the cruise of the jasper b.-第15部分

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〃God！his　wounds！〃　cried　the　Doctor；　starting　forward。　　As

Farnsworth　had　feared；　they　had　broken　open　and　were　bleeding

again。　　〃It's　a　ticklish　thing；〃　said　Farnsworth；　rumpling　his

hair。　〃If　I　give　him　enough　sedative　to　keep　him　quiet　his　heart

may　stop　any　time。　　If　I　don't；　he'll　thrash　himself　to　pieces　in

his　delirium　before　the　day's　over。〃



But　Cleggett　scarcely　heeded　the　Doctor。　　The　reference　to

〃Loge's〃　skull　had　flashed　a　sudden　light　into　his　mind。　

Whatever　else　〃Loge〃　was；　Cleggett　had　little　doubt　that　〃Loge〃

was　the　tall　man　with　the　stoop　shoulders　and　the　odd；　skull…

shaped　scarfpin；　for　whom　he　had　conceived　at　first　sight　such　a

tingling　hatredthe　same　fellow　who　had　so　ruthlessly　manhandled

the　flaxen…haired　Heinrich　on　the　roof　of　the　verandah　the　day

before。





CHAPTER　X



IN　THE　ENEMY'S　CAMP



At　seven　o'clock　that　morning　five　big…bodied　automobile　trucks

rolled　up　in　a　thundering　procession。　　As　they　hove　in　sight　on

the　starboard　quarter　and　dropped　anchor　near　the　Jasper　B。；

Cleggett　recalled　that　this　was　the　day　which　Cap'n　Abernethy　had

set　for　getting　the　sticks　and　sails　into　the　vessel。　　In　the

hurry　and　excitement　of　recent　events　aboard　the　ship　he　had

almost　forgotten　it。



A　score　of　men　scrambled　from　the　trucks　and　began　to　haul　out　of

them　all　the　essentials　of　a　shipyard。　　Wheel；　rudder；　masts；

spars；　bowsprit；　quantities　of　rope　and　cable　followedin　fact；

every　conceivable　thing　necessary　to　convert　the　Jasper　B。　from　a

hulk　into　a　properly　rigged　schooner。　　Cleggett；　with　a　pith　and

brevity　characteristic　of　the　man；　had　given　his　order　in　one

sentence。



〃Make　arrangements　to　get　the　sails　and　masts　into　her　in　one

day；〃　he　had　told　Captain　Abernethy。



It　was　in　the　same　large　and　simple　spirit　that　a　Russian　Czar

once　laid　a　ruler　across　the　map　of　his　empire　and；　drawing　a

straight　line　from　Moscow　to　Petersburg；　commanded　his　engineers：

〃Build　me　a　railroad　to　run　like　that。〃　　Genius　has　winged

conceptions；　it　sees　things　as　a　completed　whole　from　the　first；

it　is　only　mediocrity　which　permits　itself　to　be　lost　in　details。



Cleggett　was　like　the　Romanoffs　in　his　ability　to　go　straight　to

the　point；　but　he　had　none　of　the　Romanoff　cruelty。



Captain　Abernethy　had　made　his　arrangements　accordingly。　　If　it

pleased　Cleggett　to　have　a　small　manufacturing　plant　brought　to

the　Jasper　B。　instead　of　having　the　Jasper　B。　towed　to　a

shipyard；　it　was　Abernethy's　business　as　his　chief　executive

officer　to　see　that　this　was　done。　　The　Captain　had　let　the

contract　to　an　enterprising　and　businesslike　fellow；　Watkins　by

name；　who　had　at　once　looked　the　vessel　over；　taken　the　necessary

measurements；　and　named　a　good　round　sum　for　the　job。　　With

several　times　the　usual　number　of　skilled　workmen　employed　at

double　the　usual　rate　of　pay；　he　guaranteed　to　do　in　ten　hours

what　might　ordinarily　have　taken　a　week。



Under　the　leadership　of　this　capable　Watkins；　the　workmen　rushed

at　the　vessel　with　the　dash　and　vim　of　a　gang　of　circus　employees

engaged　in　putting　up　a　big　tent　and　making　ready　for　a　show。　　To

a　casual　observer　it　might　have　seemed　a　scene　of　confusion。　　But

in　reality　the　work　jumped　forward　with　order　and　precision；　for

the　position　of　every　bolt；　chain；　nail；　cord；　piece　of　iron　and

bit　of　wood　had　been　calculated　beforehand　to　a　nicety；　there　was

not　a　wasted　movement　of　saw；　adze；　or　hammer。　　The　Jasper　B。；　in

short；　had　been　measured　accurately　for　a　suit　of　clothes；　the

clothes　had　been　made；　they　were　now　merely　being　put　on。



Refreshed　by　the　first　sound　sleep　she　had　been　able　to　obtain

for　several　nights；　Lady　Agatha　joined　Cleggett　at　an

eight…o'clock　breakfast。　　It　was　the　first　of　May；　and　warm　and

bright；　in　a　simple　morning　dress　of　pink　linen　Lady　Agatha

stirred　in　Cleggett　a　vague　recollection　of　one　of　Tennyson's

earlier　poems。　　The　exact　phrases　eluded　him；　perhaps；　indeed；　it

was　the　underlying　sentiment　of　nearly　ALL　of　Tennyson's　earlier

poems　of　which　she　reminded　himthose　lyrics　which　are　at　once

so　romantic　and　so　irreproachable　morally。



〃We　must　give　you　Americans　credit　for　imagination　at　any　rate；〃

she　said　smilingly；　making　her　Pomeranian　sit　up　on　his　hind　legs

and　beg　for　a　morsel　of　crisp　bacon。　　〃I　awake　in　a　boatyard

after　having　gone　to　sleep　in　a　dismantled　barge。〃



〃Barge！〃　　The　word　〃barge〃　struck　Cleggett　unexpectedly；　he　was

not　aware　that　he　had　given　a　start　and　frowned。



〃Mercy！〃　exclaimed　Lady　Agatha；　〃how　the　dear　man　glares！　　What

should　I　call　it？　　Scow？〃



〃Scow？〃　　said　Cleggett。　　He　had　scarcely　recovered　from　the　word

〃barge〃；　it　is　not　to　be　denied　that　〃scow〃　jarred　upon　him　even

more　than　〃barge〃　had　done。



〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Lady　Agatha；　〃but　what　IS　the　Jasper

