Then I stood square in the bows and whispered "Now!" For the beating of my heart I scarcely heard my own voice, but I spoke louder than I knew.

At the same instant that Barbara sprang into my arms, there was a rush of feet across the deck, an oath rang loud in French, and another figure appeared on the gunwale, with one leg thrown over.

Barbara was in my arms.

I felt her trembling body cling to mine, but I disengaged her grasp quickly and roughly--for gentleness asks time, and time had we none--and set her down in the boat.

Then I turned to the figure above me.