Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-05-09

must AeAuAut AOI you, ~ leas|
The girl beside him knew better,
but she was conscious Of the paralyE-
ing despair Of her companions heart.
and made a show Of being cheerful.
When 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 vas discovered.
One Of their mates on the voyage
over was a 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, nc 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
hand 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 we'll off,
for 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 l must get
rid Of my shoes and some Of my
clothes. II ! have to SWIM"
1t Is awkward to kick of ones
shoes and divest oneself Of unneces-
sary clothing in the water, and
Agatha laughed at herself as she did
1t. Not exactly a bathing suit. but
this n black skirt will have to do.
The others must go. It was my skirts
that caused the mischief with the
rope at first And l vas 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 as 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. ir
spite Of the woman's brave wish tc
comfort him. They we're swimming
slowly as they talked, still hoping tc
reach the yacht. They rose on the
breast Of the waves, paused now ant
then till a quieter moment came, ant
always kept near each other in thu
pale blue darkness.
"Old Sophie said something-tha
some n had tempered with thu
wheel, I think. At any rate. she sail
we'd never get far from shore will
this crew."
James considered the case. "Bu
even suppose we are within a mil,
or two, say. of the shore, could yo1
ever swim two miles in this heav,
seal"
1T 10 growing calmer every mir
ute. See. I car do very well, eve
swimming alone. It must be nea
morning, too. and that's always
good thing" There w>s the shadov
of q laugh in her voice.
Morning? That depends" growl
ed Jim. He was being soothed II
spite of himself. and In spite Of tn
direfulnes of their situation. But ba'
az the situation was, and would b
in any case, he could not deny tn
proposition that morning and day
light would make It better.
But aren't you tired already7 YoI
must be-" James turned closer u
her. trying to read her face. 1T wa
q long night of anxiety. ever befor
we left the boat. Weren't you fright
ened?"
Yes, Of course; but I've been gel
ting used to rights Of late. II one cal
get used to them" Again there wa
the laugh In her voice, under all 1t
seriousness, even when she added
I'm not sure that this isn't safe
than being on board the Jeann
D'Arc, after ALI"
It was characteristic Of James tina
he forbode to take advantage of tn
|, opening this speech offered. The poi
sible reason of her abduction, he
treatment on board the yacht, he
relation to Monsieur Chatelard-i
was all a mystery, but he could MOI
at that moment, seek to solve 1t. He
| remark remained unanswered for
, little time; at last he said: The
: the Jeanne Dare must have bee
. pretty bad"
i 1T was" she said simply.
} Jim wondered whether she knee
, 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
so valuable that a man Of Monsieu
r Chatelard's caliber would commit
crime to get possession of It. VIII
= should he have abandoned her whe
there was plainly some chance
safety In the boats? He could M
conceive Of Monsieur Chatelard
{ risking his neck in an affair of ga