The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-12-27
CHAPTER vII.-contInusd.

There followed hours of superhuman
struggle to save the Jeanne Dare.
Her crew. sufficient in ordinary wealth
er, was too small to cope with the
storm and the leaking ship. Ballast
had to be shifted or flung overheard
Repairs had to be worked necessarily.
1t transpired that the yacht had gone
Tar out OF her course during the fog
the night before, and had tried to turn
inshore even before the leak was dis
covered. No one knew what waters
they were that lashed so furiously
about the disabled craft The storm
overhead had abated, but the rage of
the sea was unquelled. Before long
the engine was stopped by the rising
water. and then the hand pumps were
used There was some hope that the
leak had been discovered and at least
partly repaired The captain thought
that. If carefully managed, the yacht
might hold till daylight.
Jimmy joined the gang and worked
like trojan, helping wherever a man
was needed. shifting ballast. untack-
ling the boats, handling the pump. 1t
was at the pump that he found himself
some time during the night, working
endlessly, 1t seemed. Not once had
he lost sight of the real purpose of his |
presence on the yacht. If Agatha Red
mond were aboard the unlucky vessel
and he had moments of curious per
pleXity about it-he was there to watch |
for her safety. He pictured her sit
ting somewhere in the endangered YES
sci. She could not but be terrified at
her predicament, Whether shipwreck
or abduction threatened her, she must
feel that she had indeed fallen into
the hands of her enemies. He worked
his turn at the pump, then made up his
mind to risk no further delay, but to
search the ships cabins. She was in
one of them, he believed; frightened
she must be, possibly ILL., He had
done all that the furthest stretch OF
duty could demand in assistance to
the ship. He would find Agatha Red
mond at any cost, If she were aboard
the Jeanne Dare. Again he thought I
to himself that he was glad he was /
there. Whatever purpose her enc s
mics had, he alone was on her side, !
ne alone could do something to save '
her t
IL was now long past midnight, but
lot pitch dark either on deck or on the c
'ea. The electric lights had gone out
ong before. but lanterns had been d
wung here and there from the deck 8
xtures. AS Jimmy came UP, he D
hought the men were prepar-
ng to lower the boats, but when a
10 asked about it in his diff G.
cult French, the sailor shook his CT
cad. There were more people about n
han he supposed the yacht carried; Z
everal seamen, three or four other
len, and a fat woman sitting apath- OF
tically on pile of rope. He went
ON group to group, and from end 81
end of the yacht, looking for one DC
oman's face and figure. He saw III
onsieur Chatelard, examining one of nc
lie boats. He ran down the saloon Isl
airway, determined to search the ia
Ibins before he gave up his quest WI
ne moment he prayed that the words sa
Chatelard might be true, and that ol
10 had never been aboard the yacht; 10
o next moment he prayed he might
d her behind the next closed door. he
As James searched below deck. a L ~,
use palatial disclosed itself, even in H.
o dim light of the little lanterns. IN,
bins roomy and comfortable. fur an,
shings Of exquisite taste, all the eb,
raphernalia of the cultured and the wa
n were there Some of the cabin see
ors were standing open. and none tbi
IS locked Jimmy beat on them, 10
ied from room TO room, finding wa
thing Every human occupant was nv