Before the sun set they were sighted by the cruiser returning to her anchorage outside the little fishing-harbour.

Mab, worn out by hunger and exposure, had slipped back to her former position in the bottom of the boat.

She was half asleep and seemed dazed when Merefleet told her of their approaching deliverance.

But she clung fast to him when a boat from the cruiser came alongside; and he lifted her into it himself.
"By Jove, sir, you've had a bad time!" said a young officer in the boat.
"Thirty hours," said Merefleet briefly.
He kept his arm about the girl, though his brain swam dizzily.

And Mab, consciously or unconsciously, held his hand in a tight clasp.
Merefleet felt as if she were definitely removed out of his reach when she was lifted from his hold at length, and the impression remained with him after he gained the cruiser's deck.