He always said that was the proudest moment of his life , as he stood there holding Mary in his arms ; for the brave girl , who had kept up so long , broke down then , and clung to him half fainting ; while her mother busied herself about the invalid , who seemed to feel the joyful stir , and gave an order , as if again on the deck of his lost ship . It was soon over ; and then all were safely aboard the good Urania , homeward bound . Emil saw his friends in tender hands , his men among their mates , and told the story of the wreck before he thought of himself . The savoury odour of the soup , carried by to the cabin for the ladies , reminded him that he was starving , and a sudden stagger betrayed his weakness . He was instantly borne away , to be half killed by kindness , and being fed , clothed , and comforted , was left to rest . Just as the surgeon left the state-room , he asked in his broken voice : ` What day is this ? My head is so confused , I 've lost my reckoning . ' ` Thanksgiving Day , man ! And we 'll give you a regular New England dinner , if you 'll eat it , ' answered the surgeon heartily . But Emil was too spent to do anything , except lie still and give thanks , more fervently and gratefully than ever before , for the blessed gift of life , which was the sweeter for a sense of duty faithfully performed . Chapter 12 . DAN 'S CHRISTMAS Where was Dan ? In prison . Alas for Mrs Jo ! how her heart would have ached if she had known that while old Plum shone with Christmas cheer her boy sat alone in his cell , trying to read the little book she gave him , with eyes dimmed now and then by the hot tears no physical suffering had ever wrung from him , and longing with a homesick heart for all that he had lost . Yes , Dan was in prison ; but no cry for help from him as he faced the terrible strait he was in with the dumb despair of an Indian at the stake ; for his own bosom sin had brought him there , and this was to be the bitter lesson that tamed the lawless spirit and taught him self-control . The story of his downfall is soon told ; for it came , as so often happens , just when he felt unusually full of high hopes , good resolutions , and dreams of a better life . On his journey he met a pleasant young fellow , and naturally felt an interest in him , as Blair was on his way to join his elder brothers on a ranch in Kansas . Card-playing was going on in the smoking-car , and the lad -- for he was barely twenty -- tired with the long journey , beguiled the way with such partners as appeared , being full of spirits , and a little intoxicated with the freedom of the West . Dan , true to his promise , would not join , but watched with intense interest the games that went on , and soon made up his mind that two of the men were sharpers anxious to fleece the boy , who had imprudently displayed a well-filled pocket-book .
XXXXX always had a soft spot in his heart for any younger , weaker creature whom he met , and something about the lad reminded him of Teddy ; so he kept an eye on Blair , and warned him against his new friends .
Blair Dan England Urania day fainting left odour sharpers smoking-car