The Stolen Singer

afloat in th

preserver. But the rope scared me for

way from the boats, and should swim

this cloak. Which way is the

d on my shoulder and I'll take you

none of the terrified clutching at a rescuer which sometimes causes disaster to two instea

could follow, partially, what was going on. Miss Redmond cast loose her cloak, put a hand on Jim's shoulder, and together they swam nearer. "Ahoy!" shouted Jim. "Give us a hand!" But the boat with

is companion. "We'll catch them

in all these clot

-like, on the starboard side of the yacht, and were quickly filled with men. Prayers and curses were audible, with the loose, wild inflexion of the man who is in the clutch of an overmastering fear. As long as there had been work for them to do on the ship, they had done it, though sullenly; the

over the water. The heart in him stood still with an unacknowledged fear. Was it possible they were absolutely leaving them behind? Surely there were other boats. He raised his voice and called ag

e boats are

and make for the y

slipped away from t

ight. But though they swam that way, they did not come upon her. They turned a

. Since the immediate object of saving the ship, for which he had worked as hard as any other, had been given up, the next in importance was to save the woman who, for some mysterious reason, had been aboard. It was beyond his power

an it; they must retur

nscious of the paralyzing despair in her compan

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 w

ne knows where. We may drift for days-we may st

nd laid her hand on Jim's shoulder, until he looked i

ff, for my part, as you see. Can swim or rest floating, thanks to this blessed cork thing, and not at all

laughed at herself as she did it. "Not exactly a bathing suit, but this one black skirt will have to do.

ed from the entanglement of so many clothes, she was as much at home in the water a

air, 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 r

ered with the wheel, I think. At any rate, she sa

are within a mile or two, say, of the shore, c

en swimming alone. It must be near morning, too, and that's alw

ite of the direfulness of their situation. But bad as the situation was, and would be in

ser to her, trying to read her face. "It was a long night of

em." Again there was the laugh in her voice, under all its seriousness, even when she add

ction, her treatment on board the yacht, her relation to Monsieur Chatelard-it was all a mystery, but he could not, at that moment, s

" she sa

hould he have abandoned her when there was plainly some chance of safety in the boats? He could not conceive of Monsieur Chatelard's risking his neck in an affair of gallantry; cupidity alone would account for his part in the drama. James went over and over the situation, as far as he understood it, but he did

s, all was silence. The pale forerunners of dawn had appeared. Their swim after the boats of the Jeanne D'Arc had warmed their blood, so that for a while they were not conscious of the chill of the water. But as the minutes lengthened, one by one, fatigue and cold numbed their bodies. It was a test of endurance for a strong man; as for the girl, Jim wondered at her strength and courage. She swam superbly, w

silence with, "I wonder-" but did not at once say what she wondere

aid at last, very slowly, but quite cheerfully an

wondered, to

happens," Agatha went on, laughing a little at her own memories. "But I find I'm not at al

lt eager to die; l

as silen

we be we to-morrow, say, provided we c

oments of happiness or heroism, if we ever have any-are going to be the regular thing." Jim laughed a little, partly at his own lame endin

at isn't a bad idea," and then cheerfully turned to a

; then to climb aboard and hunt for provisions and life preservers or something to use for a raft. If he could do this, t

t. Without explanation or speech of any kind, they understood each other. They were not, in this hour, members of a complex and artif

was gone. The light strengthened. A pearly, iridescent quiver came upon the waters, repeating itself wave after wave, and heralded the coming of the Lord Sun over the great murmuring sea. As the light grew, they could

at last, thank God

God!" answer

ou ver

will soon

you learn

sle of Wight, but I'm not ha

im answered awkwardly. Presently he asked, and his voice was ful

ike this," s

they had, the Jeanne D'Arc had drifted with them. She was still afloat, and just as the sun rose they

irit bathed in the wonder of the day and was made strong again. The night with its horrors of

ng a watchful eye. She still took the water gallantly, nose and closed mouth just topping the wave, like a spaniel. An occasional side-stroke w

tax on their powers of endurance. Jim came up to find Agatha floating

n really re

, way up, for a change," she said cheerfully. "That's where th

make you w

surprise at

he skylarks, I remembered something else; somethi

song, good

the dim

dy was surely lost down in 't

ming over the 'wine-dark sea'! Do you remember it? 'Then two days and two ni

air-haired dawn brought the third day, then the wind ceased; there came a breathless calm; and close at

ngered dawn' are all I remember; though I'm glad you know what comes

was caught and held by the convulsions of the Jean

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 but irresistibly,

e. When it was all over Agatha turned to her companion with a lon

anyway!" He loved her anew for that spe

t his raft, too!"

island, 'that seemed a shield laid on the misty sea.' Let's look hard

arder; you are

he thought of what a fright I must look

all righ

ght lie; and when they had argued about it, they set out to swim a certain way. In their hearts each felt that any calculation was futile, but the

ame to them again presently. James, treading

hich means land!" He sniff

to see how far away it was. Fatigue and anxiety were taking their toll of his vigor. Neither one had breath to spare even for exultation that the land was in sight. Little by little Agatha grew more quiet, though not less brave. It took all her strength t

on James, mutely asking him for help. He watched her

on nicely, if I just rest

on his shoulder and carried her along with his stronger stroke. She was reassured by his stre

d happen to you, and I be left alone! Or what if I should get pani

ou alone, and you're

ut could only sa

d finding that Jim had disappeared. He had suddenly dived, without giving her warning. He

ome; I can swim and take you, too, easily. And now

to utter a word. Jim saw her stiff lips move in

keep up! Don't lose for a moment the thought that you are near land, that

r best, and more. She struggled for a few half-conscious moments; then suddenly her arms grew limp, her eyes closed, and h

on land would make a strong man stagger. One must watch one's burden, to guard against mishap; one m

thought that his companion had perhaps gone "down to the dim sea-line" in very truth. She had been so brave, so strong. She h

fective; his muscles ached with the strain; now and then a strange whirring and dizziness in his head caused him to wonder dimly whether he we

ng land or wholly unable to regather his force. The dizziness increased, and a sharp pain in his eyeballs recurred again and again. He could no longer see the land; it seemed to him that it was blood, not brine, that spurted from nose and mout

struggle any more. Rest and respite from excruciating effort were to be had for the taking-why had he withstood them so long? The sea rocked him, the surge fil

e earth once more beneath his feet, but he could not stand. He fell face forward into the water again at his first attempt; and again the strong hand pulled him

nd a parching thirst. He groped around in a delirious search for water, which he did not find; he pressed his head and limbs against the eart