Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-04-09
CHAPTER vIIi.-continued.

When daylight came they found
they bad not travelled far from the
scene of the nights disaster; or, If
thew had, the Jeanne A'Arc had drift
ed With them. She was still afoat'
and Just as the sun rose they saw
her. apparently not far away, tossing
rudderless to the waves. There was
nc sign of the ships boats.
At the renewed miracle of light,
and at sight of the yacht, Jirnmy's
hopes were reborn. HIS 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,
Ike d 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.
It was a longer pull to the yacht
than they had counted upon, a heavy
lax on their powers of endurance. Jim
came up to find Agatha floating on her
back and put his hand under her
shoulders, steadying her easily.
Now you can really rest" he said
i've looked toward the horizon so
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 it make yau want to
sing?"
She showed No surprise at the
question.
Yes, it does, almost. But just as
/ thought of the skylarks, I remem-
bered something else; something that
kept haunting me in the darkness all
night
Master in song, good-by, good-by.
Down to the dim sea-line-'
7 thought something or somebody was
Surely lost down in the dim sea-line
last night"
Who can tell? But 1 had a better
thought than yours: Ulysses, like US,
swimming over the 'wine-dark sea-!
Do you remember It? Then two days
AMI two nights on the resistless
waves he drifted; many time his
heart faced DEATH"
That's not a bit better thought
than mine; but l like It And know
what follows, too But when the fair
haired dawn brought the third day,
then the wind ceased; there came a
breathless calm; and close at hand he
spied the coast. as he cast keen
glance forward, upborne on a great
wave That's it, isn't it?'
Il don't know, but l hope it is.
The wine-dark sea and the rosy
fingered dawn are all remember;
though I'm glad you know what comes
next It's a good omen. But look
at the yacht; she's acting strangei"
As the girl turned to her stroke,
their attention was caught and held
Oy the COMMISSIONS OF the Jeanne
Dare. There was a grim fascina-
ton in the sight.
1t was obvious that she was sink
ing While they had been resting,
her hull had sunk toward the water
line her graceful bulk and delicate
masts showing strange against ocean
and sky. Now she suddenly tipped
down at her stern; her bow was
thrown up out OF the water for an
instant, only to be drawn down
again. slowly bat irresistibly. as II
she were pulled by a giants unseen
krand. With q sudden last lurch she
disappeared entirely. and only widen
ing circles fieetingly marked the place
~ her going