before he 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,
furnishings 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 gone. Sick at heart, he
again rushed on deck. Was he mistaken, after all? Or had they hidden
her in some secret part of the ship where he could not find her?

When Jimmy got back to the deck he saw that the groups had gathered on
the port side. Sharp orders were being given. He crowded to the
railing, straining his eyes to see, and found that they were
transferring the ship's company to the boats, A rope ladder swung from
the deck to a boat beneath, which bobbed like a cork beside, the big,
plunging yacht. Two people were in the boat, a sailor standing at the
bow, and a large muffled figure of a woman sitting in the stern. Jimmy
at once knew her to be the apathetic fat woman he had seen a few
minutes before on deck. His eye searched the company crowded about the
top of the rope ladder, and suddenly his heart leaped. There she was,
at the edge of the deck, waiting for the captain to give the word for
her to descend to the boat below. As Jimmy's eyes grew accustomed to
the darkness, he saw her more and more plainly: a pale face framed in a
dark hood, a tall, cloaked figure waiting calmly to obey the word from
the superior officer.

It was the third time Jimmy had seen her, but he felt as if he had
found one dearer than himself. His eyes dwelt on her. She was not
terrified; her nerves were not shaken. "I am ready," she said, turning
to the captain. It was the same fine, free voice, suggesting--Oh, what
did it not suggest! Never this dark, wild night of danger! Jimmy
thrilled to it again as he had thrilled to it once before. He waved
jubilant hands. "Agatha Redmond!" he called, across the space and
heads that divided them.

Whether she heard his call he did not know. At that moment the word
was given, and she turned an almost smiling face to the captain in
reply. She knelt to the deck and got footing on t