The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1913-02-07
ling surge Of the water,. an VA. a.

ming surge Of the waters. all was a.
lence. The pale f~orerunners OF dawn
q appeared. Their swim after the
boats OF the Jeanne dare had warm
ed their blood. so that for o 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 a
Test OF endurance for a 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. khe would start into a 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 were
no o cruelty buffeted. but rocked
up n down on It's heaving bosom.
Once. while they were resting" on
the water. Agatha broke a long 81
lence with. II 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 a
Irally. Il am wondering what there Ia
beyond"
I've often wondered. too" said
Jim.
I've sometimes thought. and I've
said 1t. too. that l was crazy to die.
just to see what happens" Agatha
went on. laughing a little at her W
memories. But l find I'm not at all
eager for It. now, when 1t would be
so easy to 60 under and not come up
again. Are you?"
mo, I've never felt eager to die;
least OF all, now"
Agatha wal silent a while.
What do you think death means?
Shall we be we tomorrow. say, pro-
vided We can't keep aioat?' she
asked by and by.
why, yes, l think So" said Jim.
II don't know why or how. but guess
we 20 on somewhere; and | rather
think our best moments here-our
moments OF happiness or heroism. II
we ever have any-are going to be
the regular thing" Jim laughed a
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 just
yet, after her brave fight.
But Agatha wasn't blue. She an
swered th%oughtfully: 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 wait
til enough light came TO enable them
TO reach the Jeanne Dare, II she wal
still af,cat; then to climb aboard and
hunt for provisions and life preserv'
ers or something to use for a raft
II he could do this. then they would
be in a somewhat better plight, al
least for a time. He prayed that the
Jeanne dare might still be afoat.
The two talked little. leaving 81
lcnces between them full OF wonder
: The details of life, the ordinary per
sonalities, we're blotted out. Without
: explanation or speech OF any kind
they understood each other. The!
: were not, In this hour. members o
!, n complex and artificial society: they
we're not ever man and woman: the,
! we're two souls stripped OF everything
. but the need for fortitude and sweet
ness.
AT last came the dawn. Slowl,
the blue curtain OF night lifted, lifted
until Il became the blue curtain o
D sky. endlessly far away and far above
A twinkling star looked down on tn
g cup OF ocean glimmered a momen
and was gone. The light strength
ened. A pearly. ~iridescent quive
came upon the waters. repeating
. itself wave after wave. and heralde'
S the coming of the Lord Sun over tn
S great murmuring sea. AS the ligh
{: grew, they could see a constantly wild
r ening circle OF ocean. OF which the,
e were the center. As they rose an
fell with the waves. the horizon Eel
and rose to their vision. dim and III
defined. Hand In hand they foate
I'm yaporous silver.
r The day has come at last. than
Cod" breathed James.
Eyes. thank God" answered th
girl.
r Are you very coldT'
THE sun will % warm u.s."
n where did you learn to SWIM"
n I'm England. mostly ut the Isle q
Wight. but I'm % half such
dolphin as you are"
" "Oh. well. boys have to swim. 20
a know. and I was q boy once" Jii
answered ~awkwardly. Presently h
. asked. and his voice was full OF awe
: "Have you ever G e the dawn
q dawn like this-beforeT"
= Never one like this" she viii,
a pered.
y CTo BE CoNrINUEp)