River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-02-06
CHAPTER viI.-contlnued.

There followed hours of superhuman
struggle to save the Jeanne DArc.
Tier crew, sufficient in ordinary wealth
er. was too small to cope with the
storm and the leaking ship. Ballast
had to be shifted or flung overheard.
Repairs had to be worked necessarily.
Ik transpired that the yacht had gone
far out Of her course during the fog
the night before, and had tried to turn
inshOre. even before the leak was dis
covered. No one knew what waters
they were that dashed so furiously
about the disabled craft. The storm
overhead had abated, but the rage of
the sea was unquelled. Before long
the engine was stopped by the rising
water. and then the hand pumps were
used There was some hope that the
leak had been discovered and at least
partly repaired The captain thought
that, if carefully managed. the yacht
might hold till daylight.
Jimmy joined the gang and worked
like a trojan, helping wherever a man
was needed, shifting ballast, untack-
ling the boats, handling the pump. 1t
was at the pump that he found himself
some time during the night, working
endlessly. it seemed. Not once had
he lost sight of the real purpose of his
presence on the yacht II Agatha Red
mond were aboard the unlucky vessel
and he had moments OF curious per-
DleXfty about it-he was there to watch
for her safety. He pictured her sit
ting somewhere in the endangered YES
sci. She could not but be terrified at
her predicament Whether shipwreck
or abduction threatened her, she must
feel that she had indeed fallen into
the hands of her enemies. He worked
his turn at the pump, then made up his
mind to risk no further delay, but to
search the ships cabins. She was in
one of them, he believed; frightened
she must be, possibly ill., He had
done all that the furthest stretch of
duty could demand in assistance to
the ship. He would find Agatha Red
mond at any cost, if she were aboard
the Jeanne Dare. Again he thought
to himself that he was glad he was
there. Whatever purpose her enc
mics had, he alone was on her side,
he alone could do something to save
her.
1t was now long past midnight, but
not pitch dark either on deck or on the
sea. The electric lights had gone out
long before, but lanterns had been
swung here and there from the deck
Hyt11roa 40 Tim NV ooroo OD ba
thought the men were prepar-
ing to lower the boats, but when
he asked about it in his diff
ficuIt French. the sailor shook his
head There were more people about
than he supposed the yacht carried;
several seamen, three or four other
men, and a fat woman sitting apath-
eticaily on a pile of rope. He went
from group to group, and from end
to end of the yacht, looking for one
woman's face and figure. He saw
Monsieur Chatelard, examining one Of
the boats He ran down the saloon
stairway, determined to search the
cabins before ne gave up his quest.
One moment he prayed that the words
OF Chatelard might be true, and that
she had never been aboard the yacht;
the next moment he prayed he might
find her behind the next closed door
AS James searched below deck. a
house palatial disclosed itself, even in
the dim light of the little lanterns.
Cabins roomy and comfortable. fur
nishings Of exquisite taste, all the
paraphernalia OF the cultured and the
rich were there. Some of the cabin
doors were standing open, and none
was locked, Jimmy beat on them.
called from room to room, finding
nothing. Every human occupant was