Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-05-16
CHAPTER vIIi.-ContInued.

When daylight came, they found
they had not travelled far from the
scene Of the nights disaster; or, II
they had, the Jeanne A'Arc had drift
I'd With them. She was still afloat,
and Just as the sun rose they saw
her, apparently not far away, tossing
vudderless to the waves. There was
10 sign Of the ships boats.
At the renewed miracle OF light,
Ind at sight of the yacht, Jimmy's
hopes were reborn. Ais spirit bathed
IN the wonder Of the day and was
made strong again. The night with
its 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 a 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 a backward smile for
her companion. He gloried In her
spirit, even while he feared for her
strength.
1t was q longer pull to the yacht
than they had counted upon, a heavy
tax on their powers Of endurance. Jim
came up ITO find Agatha floating On her
back ard put his hand under her
%Dhoulcers, steadying her easily.
"Now you can really rest" he said
"I've looked toward the horizon 90
long, l thought I'd look up. way up
for a change" she said cheerfully
that's where the skylarks go, when
they want to sing-straight up into
heaven!"
Doesn't 1t make you want to
singr"
She showed no surprise at the
question.
"Yes, 1t does, almost. But Just az
thought Of the skylarks, I remem
bered something else; something that
kept haunting me In the darkness al
night
Master in song. good-by. good-by
Down to the dim sea-line-
thought something or somebody wal
surely lost down In the dim. sea-line
last night"
"Who can tell? But l had a better
thought than yours: Ulysses, like US
swimming over the 'wine-dark Sec!
do you remember 1t? Then two day.
and two nights on the resistles.
waves he drifted: many q time hi
heart faced DEATH"
That's not q bit better though
than mine; but I like 1t. And l know
what follows, too. But when the fair
haired dawn brought the third day
then the wind ceased; there came
breathless calm; and close at hand b.
spied the coast. as he cast a keeI
glance forward, upborne on q grsa
wave That's 1t, isn't 1T"
II don't know, but I hope II is
The wine-dark sea- and the rosy
tUuBCIou .u4WA 0LC oh ! AcuouuUcI
though I'm glad you know what come
next. It's q good omen. But lool
at the yacht; she's acting strange!"
As the girl turned to her stroke
their attention was caught and he'll
BY the commissions Of the Jeann'
lD'Arc. There was q grim fasc!ns
ton In the sight
It was obvious that she was sink
ing. While they had been resting
her hull had sunk toward the water
line, her graceful bulk and delicat
masts showing strange against oceal
and sky. Now she suddenly dppe'
down at her stern; her bow wa
thrown up out of the water for Al
instant, only to be drawn dow
again, slowly but irresistibly. as
she were pulled by a giants unset
hand. With q sudden last lurch sh
disappeared entirely. and only wider
Ina circles fSotingiy marked the plsc
e her going.