Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-05-09
CHAPTER ViI.-Contlnued.


There followed hours Of s~uperhuman
struggle to save the Jeanne DArc.
Her crew, sufficient in ordinary wealth
pr, was tco small to cope with the
storm and the leaking ship. Ballast
had to be shifted or flung overheard.
Repairs had to be worked necessarily.
It transpired that the yacht had gone
Tar out Of her course during the fog
the night before, and had tried to turn
knshore. even before the leak was dis
severed. No one knew what waters
they were that dashed so furiously
kbout the disabled craft. The storm
overhead had abated. but the rage OF
he sea was unquelled. Before long
tAe engine was stopped by the rising
water, and then the hand pumps were
nsed. There was some hope that the
leak had been discovered and at least
bartly repaired. The captain thought
hat, II carefully managed. the yacht
might hold till daylight.
Jimmy joined the gang and worked
hike a trojan. helping wherever q man
was needed, shifting ballast, untack-
hing the boats, handling the pump. It
was at the pump that he found himself
some time during the night. working
~sndlessly, it seemed. Not once had
ne lost sight Of the real purpose of his
presence on the yacht. II Agatha Red
Emond we're aboard the unlucky vessel
and he had moments Of curious per-
plexity about the was there to watch
Efor her safety. He pictured her sit
ring somewhere in the endangered YES
sel. She could not but be terrified at
her p~redicament. Whether shipwreck
or abduction threatened her. she must
ifeel that she had indeed fallen into
the hands Of her enemies. He worked
his turn at the pump, then made up his
mind to risk no further delay. but to
search the ships cabins. She was in
one Of them, he believed; frightened
she must be, possibly Ill. He had
done all that the furthest stretch Of
duty could demand in assistance to
the ship. He would find Agatha Red
,mond at any cost, II she were aboard
the Jeanne Dare. Again he thought
to himself that he was glad he was
there. Whatever purpose her enc
mics had, he alone was on her side.
he alone could do something to save
her.
1t was now long past midnight, but
mot pitch dark either on deck or on the
sea-. The electric lights had gone out
bong before, but lanterns had been
swung here and there from the deck
fixtures. AS Jimmy came up. he
thought the men were prepar-
lng to lower the boats, but when
he asked about 1t in his diff
uicult French, the sailor shook his
head. There were more people about
than he supposed the yacht carried;
seversi seamen, three or four other
men, and a fat woman sitting apath-
etically on a pile of rope. He went
from group to group. and from end
10 end Of the yacht, looking for one
woman;s face and figure. He saw
Monsieur Chatelard, examining one Of
the boats. He ran down the saloon
stairway, determined to search the
cabins before he gave up his quest
One moment he prayed that the words
of Chatelard might be true, and that
abe had never been aboard the yacht;
the next moment he prayed he might
and her behind the next closed door.
AS James searched below deck. q
house palatial disclosed itself. even in
the dim light Of the little lanterns
Cabins roomy and comfortable, fur
nishings Of exquisite taste. all the
paraphernalia of the cultured and the
itch were there. Some of the cabin
doors were standing open, and none
was locked. Jimmy beat or them
called from room to room. finding
nothing. Every human occupant was
zone. Sick at heart, he again rushed
on deck. Was he mistaken after all
or had they hidden her in some BE
cret part Of the ship where he coult
not hnd her?
Wkss Jimmy got back to the decl