The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1913-02-07
vii.


On the Breast OF the Sea.
Can you keep anoat In this rough.
ness?"
Il think SO. now that I have the
life preserver. But the rope scared
me for a minute. II got wound about
feet"
Il thought so. But We are drifting
away from the boats. and should swim
back as fast as we can. Can you
SWIM"
Eyes: better when I get rid OF this
cloak. Which way Is the yacht7 I've
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 n Miss Redmond was
badly shocked. 1t may be; but she
was far from being in a panic.
Now for the boat. Can you swim
n 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 a hand
on Jim's shoulder. and together they
swan nearer. "Ahoy!" shouted Jim.
Give us a hand!" But the boat with
the large woman in II had put about
to the other side OF the yacht.
Alloy! 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 70 his
companion. Wen catch them on the
other side of the yacht"
II can't swim much in all these
clothes" said Agatha.
Never mind, then. Hold on to the
life preserver and to me-. and well
make II 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
we're audible. with the loose. wild in
fiexion Of the man who is in the
clutch Of an overmastering fear. As
long as there had been work for them
20 do on the ship. they had done II
though sullenly: they had even cor
trolled themselves until the attemp,
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 u 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 oil
the bars came back yer the water
The heart in him stood still with an
unacknowledged fear. Was it possible
they were absolutely leaving them be
hind? Surely there were other boats
He raised his voice and called again
and again. At last one voice. careless
and brutal. called back something In
reply. Jim turned questioning eyes
to the girl beside him. whose pale
face was discernible on the dark wa
ter.
He says the boats are all full"
Then we must hurry and make fol-
the yacht. Where Ii she?"
The Jeanne dare had slipped away
from them into the darkness.
"She was this way. ! thought. Yes
I am sure" said Agatha. pointing into
the night. But though they swan tina,
way. they did not come upon her
They turned q little. and then turned
again, and presently they lost every
sense OF direction.
In all his life Jim was never again
destined to 60 through so black m
hour as that which followed the aban
donment Of the Jeanne dare. His
courage left him. and HIS spirit sani
TO that leaden. choking abyss where
lights did not exist. Since the i'm
mediate object Of saving the ship. for
which he had worked as hard as any
other. had been given up. the next In
Importance was to save the woman
who. for some mysterious reason. had
been aboard. Il was beyond his pow
err OF imagination to suppose that any
other motive OF action could possibly
prevail. even among her cromies.
| That they should leave her to drown.
while they themselves fed to com
narrative safety In a boat. was more
than he could believe.