B。；　Mr。　Cleggett？〃



〃The　Jasper　B。　is　a　schooner；〃　said　Cleggett。　He　tried　to　say　it

casually；　but　he　was　conscious　as　he　spoke　that　there　was　a　trace

of　hurt　surprise　in　his　voice。　　The　most　generous　and　chivalrous

soul　alive；　Cleggett　would　have　gone　to　the　stake　for　Lady

Agatha；　and　yet　so　unaccountable　is　that　vain　thing；　the　human

soul　（especially　at　breakfast　time）；　that　he　felt　angry　at　her

for　misunderstanding　the　Jasper　B。　



〃You　aren't　going　to　be　horrid　about　it；　are　you？〃　she　said。　

〃Because；　you　know；　I　never　said　I　knew　anything　about　ships。〃



She　picked　up　the　little　dog　and　stood　it　on　the　table；　making

the　animal　extend　its　paws　as　if　pleading。　　〃Help　me　to　beg　Mr。

Cleggett's　pardon；〃　she　said；　〃he's　going　to　be　cross　with　us

about　his　old　boat。〃



If　Lady　Agatha　had　been　just　an　inch　taller　or　just　a　few　pounds

heavier　the　playful　mood　itself　would　have　jarred　upon　the

fastidious　Cleggett；　indeed；　as　she　was；　if　she　had　been　just　a

thought　more　playful；　it　would　have　jarred。　　But　Lady　Agatha；　it

has　been　remarked　before；　never　went　too　far　in　any　direction。



Even　as　she　smiled　and　held　out　the　dog's　paws　Cleggett　was　aware

of　something　in　her　eyes　that　was　certainly　not　a　tear；　but　was

just　as　certainly　a　film　of　moisture　that　might　be　a　tear　in

another　minute。　　Then　Cleggett　cursed　himself　inwardly　for　a

bruteit　rushed　over　him　how　difficult　to　Lady　Agatha　her

position　on　board　the　Jasper　B。　must　seem。　　She　must　regard

herself　as　practically　a　pensioner　on　his　bounty。　　And　he　had

been　churl　enough　to　show　a　spark　of　temperand　that；　too；　after

she　had　repeatedly　expressed　her　gratitude　to　him。



〃I　am　deeply　sorry；　Lady　Agatha；〃　he　began；　blushing　painfully；

〃if〃



〃Silly！〃　　She　interrupted　him　by　reaching　across　the　table　and

laying　a　forgiving　hand　upon　his　arm。　〃Don't　be　so　stiff　and

formal。　　Eat　your　egg　before　it　gets　cold　and　don't　say　another

work。　　Of　course　I　know　you're　not　REALLY　going　to　be　cross。〃　

And　she　attacked　her　breakfast；　giving　him　such　a　look　that　he

forthwith　forgave　himself　and　forgot　that　he　had　had　anything　to

forgive　in　her。



〃There's　going　to　be　a　frightful　racket　around　here　today；〃　he

said　presently。　　〃Maybe　you'd　like　to　get　away　from　it　for　a

while。　　How'd　you　like　to　go　for　a　row？〃



〃I'd　love　it！〃　she　said。



〃George　will　be　glad　to　take　you；　I'm　sure。〃



〃George？　　And　you？〃　　He　thought　he　detected　a　note　of

disappointment　in　her　voice；　he　had　not　thought　to　disappoint

