The state herald., 1913-05-02

nc saw tnat the groups had gathered
on the port side. Sharp orders were
being given. He crowded to the rail
ing. straining his eyes to see. and
found that they were transferring the
ships company to the boats. A rope
ladder swung from the deck to q boat
beneath. which bobbed like . cork be-
side the big. plunging yacht. Two peo-
pie were In the boat. . sailor standing
at the bow. and large mufned figure
OF woman sitting In the stern. Jim
my at once knew her to be the
apathetic fat woman he had seen a
few minutes before on deck, His eye
searched the company crowded about
the top OF the rope ladder. and sudden
ly his heart leaped. There she was.
at the edge Of the deck, waiting for
the captain to give the word for her to
descend to the boat below As jim
my's eyes grew accustomed to the
darkness, he saw her more and more
plainly, pale face framed in a dark
hood, tall, cloaked figure waiting
calmly to obey the word from the su-
perior officer
1t was the third time Jimmy had
seen her. but he felt as II he had found
one dearer than himself. His eyes
dwelt on her She was not terrified !:
her nerves were not shaken. II am
ready" she said. turning to the cap
tain. 1t was the same fine, free voice.
suggesting-Oh. what did It not sug-
gest! Never this dark, wild night OF
danger! Jimmy thrilled to It again as
he had thrilled to 1t once before. He
waved 1ubilant hands. Agatha Red
mond!" he called. across the space
and heads that divided them.
Whether she heard his call he did
not know. AT tina; moment the word
was given. and she turned an almost
smiling face to the captain In reply
She knelt to the deck and got footing
on the slippery rope. Men above held
1t and helped as best they could. while
the sailor below waited to receive her
into the little boat She was steady
and quick as woman In such a peril
Gus position could be. As she de.
scended. the rowboat. insecurely held
to the Jegnne Dare. slid sternward
a few feet; and while she waited In
midair for the boat to be brought up
again. the Jeanne Dare gave a
mighty plunge. The captain shouted
from the deck. sailor v y>iled. then
another. the dipping sea tossed the
yacht 80 that for an instant the boa,
below and the woman on the ladder
were hidden from Jim's view. He
climbed over the rail and edged alone
the narrow margin OF the deck until
he was = few feet nearer the rope
his heart humping with fear OF
calamity.
And even as the thought came. the
thing happened. The wrenching OF
the ropes. insecurity Of their fasten.
ings. some blunder on the part OF the
seamen-whatever It was. the rope
ioosened like filament OF gauze. and
with It's precious burden. dropped into
the angry water. Before a breath
could be drawn. the black waves
churned over her head.
As. for the second time. Jim saw
disaster engulf the Vision that had
such power over him. he was seized
by cold numbness.
"oh. you brutes!" he groaned
aloud: but his groan had scarcely cs.
capped him when he heard loud alter.
cation among the men. and In a mo.
ment. the usual tones OF Monsieur
Chatclnrd commanding;
Never mind! Quick with the boa,
on tho other sidei"
Tho seamcn rushed 20 the oppos,te
side. now impatient TO make the
boats In tho fear that was growing
momcntly upon tho men. there was
no one to give thought to tho van.
ishcd woman. Jimmy clung to the
rail for second. pccring over tho
water With . cry OF glndness he
saw her pale face rise to the surface
OF the water several feet away and
toward tho bow.
Keep up n second It's all right,''
he shouted. Quick as thought he
snntched life prcservcr from It's
place on the rail. and ran forward.
Ho called thrice. Keep up. I'm com.
ingl" then threw tho cork swiftly
and accurately TO thu very spot whore
she foaicd. A second longer ho
watched TO soc II nho gained II. II
seemed that she did. and yet some.
thing was wrong She was not able
to right herrclf Immediately In the
water. but noundercd hoipicsuiy. Jim.
my know that her clothes were ham.
pcring her. or else that the rope lad.
dor had cntnnglod her feet.
Hc turned and rot his balance on
the narrow ledge. pointed his hands
high above his head. and took n
good breath, Then he dove toward
tho floating face. when he came 10
the surface she was there. no, ten
strokes away He swnm TO bcr.
placed firm hands under her arms,
and steadiod hst while nho cleared
her feet from tho entangilns rope.