Now hope blazed up again.  If she were nearer, she must come nearer still.  I recovered my ordinary state of mind sufficiently to know that I was hungry, and that I must eat to be strong and ready for what might happen.

Upon one thing I was determined.  If Bertha should ever again be brought near enough to hear me, I would tell her that I loved her.  The object of life, however much of it might be left me, should be to make Bertha know that I loved her.  If I swam toward the vessel, or floated on a plank, I must get near enough to tell her that I loved her.

But there was no wind, and the apparent size of the steamer did not increase.  This was a region or season of calms or fitful winds.  During the rest of the day the distant vessel continued to be a black speck upon the smooth and gently rolling sea.  Again I spent the night on deck, but I did not wake to listen or watch.  I was worn out and slept heavily.

The day was bright when I was awakened by a chilly feeling:  a strong breeze was blowing over me.  I sprang to my feet.  There was quite a heavy sea; the vessel was rolling and pitching beneath me, and not far away, not more than a mile, La Fidelite was coming straight toward me.  Lightly laden, and with a great part of her hull high out of water, the high wind was driving her before it, while my vessel, her bow to the breeze, was moving at a much slower rate.

As I looked at the rapidly approaching steamer, it seemed as if she certainly must run into the Sparhawk.  But for that I cared not.  All that I now hoped for was that Bertha should come to me.  Whether one vessel sank or the other, or whether both went down together, I should be with Bertha, I would live or die with her.  Mary Phillips stood full in view on the stern of the oncoming steamer, a speaking-trumpet in her hand.  I could now see that it was not probable that the two vessels would collide.  The steamer would pass me, but probably very near.  Before I could make up my mind what I should do in this momentous emergency, Mary Phillips hailed me.

“When we get near enough,” she shouted, “throw me a rope.  I’ll tie it to the boat and cut it loose.”

Wildly I looked about me for a line which I might throw.  Cordage there was in abundance, but it was broken or fastened to something, or too heavy to handle.  I remembered, however, seeing a coil of small rope below, and hastening down, I brought it on deck, took the coil in my right hand, and stood ready to hurl it when the proper moment should come.

That moment came quickly.  The steamer was not a hundred feet from me when I reached the deck.  It passed me on the port side.

“Be ready!” cried Mary Phillips, the instant she saw me.  It was not now necessary to use a trumpet.

“Throw as soon as I get opposite to you!” she cried.

“Is Bertha well?” I shouted.

“Yes!” said Mary Phillips; “but what you’ve got to do is to throw that rope.  Give it a good heave.  Throw now!”