The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-05-17
CHAPTER VIII.
On the Breast Of the Sea.

| NoA sOu hCCP diiOdl III iONSi
ness"
81 think so. now that I have tn
life preserver. But the rope scare,
me for minute II got wound abou
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 thi
cloak. Which way is the yacht? w,
lost my bearings"
Behind us over there. Put you
hand on my shoulder and I'll take
you along until you get your breath
So,"
The girl obeyed implicitly. "as Il
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. 1t 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 Alloy" shouted Jim.
Give US hand" 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. We'll catch them on the
other side of the yacht"
Il can't swim much in ali these
clothes" said Agatha.
Never mind, then Hold on to the
life preserver and to me, and well
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
as they embarked in the small boats.
Two Of them seemed to be fastened
together, raftlike. on the starboard
side of the yacht. and were quickly
filled with men. Prayers and curses
were audible, with the loose, wild in
fexfon of the man who is in the
clutch Of an overmastering fear As
long as there had been work for them
to do on the ship. they had done It.
though sullenly; they had even con-
trolled themselves until the attempt
was made to place the two women
in safety. But after that their self
restraint vanished. The orders of the
officers were unheeded; the men
leaped and scrambled and slid into
the boats, and in a minute more they
had cue loose from the Jeanne Dare.
James dimly perceived that the
boats were moving away from them
into the darkness. Then he called.
and called again, redoubling his speed
In swimming; but only the beat Of
the oars came back over the water.
The heart in him stood still with an
fear. Was it possible |
hey were absolutely leaving them be-
hind? Surely there were other boats. |
He raised his voice and called again |
md again. At last one voice, careless
Ind brutal, called back something in
'eply. Jim turned questioning eyes
o the girl beside him, whose pale
ace was discernible on the dark wa
er.
He says the boats are all full"
Then we must hurry and make for
he yacht. Where is she?"
The Jeanne Dare had slipped away
rom them into the darkness.
she was this way, | thought Yes
am sure" said Agatha, pointing into
he night. But though they swan that
Tay, they did not come upon her.
hey turned little, and then turned
gain, and presently they lost every
ense of direction.
In all his life Jim was never again
estined to go through SO blac. an
our as that which followed the aban.
onment Of the Jeanne Dare. His
ourage left him, and his spirit sank
D that leaden, choking abyss where
ghts did not exist. Since the i'm
lediate object Of saving the ship, for
'hich he had worked as hard as any
Their. had been given up, the next In ,
Importance was to save the woman ,
'ho, for some mysterious reason. had ,
cen aboard. 1t was beyond his DOW
Of Imagination to suppose that anv
Their motive Of action could possibly ,
revail. even among her enemies.
hat they should leave her to drown r
lille they themselves fed to com. ,
arative safety in a boat, was more :
ian he could believe.
Surely they do not mean it; they t
Just return. for you, at least" '
The girl beside him knew better ,