Page:Joan, the curate.djvu/21

Rh going down, and the thunder of the waves, as they beat upon the cliff's base and echoed in its hollows, grew fainter as they went. It was an easier matter than they had expected to get into the boat which was waiting to take them to the cutter; and though the tiny craft rose like a nutshell on the crest of the waves, and sank into deep dells of dark water, they reached the cutter safely, and scrambled, not without difficulty, up the side of the little vessel, which was anchored not far from the land.

A man's voice, full, clear, musical, a voice used to command, hailed them from the deck—

"Ho, there! Hast brought a doctor?"

"Ay, capt'n, and a parson to boot!" answered the sailor who had been despatched on this errand. "And a nurse that it would cure a sick man to look at."

It was at that moment that Joan, who was as agile as a kitten, stepped on deck, and into the light of the lantern which the lieutenant himself was holding. The young man saluted her, with surprise in his eyes, and a thrill of some warmer feeling in his gallant heart. Joan curtsied, holding on to the nearest rope the while.