Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-02-20
CHAPTER vIII.--continued.

WheL daylight came. they found
they bad not travelled far from the
scene of the nights disaster; or. If
they had, the Jeanne A'Arc had drift
ed with them. She was still afioat,
and Just as the sun rose they saw
her. apparently not far away, tossing
rudderless to the waves. There was
no sign of the ships boats
At the renewed miracle of light,
and at sight of the yacht, Jimmy
hopes were reborn. His spirit bathed
in the wonder of the day and was
made strong again. The night with
It's horrors of struggle and its dark
ness was past, forgotten in the flush
of hope that came with the light
Together they struck out toward
the yacht. fresh with new courage.
Now that he could see plainly, Jim
swan always little behind Agatha,
keeping a watchful eye. She still
took the water CALAMITY, nose and
closed mouth just topping the wave,
like a spaniel An occasional side
stroke would bring her face level to
the water. with backward smile for
her companion. He gloried in her
spirit, even while he feared for her
strength
1t was longer pull to the yacht
than they had counted upon, heavy
tax on their powers of endurance. Jim
came up to find Agatha floating on her
back and put his hand under her
shoulders, steadying her easily.
Now you can really rest" he said.
I've looked toward the horizon SO
long, thought I'd look up, way up,
for a change" she said cheerfully.
That's where the skylarks go, when
they want to straight up into
heayen!"
Doesn't it make you want to
sing?"
She showed no surprise at the
question
Yes, 1t does, almost. But just as
! thought of the skylarks, remem-
bered something else; something that
kept haunting me in the darkness all
night
Master in song. good-by, good-by.
l thought something or somebody was
surely lost down in the dim sea-line'
last night"
Who can tell? But | had a better
thought than yours: Ulysses, like us.
swimming over the 'wine-dark sea-.
DO you remember it? Then two days
AMI two nights on the resistless
waves he drifted; many a time his
heart faced DEATH"
That's not a bit better thought
than mine; but / like it. And | know
what follows, too. But when the fair
haired dawn brought the third day.
then the wind ceased; there came a
GREATNESS calm; and close at hand he
spied the coast. as he cast a keen
glance forward, upborne on a great
wave That's it. isn't it,"
don't know, but l hope it is,
The wine-dark sea and the ROSY.
fingered dawn are all 1 remember.
though I'm glad you know what comes
next. It's good omen But look
at the yacht; she's acting strange!"
As the girl turned to her stroke.
'iANAA HNSCRAbAOA " do caught ana R0l0
by the commissions OF the Jeanne
Dare. There was a grim fasc!na.
ton in the sight.
1t was obvious that she was sink.
Ing While they had been resting
he's hull had sunk toward the water.
line, her graceful bulk and delicate
masts showing strange against ocean
and sky. Now she suddenly tipped
down at her stern; her bow was
thrown up out of the water So an
Instant. only to be drawn down
again, slowly but irresistibly, as II
she we're pulled by giants unseen
hand With sudden last lurch she
disappeared entirely. and only widen
ing circles ieetinsly marked the place
OF her going e,