The state herald., 1913-05-09

fascinated eyes. nlled with awe. Whsn
It was all over Agatha turned to her
companion with a long-drawn breath.
Jim looked - one looks whose last
hope has failed.
Il could never havc let you 60
aboard. anyway!" He loved her anew
for that speech. but knew not how
to meet her eyes.
We'll. Ulysses lost his raft tool"
he managed to say.
He saw the sunrise. too. Just -
We have seen 1t; and he saw distant
island, that seemed a shield laid
on the misty sea- Let's look hard
now. each time the wave lifts us.
Perhaps We also shall see an island"
I'VE must swim harder: you arc
chilled through"
-Oh. no." she laughed. II shiv-
cred at the thought Of what fright
I must look. / always did hate to
get my hair wet"
You look all right to me-"
They were able to laugh. and %
kept up heart. They tried to calcu.
late the direction the yacht had
taken when she left port. and where
the land might lie: and when they
had argued about It. they set out to
swim . certain way. In their hearts
each felt that any calculation was
futile. but they pretended to be In
earnest. They could not $50 far. but
they created for themselves q goal
and worked toward 1t. which 10 Of
itself a happiness.
30 they watched and waited. ages
long. Hope came to them again
presently. James, trcading water.
thrust up his head and scented the
air.
means land!" He smiled again. Yes,
decidedly"
A moment later It was there. BE-
fore their vision-that shield laid on
the misty sea" which was the land.
Only It was not like q shield. but a
rocky spit Of coast land. with ar
trees farther back. James made for
the nearest point. though his heart
shrank to see how far away It was.
Fatigue and anxiety were taking
their toll OF his vigor. Neither
one had breath to spare even for ex.
ultation that the land was In sight.
Little by little Agatha grew more
quiet, though not less brave. II took
all her strength to fght the water
that mighty element which indifYer.
entity supports or engulfs the human
atom. II she feared. she made no
sign. Bravely she kept her heart. and
carefully she saved her strength.
swimming slowly. resting often. and
wasting no breath IN talk.
But more and moro frequently her
eyes rested wistfully on James. mute.
ly asking him for help. He watched
her minute by minute. often begging
her to let him help her.
"oh. no. not yet; can go on nicely.
II Just rest little. There-thank
you"
Once she looked at him with such
her hands. placed them on his shoul.
der and carried her along with his
stronger stroke. She was reassured
by his strength. and presently she
slipped away from him. smiling con.
f,dentiy agnin ~ she swan along.
side.
I'm nil right now: but ! suddenly
thought. what II anything should hap
pen to you. and be left alone! Or
what " ! should get panicky and
clutch you and drag you down. the
way people do somctimesl"
But I shan't leave you alone. and
you're not going to DO that!"
Agatha smiled. but could only say.
II hope mott"
She forged ahead a little. and pros.
entity had another moment OF fright
on looking round and finding that Jim
had disappeared. He had suddenly
dived, without giving her warning. He
came up n second later. pufY,ng and
splitting the bitter brine: but his face
wns radiant
Rocks and scnwccdi" he cried.
Tho land IL near. Come; can
swim and take you. too. esiiiy. And
now know certainly Just which way
10 no. Come, comet"
Agatha heard II all. but this time
she was unable TO utter n word. Jim
saw her stin lips move In an effort
TO smile or speak. but he heard no
voice.
Keep up. keep up. dear xiri'" be
cried. Wen soon bc therc. Try.
try 10 keep up' Don't lose for a
moment the thought that you arc near
land. that you are almost there. We
arc safo. you can 20 on-only = few
moments morc'"
Poor Agatha strovc NJ Jim bsde
her. calamity. hearing his voice ~
through u thicksninE wall: but she
had already done her best. and more.
shs struggled for . few halfeonncious
| mnfnania. Ihnn auddenlY hnr nrmn