her；　but　when　he　found　her　disappointed　he　got　a　certain　thrill

out　of　it。



〃I　am　going　over　to　Morris's　this　morning；〃　he　said。



〃To　Morris's？　　Alone？〃



〃Why；　yes。〃



〃Butbut　isn't　it　dangerous？〃



Cleggett　smiled　and　shrugged　his　shoulders。



〃Promise　me　that　you　will　not　go　over　there　alone；〃　she　demanded。



〃I　am　sorry。　　I　cannot。〃



〃But　it　is　rashit　is　mad！〃



〃There　is　no　real　danger。〃



〃Then　I　am　going　with　you。〃



〃I　think　that　would　hardly　be　advisable。〃



〃I'm　going　with　you；〃　she　repeated；　rising　with　determination。



〃But　you're　not；〃　said　Cleggett。　　〃I　couldn't　think　of　allowing

it。〃



〃Then　there　IS　danger；〃　she　said。



He　tried　to　evade　the　point。　　〃I　shouldn't　have　mentioned　it；〃　he

murmured。



She　ran　into　the　stateroom　and　was　back　in　an　instant　with　her

hat；　which　she　pinned　on　as　she　spoke。



〃I'm　ready　to　start；〃　she　said。



〃But　you're　not　going。〃



〃After　what　you've　done　for　me　I　insist　upon　my　right　to　share

whatever　danger　there　may　be。〃　　She　spoke　heatedly。



In　her　heat　and　impulsiveness　and　generous　bravery　Cleggett

thought　her　adorable；　although　he　began　to　get　really　angry　with

her；　too。　　At　the　same　time　he　was　aware　that　her　gratitude　to

him　was　such　that　she　was　on　fire　to　give　him　some　positive　and

early　proof　of　it。　　It　had　not　so　much　as　occurred　to　her　to

enjoy　immunity　on　account　of　her　sex；　it　had　not　entered　her

mind；　apparently；　that　her　sex　was　an　obstacle　in　the　way　of

participating　in　whatever　dangerous　enterprise　he　had　planned。　

She　was；　in　fact；　behaving　like　a　chivalric　but　obstinate　boy；

she　had　not　been　a　militant　suffragette　for　nothing。　　And　yet；

somehow；　this　attitude　only　served　to　enhance　her　essential

femininity。　　Nevertheless；　Cleggett　was　inflexible。



〃You　would　scarcely　forbid　me　to　go　to　Morris's　today；　or

anywhere　else　I　may　choose；〃　she　said　hotly；　with　a　spot　of　red

on　either　cheek　bone；　and　a　dangerous　dilatation　of　her　eyes。



〃That　is　exactly　what　I　intend　to　do；〃　said　Cleggett；　with　an

intensity　equal　to　her　own；　〃FORBID　you。〃



〃You　are　curiously　presumptuous；〃　she　said。



It　was　a　real　quarrel　before　they　were　done　with　it；　will　opposed

to　naked　will。　　And　oddly　enough　Cleggett　found　his　admiration

grow　as　his　determination　to　gain　his　point　increased。　　For　she

fought　fair；　disdaining　the　facile　weapon　of　tears；　and　when　she

yielded　she　did　it　suddenly　and　merrily。



〃You've　the　temper　of　a　sultan；　Mr。　Cleggett；〃　she　said　with　a

laugh；　which　was　her　sig