I felt his hands pressed under my arms, and then, with the exercise of his great strength, he drew me steadily up, inch by inch, until I topped the rail, and fell forward into the bottom of the boat.

An instant I rested thus, with tightly closed eyes, my head reeling, my breath coming in sobs of pain, every muscle of my strained body throbbing in misery.

Scarcely conscious of what was being done about me, I could still realize that arms touched my neck, that my head was gently lifted to a softer resting-place, and that a hand, strangely tender, brushed back from my forehead the wet tangled hair.

The touch was thrilling; and I unclosed my wearied eyes, looking up into the sympathetic face of Mademoiselle.

The faint moonlight rested upon it gently, touching her crown of hair with silver; and within the dark depths of her eyes I read clearly the message I had waited for so long.
"Toinette!" I murmured, half conscious.
She bowed her head above me, and I felt a sudden plash of tears that could not be restrained.
"Do not try to speak now, John!" she whispered softly, her finger at my lips.