Thus he mused, and thus dawned upon his mind the first gleams of repentance.  His melancholy temperament had caused the loss of his daughter; and, for the time, it grew repugnant.  He felt that he was not living the life his Maker intended he should live.

His meditations were suddenly interrupted by a tremendous explosion, and he was at once satisfied that it proceeded from the steamer he had before observed.  His supposition was soon verified by the flames he saw rising from the spot where he had last seen her.  She was, he judged, at least three miles distant.  His benevolent disposition, stimulated by the reflection, and, perhaps, by some unconscious resolution of the previous hour, prompted him to hasten to her relief.  Leaving the helm, he took from the little cabin a stay-sail, and by the light of the lantern attached it to the lines and hoisted it.  The lively little craft, feeling the additional impulse, careened till her gunnel was nearly submerged, and cut her way with increased velocity through the unfavorable current.  Half an hour elapsed before he approached near enough to make out the condition of the shattered steamer.  Another steamer lay as near to her as the flames, which had apparently been partly subdued, would permit.  Men were busily engaged in throwing on water, and their efforts promised to be crowned with success, for the volume of flame was rapidly decreasing.  A line was passed from the bow of the Chalmetta to the Flatfoot, No. 3 (for these were the steamers), which enabled the latter to control the drift of the former.  Dr. Vaudelier was too far off, however, to form a very correct idea of the casualty.

Portions of the wreck were floating by him, and occasionally his boat struck against a timber or cask.  While anxiously straining his vision, to ascertain further particulars of the disaster, he heard a faint cry close ahead of him.  By the light of his lantern, which he had hung up by the foremast, to attract the eye of any sufferer who might need aid, he saw a man clinging to a barrel floating by him.  Hastily letting go the halyards, the fore and main sails came down, the boat was put about, and Dr. Vaudelier, with much exertion, succeeded in saving the almost dying sufferer.  Conveying him to the cabin, which was of sufficient size to contain two berths, he placed him upon one of them, and proceeded to ascertain his ailments.  These, as far as he could discover them, consisted of a broken arm, a severe contusion of the head, and several severe scalds.  The wounded man’s endeavors to aid in his own rescue had been too violent, and on being placed in the berth he had fainted.  After administering such relief as he was able, he returned to the stern-sheets, hoisted the sails, and the boat, which had been drifting down-stream, again approached the wreck.

The flames of the Chalmetta were now extinguished.  Before the benevolent physician could reach her, the Flatfoot had taken her in tow, and both were rapidly leaving him.  Further pursuit was useless; so, taking in the stay-sail, he put the boat about, and again turned his attention to the sufferer.