The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-12-27
CHAPTER VII.
On the Breast Of the ss.

| Oh the Breast OF the Sea.
Can you keep afloat In this rough
ness?"
u think so, now that have the
life preserver. But the rope scared
me for minute. It got wound about
my feet"
Il thought so. But we are drifting
away from the boats, and should swim
back as fast as we can. Can you
swim?"
Yes; better when get rid of this
cloak. Which way is the yacht? rye
lost my bearings"
Behind us over there. Put your
hand on my shoulder and I'll take
you along until you get your breath
Sol"
The girl obeyed implicitly, "as II
she were a good, biddable child"
thought Jim. There was none Of the
terrified clutching at a rescuer which
sometimes causes disaster to two In
stead OF one Miss Redmond was
badly shocked, It may be; but she
was far from being in a panic.
Now for the boat. Can you swim
little faster? They'll surely come
back to pick US up" said Jim, with
an assumption of confidence that he
did not feel. They could hear voices
from the yacht, and could follow, par
TALLY, what was going on. Miss Red
mond cast loose her cloak, put hand
on Jim's shoulder, and together they
swan nearer. "Ahoy!" shouted Jim.
Give us handl" But the boat with
the large woman in it had put about
to the other side of the yacht.
"Ahoy! This way!" shouted Jim.
Throw us a rope!" he cried; but II
any of the seamen of the Jeanne
Dare heard, they paid no heed.
Come this way" said Jim to his
companion. Wen catch them on the |
other side Of the yacht"
I can't swim much in all these
clothes" said Agatha.
Never mind, then. Hold on to the
life preserver and to me. and wen
make it all right" On the crests
Of the swelling waves they swan
round the dark hulk of the vessel. and
heard plainly the clamor Of the men
rs they embarked in the small boats
Two or them seemed to be fastened
.ogether raftlike, on the starboard
side of the yacht, and were quickly
llled with men. Prayers and curses
we're audible, with the loose, wild in
leXlon of the man who is in the
'lutch of an oYermastering fear. As
ong as there had been work for them
0 do on the ship, they had done it, [
hough sullenly; they had even CON {
rolled themselves until the attempt
vas made to place the two women {
4 safety. But after that their self. S
estraint vanished. The orders of the {
hcers were unheeded; the men q
eaped and scrambled and slid into /
ne boats, and in a minute more they I
ad cut loose from the Jeanne Dare. l
James dimly perceived that the
oats were moving away from them 4
Ito the darkness. Then he called l.
nd called again, redoubling his speed a
swimming; but only the beat of "
lie oars came back over the water. e
he heart in him stood still with an
acknowledged fear. Was it possible Ii
ley were absolutely leaving them be. q
nd? Surely there were other boats. Il
G raised his voice and called again 81
Id again. At last one voice. careless "l
I'd brutal, called back something In II
ply. Jim turned questioning ewes n
the girl beside him, whose pale
ce was discernible on the dark wa h,
r =,
He says the boats are all full" ST
Then we must hurry and make for tr
3 yacht Where is she?" re
The Jeanne D'Arc had slipped away W,
I'm them into the darkness. at
She was this way, | thought Yes. re-
I'M sure" said Agatha, pointing into lit
, night. But though they swan that tn
y, they did not come upon her. mr.
ey turned little, and then turned
ain, and presently they lost every
Use of direction. M,
n all his life Jim was never again wa
'tineu 10 20 through SO black an sht
If as that which followed the aban. II
lment of the Jeanne Dare. His va,
rage left him, and his spirit sank so
that leaden, choking abyss where Cb
It's did not exist Since the i'm cri
diate object of saving the ship. for abr
ch he had worked as hard as anv the
er, had been given up, the next in so
ortance was to save the woman cor
}, for some mysterious reason. had riel
n aboard. 1t was beyond his DOW. Ian
If imagination to suppose that any for
'r motive of action could possihlv wo,
5ail, even among her enemies far
I they should leave her to drown non
le they themselves fed to com. on
'tive safety in boat, was more 1lre
he could believe tho,
surely they do not mean 4: thew the
return, for you, at least" was
le girl beside him knew better, nee