The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1913-02-07

Surrey they DC not mean II; they
must return. for you. at least"
"a girl beside him knew better.
but she was conscious OF the paralyz-
ing despair OF her companions heart,
and made q show OF being cheerful.
Whom they find they are safe they
may think of u.s." she said. But the
men were already crazed with fear.
even before the leak was discovered.
One OF their mates on the voyage
over was q fortune-teller, and he
prophesied danger to them all on their
next trip. After they had come into
port, the fortune-teller himself died.
And who can blame them for their
fear? They are all superstitious; and
as no one ever regarded their fears.
now they have no regard for any
body's feelings but their own"
But we are In the middle OF the
Atlantic. no one knows where. We
may drift for days-we may starve-
the Lord only knows what will hap
pen to us!"
Agatha, who had been floating.
swan a little nearer and laid her
nand on Jim's shoulder. until he
looked into her face. 1t was full OF
strength and brightness.
The sea Is His Also" she quoted
gently. Besides. we may get picked
up she went On. I'm very well OF.
Tor my part, as you see. Can swim
or rest floating. thanks to this blessed
cork thing, and not at all hurt by the
fall from the rope. But I must get
rio OF my shoes and some of my
Clothes. IL ] have to swim"
IL Is. awkward to kick of one's
shoes and divest oneself OF
sary clothing In the water. and
Agatha laughed at herself as she did
It, Not exactly a bathing suit. but
this one black skirt will have to do.
The others must go. II was my skirts
that caused the mischief with the
rore at first. And I was scared!"
You had a right to be-" Jim helped
her keep afoat. and presently he saw
that. freed from the ENHANCEMENT OF
30 many clothes. she was rs much
at home In the water as he. Sud.
denly she turned to him, caught by
some recollection that almost eluded
her.
i don't think we are anywhere
near the middle OF the Atlantic" she
said thoughtfully. James was silent,
eating the bitter bread of despair, in
spite of the woman's brave wish to
comfort him. They were swimming
slowly as they talked, still hoping to
reach the yacht. They rose on the
breast OF the waves. paused now and
then till a quieter moment came. and
always kept near each other In the
pale blue darkness.
old Sophie said something-that
some n had tempered with the
wheel. / think. At any rate. she said
we'd never get far from shore with
this crew."
James considered the case. But
even suppose we are within a mile
or two. say, Of the shore, could you
ever swim two miles in this heavy
sea-"
1T is growing calmer every min
ute. See. I can do very well, even
swimming alone. II must be neal
morning. too, and that's always 9
good thing" There was the shadow
Of a laugh in her voice.
Morning? That depends" growi
cd Jim. He was being soothed IL
spite of himself, and In spite of tn,
direfulnes of their situation. But bat
as THE situation was. and would b.
in any case. he could not deny tn
proposition that morning and day
light would make II better.
"Hut aren't YOU tired already? Yo,
must be-" James turned closer I,
her, trying to read her face. 1T wa
a long night OF anxiety. eve befor,
we left the boat. Weren't you fright
ened?"
Yes. OF course: but I've been get
ting used to rights of late. II one cal
get used to them" Again there wa
the laugh in her voice. under all IL
seriousness. ever when she added
I'm not sure that this isn't safe
than being on board the Jeann
Dare, after ALL"
II was characteristic OF James tina
he forbode to take advantage of tn
opening this speech offered. TIE pos
sible reason of her abduction, he
. treatment on board the yacht. he
relation to Monsieur Chatelard--i
was all a mystery. but he could no,
at that moment. seek to solve IL. He
remark remained unanswered for
little time: at last he said: The,
: the Jeanne Dare must have bee
pretty bad"
1T was" she said simply.
Jim wondered whether she kne,
more about the crime OF which sh
, was the victim than he knew. or
she had discovered aught c~oncernin
It while she was a prisoner on tn
yacht. Granting that her person wa
30 valuable that o man Of Monsieu
Chatelard's caliber would commit
crime to get possession OF It. VIII
should he have abandoned her whel
there was plainly some chance O
safety In the boats? He could no
~~r.cSva ~ Mnuaiaur Nh,tato.S,