in his ear, then bowed her white face upon her hands and wept for joy. She would not leave him until the ship’s surgeon told her that he would pull through all right with proper care, and commanded that she go below and receive the attention she herself needed. She staggered to her feet, a great burden rolling from her heart; but her waning strength deserted her entirely, and she fell fainting into the arms of a young, manly looking fellow, who was standing with pitying face just beside her. He carried her below and gave her into the care of a stewardess, and thought, as he did so, that he had never in his life looked upon a face so pure and delicately lovely. The captain and crew of the ill-fated steamer, with the other passengers who had been saved, were shown every kindness and attention which their critical condition demanded, and so ended that season of horror, and they were borne swiftly and safely toward America’s hospitable shore. 30 CHAPTER III. THE YOUNG STRANGER. THE YOUNG STRANGER. Mr. Rosevelt began to mend at once under the skillful treatment of the ship’s surgeon, and to regain his strength much more readily than the young girl who had been so faithful to him. He had been in a very dangerous condition, the physician said, and doubtless would have died but for the unremitting attention which Star gave him, in keeping his head cool and wet, and in forcing food upon him to keep up his strength. Mr. Rosevelt heard this with evident emotion, and during the remainder of the voyage evinced the greatest tenderness for her. They had not made much progress in their frail life-boat, notwithstanding the unrelaxing energies of the sailors, and found that they were still five days from New York when they were picked up by the other steamer; and although somewhat weakened by hunger and suffering and the intense cold, yet none appeared to be seriously affected by their experience, and a day or two served to make a great change for the better in them all. On the evening of the second day after their rescue, Star consented to be carried up on deck; the day was keen and cold, but the sun was bright and inviting. She was very wan and
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