Chatelard started toward the hatchway, followed sharply by Jim’s revolver, but at the foot of the ladder he turned his contemptuous, sneering face toward Jim, with the remark: 

“Your words are the words of a fool, you pig of an American!  There is no lady aboard this yacht, and I never so much as heard of your Agatha Redmond.  Otherwise, I’d be pleased to play Mercury to your Venus.”

To Jim’s ears, every syllable the Frenchman spoke was an insult, and the last words rekindled the fire in his blood.

“You shall pay for that speech here and now!” he yelled; and, discarding his revolver, he dealt the Frenchman a short-arm blow.  Chatelard, trying to dodge, tripped over the base of the ladder and went down heavily on the floor of the fo’cas’le.  He had apparently lost consciousness.

As Jim saw his victim stretched on the floor, he turned away with loathing.  He picked up his revolver and went up the ladder.  It was already dark, and confusion reigned on deck.  But through the clamor, Jim made out something near the truth:  the Jeanne D’Arc was leaking badly, and no time was to be lost if she, with her passengers and crew, were to be saved.

CHAPTER VII

THE ROPE LADDER

The near prospect of a conclusive struggle for life is a sharp tonic to the adventurous soul.  The actual final summons to that Other Room is met variously.  There is Earthly Dignity, who answers even this last tap at the door with a fitting and quotable rejoinder; there is Deathbed Repentance, whose unction in momento mortis is doubtless a comfort to pious relatives; and there are Chivalry and Valor, twin youths who go to the unknown banquet singing and bearing their garlands of joy.

But with the chance of a fight for life, there is a sharp-sweet tang that sends some spirits galloping to the contest.  “Dauntless the slughorn to his lips he set—­” making ready for the last good run.

When Jim descended the hatchway after reconnoitering on deck, Chatelard was gone.  The ship’s cook was rummaging in a sailor’s kit that he had drawn from a locker.  Jim mentally considered the situation.  The seamen had no doubt exaggerated the calamity, but without question there was serious trouble.  Were the pumps working?  How far were they from shore?  If hopelessly distant from shore, were they in the course of passing steamers?  Would any one look after Miss Redmond’s safety?  Monsieur Chatelard had said that she was not on board, but James did not believe it.

While these thoughts new through his mind, James had been absently watching while the cook turned his treasures out upon his bunk, and pawed them over with trembling hands.  There were innumerable little things, besides a stiff white shirt, a cheap shiny Bible, a stuffed parrot and several wads of clothes.  And among the mess Jim caught sight of a piece of stitched canvas that looked familiar.