The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-04-02
cHAPTER WI.
The Rope Ladder.

The near prospect OF conclusive
struggle for life Is sharp tonic 10
the adventurous soul. The actual dnal
summons 10 that Other Room is met
variously. There is Earthly Dignity.
how answers even this last tap at the
door with a fitting and quotable re-
jonder: there is Deathbed Repen-
lance. whose JUNCTION I'm momento
norris is doubtless comfort 10 pi.
Gus relatives: and there are Chivalry
and Nalor twin youths who go TO the
unknown banquet singing and bear
ing their garlands OF joy.
But with the chance OF q fight for
life, there is a sharp-sweet tang that
sends some spirits galloping TO tire
contest. "Dauntless the slughorn TO
his lips he set" making ready for
the last good run
When Jim descended the hatchway
after accommodating on deck, Chate-
lard was gone. The ships cook was
rummaging in sailors kit that he
had drawn from a locker. Jim men,
tally considered the situation. The
seamen had no doubt exaggerated the
calamity, but without question there
was serious trouble. Were the pumps
working? How far were they from
shore? II hopelessly distant from
shore, were they in the course OF
passing steamers? Would any one
look after Miss Redmond's safety?
Monsieur Chatelard had said that she
as not on board, but James did not
believe IT,
While these thoughts flew through
his mind, James had been absentiy
watching while the cook turned his
treasures out upon his bunk. and
paved them over with trembling
hands. There We're innumerable little
things, besides a stiff white shirt,
cheap shiny Bible, stuffed parrot
and several wads of clothes. And
among the mess Jim caught sight or a
niece OF stitched canvas that looked
familiar.
Hi you there, That's my money
belt" he cried. and jumped forward
to claim his own. But in his move
ment he failed TO calculate with the
waves. The yacht gave another or
her deep-sea plunges, and Jimmy.
thrown against his bunk, saw the
cook grab his kit and make for the
ladder. He regained his feet only in
tire TO follow at arms length up the
self down. like a baseball runner max
ing his base, after the seaman's legs;
but instead of a foot, he found him
self clutching one OF the wads OF
clothes that trailed after the cooks
bundle. He caught II firmly and kept
II, but the ships cook and the rest
of his booty disappeared Ikea rab-
bit into its burrow.
A. .xT fln loA
der and examined his haul. Ii was
pair OF wooden trousers, and they
were OF generous size He spread
them out on the deck. Round him
were unmistakable signs OF democrat
ization. The second officer was or
dering the men TO the pumps in stern
tones; the yacht was pitching wildly
and growing darkness was settling on
the face OF the turbulent waters. But
in spite OF il all. Jimmy's spirit leaped
forth in laughter as he thought OF his
brief, frantic chase. and its result in
this capture OF the characteristic
vestiture of man.
What's money for, anyway he
laughed, as he got up and clothed
himself once more.
There followed hours OF superhu-
man struggle TO save the Jeanne
dare. Her crew, sufficient in ordi-
nary weather, was too small to cope
with the storm and the leaking ship.
Ballast had TO be shifted or flung
overheard. Repairs had to be at.
tempted in the hold; the pumps had
TO be worked necessarily. II trans
PRED that the yacht had gone far out
of her course during the fog the night
before. and had tried TO turn inshore,
even before the leak was discovered.
No one knew what waters they were
that dashed so furiously about the
disabled craft. The storm overhead
had abated. but the rage of the sea
was unquelled. Before long the en-.
CINE was stopped by the rising wa
ter, and then the hand pumps were
used There was some hope that
Vtfrc leak had been discovered and al
least partly repaired. The captain
thought that, If carefully managed,
the yacht might hold till daylight.