Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-06-05
CHAPTER vII-contInued.

There followed hours of superhuman
struggle to save the Jeanne DArc.
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
far out of her course during the fog
the night before, and had tried to turn
tnshore, even before the leak was dis
covered. 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 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, IL carefully managed, the yacht
might hold till daylight.
Jimmy joined the gang and worked
like a trojan, helping wherever a man
was needed, shifting ballast. untack'
ling the boats, handling the pump. II
was at the pump that he found himself
some time during the night, working
endlessly, it seemed. Not once had
he lost sight of the real purpose of his
on the yacht. If Agatha Red
mond were aboard the unlucky vessel
and he had moments of curious per
yplexity about the was there to watch
for her safety. He pictured her sit
ting somewhere in the endangered YES
sci. She could not but be terrified al
her ~predicament. Whether shipwrecl
or abduction threatened her, she mus
feel that she had indeed fallen intt
the hands of her enemies. He WORKED
his turn at the pump, then made up hi!
mind to risk no further delay, but t
search the ships cabins, She was IL
one Of them, he believed; frightened
she must be, possibly Ill. He hat
done all that the furthest stretch O
duty could demand in assistance tt
the ship. He would find Agatha Red
mond at any cost, II she were aboard
the Jeanne dare, Again he though
to himself that he was glad he wal
there. Whatever purpose her enc
mics had, he alone was on her side
he alone could do something to saw
her.
1t was now long past midnight, bu
not pitch Gark either on deck or on tn
sea. The electric lights had gone on
long before, but lanterns had beel
swung here and there from the decl
fixtures. AS Jimmy came up, h,
thought the men were prepai
dng to lower the boats, but whel
ne asked about it in his dill
aicult French, the sailor shook hi
head. There were more people abou
than he supposed the yacht carried
several seamen, three or four othe
men, and a fat woman sitting apatt
~.etically on a pile Of rope. He wen
from group to group, and from en-
to end of the yacht, looking for on
woman's face and figure. He sa'
Monsieur Chatelard, examining n
the boats. He ran down the saloo
stairway, determined to search th
cabins before he gave UP his ques
One moment he prayed that the wore
of Chatelard might be true, and tn,
she had never been aboard the yacht
the next moment he prayed he migl
find her behind the next closed door
As James searched below deck,
house palatial disclosed itself, even
the dim light of the little lantern
Cabins roomy and comfortable. fu
nishings of exquisite taste. all Il
paraphernalia of the cultured and Il
rich we're there. Some of the cab
doors were standing open. and mol
was locked. Jimmy beat on thel
called from room to room. findil
nothing. Every human occupant W
10" .lLN