The state herald., 1913-05-02
ming surge of the waters, all was 81.

lence. The pale forerunners of dawn
had appeared. Their swim after the
boats Of the Jeanne Dare had warm
ed their blood, SO that for a while
they were not conscious of the chill
OF the water But as the minutes
heightened one by one. fatigue and
cold numbed their bodies. 1t was q
test OF endurance for strong man;
as for the girl. Jim wondered at her
strength and courage. She swan
superbly. with unhurried. steady
strokes. II she grew chatteringly
cold. she would start into vigorous
swim, shoulder to shoulder with
James. II she lost her breath with
the hard exercise. she would take his
hand, so as not to lose you." she
would say, and rest on the breast
of the waves. The wind dropped and
the sea grew quiet, SO that they we're
no more cruelty buffeted, but rocked
up and down on its heaving bosom.
Once. while they were resting" on
the water. Agatha broke long ST.
lence with, 81 wonder" but did not
at once say what she wondered at.
Jim said nothing. but she knew he
was waiting and listening.
Suppose this should be the Great
Gateway" she said at last. very
lowly. but quite cheerfully and nat
Irally. II am wondering what there II
beyond"
i've often wondered. too," said
Jim.
I've sometimes thought. and I've
said 1t, too, that / was crazy to die.
Just to see what happens" Agatha
went on. laughing little at her own
memories. But find I'm not at all
eager for It, now. when 1t would be
/ so easy to go under and not come up
again Are your"
mo. I've never felt eager to die:
, least Of all, now"
Agatha was silent a while.
What do you think death means
Shall we be we tomorrow. say. pro
I vided we can't keep afioat?" she
!, asked by and by.
why, yes, think So" said Jim
II don't know why or how. but guess
1 we go on somewhere: and | rather
think our best moments here-our
, moments OF happiness or heroism. II
a we ever have any-are going to be
the regular thing" Jim laughed
, little, partly at his own lame ending
, and partly because he felt Agatha's
, hand closing more tightly over his
, He didn't want her to get blue tus'
. yet, after her brave fight.
But Agatha wasn't blue. She an
, swered thoughtfully: THAT isn't {
a bad idea" and then cheerfully turned
to a consideration of the possibilities
Of a rescue at dawn.
James had evolved a plan to wal
:, til enough light came to enable then
/ to reach the Jeanne Dare, II she wa
Il still pfioat: then to climb aboard an,
hunt for provisions and life presery
: ers or something to use for a raft
II he could do this. then they woul
be in a somewhat better plight, a
, least for time. He prayed that tn
Jeanne Dare might still be aaoat
= The two talked little. leaving 81
u iences between them full OF wonder
T The details OF life. the ordinary per
sonallties. were blotted out. Withou
explanation or speech OF any kind
they understood each other. The,
J. were not, in this hour. members o
n n complex and artificial society: the,
e we're not even man and woman; the,
d we're two souls stripped OF everything
e but the need for fortitude and swee,
e ness.
= AT last came the dawn. Slowl,
the blue curtain OF night lifted. lifted
u until Il became the blue curtain o
o sky. endlessly far away and far above
s A twinkllng star looked down on tn
c cup OF ocean. glimmered momen
/. and was gone. The light strength
ened. A pearly. iridescent quive
/. came upon the waters, repeating
n itself wave after wave. and heralde'
$ the coming OF the Lord Sun over tn
= great murmuring sea As the ligh
/: grew, they could see constantly wild
r oning circle OF ocean. OF which the
G weree the center. As they rose an
fell with the waves. the horizon fel
i and rose TO their vision. dim and un
q defined. Hand In hand they noa,e'
). IN yaporous silver
r "The day has come Mt last. thanl
r Cod" brcathed James.
il "Yts. thank Cod" answered tn
/. girl.
r Are you very cold7"
n THE sun will soon warm US"
n where did you learn to swimr"
n In England. mostly at the Isle o
Wight. but I'm not half such
dolphin ms you are"
/, "oh. well. boys have to swim, yo'
O know. and was boy once" jim
N answered awkwardly Presently HI
g asked. and his voice was full OF awe
: "Havc you ever seen tho dawn
a dawn like thiH-bcforeT"
Never one like thin." she whir
n persd.
. ITO DE cosTisuEp)