed in my life, but I put out the oars and at the expense of much effort got the boat clear of the _Ghost_.

Then I experimented with the sail.