Then Sedgwick stepped forward, and said: 

“My Dear Friends:—­That I was able to bring one whom I love better than a brother to where he could find the strength to get well, I owe to you.  He is yet too weak to be moved, or he would be here by my side to thank you.  I was much absorbed on the voyage, but I saw how you, officers and seamen, worked to take advantage of every puff of wind and every current of the sea.  I know how you others were working in the hell of the fire-room, and I shall be grateful to you as long as I live.  I wish you all health, happiness and prosperity in the future.

“You, with your grand captain, carried the machinery to Africa, which has made me a good deal of money.  You brought home my friend when he was making an unequal fight for life.  I want each of you to have a little souvenir of my gratitude.”

With that he undid a package which he had been holding in his hand.  It contained a bunch of envelopes.  He handed one to each of the officers and men.

Those for the mates and engineers each contained bank notes of the value of L200.  Those of the men each contained L50.  The doctor’s contained L1,000.

The men whispered eagerly among themselves for a moment; then the third mate said: 

“Mr. Sedgwick, the lads want me to ask you how they can best thank you.  They are not much talkers, and this gift of yours has about beached their tongues.”

Sedgwick smiled and said:  “No thanks are needed, but I want to tell you that this is all due to the dearest woman in the world,” putting his arm around Grace.  “If you will each come and shake the hand of my wife, all the gratitude you feel will be receipted for.”

They joyfully responded, and one old tar, more bold than the rest, said, as he took the fair little hand of Grace in the grasp of his own knotted hand:  “Your mon is a mighty poor hand to save money, but he’ll be richer nor Rothschild as long as you are spared to him.”

They gave their old captain and his friend three cheers as they passed over the ship’s side, and McGregor wiped his eyes all the way back to the hotel.

Grace went at once to the sick-room.  Jordan was half reclining in an easy-chair.  Margaret was sitting where he could see her, and was evidently reading to him, when Grace entered.

Jordan spoke:  “Take a cheer, madam.  Maggie wur readin’ ’nd it’s mighty comfortin’.  It’s like sipping old wine and hearin’ music in thar next room same time.”

“Don’t you mind him, Grace,” said Margaret.  “He is still very weak, and all that he says is not as deep as it might be.”  But she smiled fondly at him while she spoke.

“Don’t yo’ b’leve her, Mrs. Sedgwick,” said Jordan.  “We all has weak spots in our hearts; she’s mine.”

Grace put one hand on Jordan’s hand, the other on Margaret’s cheek, and said: 

“Say all the pretty things of her that you please, Mr. Jordan, and do not mind her, for her heart has been starving for those same words from your lips for a long time.”