the cruise of the jasper b.-第6部分

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weapon　ready　for　instant　use。　　Cap'n　Abernethy　picked　up　a

cutlass；　〃hefted〃　it　thoughtfully；　rolled　his　sleeve　back　upon　a

lean　and　sinewy　old　arm　that　was　tanned　until　it　looked　like　a

piece　of　weathered　oak；　spat　upon　his　hand　and　whirled　the　weapon

till　it　whistled　in　the　air。　　〃I　come　of　a　seafarin'　fambly；〃

said　the　Cap'n；　sententiously。



As　for　Kuroki；　he　said　nothing。　　He　was　not　given　to　speech　at

any　time。　　But　he　picked　up　a　Malay　kris　and　ran　his　thumb　along

the　edge　of　it　critically　like　a　man　to　whom　such　a　weapon　is　not

altogether　unfamiliar。　　A　pleased　smile　stole　over　his　face；　he

handled　the　wicked　knife　almost　affectionately；　he　put　it　down

with　a　little　loving　pat。



〃Brave　boys；〃　murmured　Cleggett；　as　he　watched　them。　　He　smiled；

but　at　the　same　time　something　like　a　tear　blurred　his　eloquent

and　magnetic　eye　for　a　moment。　　〃Brave　boys；〃　he　murmured；　〃we

were　made　for　each　other！〃



The　display　of　the　American　flag　by　the　Jasper　B。　had　an　effect

that　could　not　have　been　foreseen。



Almost　immediately　the　Annabel　Lee　herself　flung　an　exactly

similar　American　flag　to　the　breeze。　But　a　strange　thing　happened

at　Morris's。　　An　American　flag　was　first　hung　from　an　upper

window　over　the　east　verandah。　　Then；　after　a　moment；　it　was

withdrawn。　　Then　a　red　flag　was　put　out。　　But　almost　immediately

Cleggett　saw　a　man　rip　the　red　flag　from　its　fastenings　and　fling

it　to　the　ground。



Cleggett；　resorting　to　his　glass；　perceived　that　it　was　the　tall

man　with　the　stoop　shoulders　and　incongruous　clothing　who　had

torn　down　the　red　flag。　　He　was　now　in　violent　altercation　with

the　man　who　had　hung　it　outthe　fellow　whom　he　had　called

Heinrich　some　days　before。



As　Cleggett　watched；　the　two　men　came　to　blows；　then　they

clinched　and　struggled；　swaying　back　and　forth　within　the　open

window；　like　a　moving　picture　in　a　frame。　　Suddenly　the　tall

fellow　seemed　to　get　the　upper　hand；　exerting　all　his　strength；

he　bent　the　other　backward　over　the　window　sill。　　The　two

contending　figures　writhed　desperately　a　moment　and　then　the　tall

man　shifted　one　powerful；　sinewy　hand　to　Heinrich's　throat。



The　binoculars　brought　the　thing　so　near　to　Cleggett　that　it

seemed　as　if　he　could　touch　the　contorted　faces；　he　could　see　the

tall　man's　neck　muscles　work　as　if　that　person　were　panting；　he

could　see　the　signs　of　suffocation　in　Heinrich's　countenance。　

The　fact　that　he　saw　so　plainly　and　yet　could　hear　no　sound　of

the　struggle　somehow　added　to　its　horror。



All　at　once　the　tall　man　put　his　knee　upon　the　other's　chest；　and

flung　his　weight　upon　Heinrich　with　a　vehement　spring。　　Then　he

tumbled　Heinrich　out　of　the　window　onto　the　roof　of　the　verandah。



He　stepped　out　of　the　window　himself；　picked　Heinrich　up　with　an

ease　that　testified　to　his　immense　strength；　and　flung　him　over

the　edge　of　the　verandah　onto　the　ground。　　A　few　moments　later　a

couple　of　men　ran　out　from　Morris's；　busied　themselves　about

reviving　the　fellow；　and　helped　him　into　the　house。　　If　Heinrich

was　not　badly　injured；　certainly　all　the　fight　had　been　taken　out

of　him　for　one　day。



With　Heinrich　thus　disposed　of；　the　tall　man　turned　composedly　to

the　task　of　putting　out　the　American　flag　again。　　Through　the

glass　Cleggett　perceived　that　his　face　was　twisted　by　a　peculiar

smile；　a　smile　of　joyous　malevolence。



〃A　bad　man　to　cross；　that　tall　man；〃　said　Cleggett；　musingly。　

And　indeed；　his　violence　with　Heinrich　had　seemed　out　of　all

proportion　to　the　apparent　grounds　of　the　quarrel；　for　it　was

evident　to　Cleggett　that　Heinrich　and　the　tall　man　had　differed

merely　about　the　policy　of　displaying　the　red　flag。　　〃A　man

determined　to　have　his　way；〃　mused　Cleggett。　　〃If　he　and　I　should

meet〃　Cleggett　did　not　finish　the　sentence　in　words；　but

his　hand　closed　over　the　butt　of　his　revolver。



His　musing　was　interrupted　by　the　noise　of　an　approaching

automobile。　　Turning；　he　saw　a　vehicle；　the　rather　long　body　of

which　was　covered　so　that　it　resembled　a　merchant's　delivery

wagon；　coming　along　the　road　from　Fairport。



It　stopped　opposite　the　Jasper　B。；　and　from　the　seat　beside　the

driver　leaped　lightly　the　most　beautiful　woman　Cleggett　had　ever

seen；　and　walked　hesitatingly　but　gracefully　towards　him。



She　was　agitated。　　She　was；　in　fact；　sobbing；　and　a　Pomeranian

dog　which　she　carried　in　her　arms　was　whimpering　excitedly　as　if

in　sympathy　with　its　mistress。　　Cleggett；　soul　of　chivalry　that

he　was；　born　cavalier　of　beauty　in　distress；　removed　his　hat　and

advanced　to　meet　her。



CHAPTER　V



BEAUTY　IN　DISTRESS



〃Can　you　tell　me　where　I　can　get　some　ice？　Can　you　sell　me　some

ice？〃　cried　the　lady　excitedly；　when　she　was　still　some　yards

distant　from　Cleggett。



〃Ice？〃　　The　request　was　so　unusual　that　Cleggett　was　not　certain

that　he　had　understood。



〃Yes；　ice！　　Ice！〃　　There　was　no　mistaking　the　genuine　character

of　her　eagerness；　if　she　had　been　begging　for　her　life　she　could

not　have　been　more　in　earnest。　　〃Don't　tell　me　that　you　have　none

on　your　boat。　　Don't　tell　me　that！　　Don't　tell　me　that！〃



And　suddenly；　like　a　woman　who　has　borne　all　that　she　can　bear；

she　burst　undisguisedly　into　a　paroxysm　of　weeping。　　Cleggett；

stirred　by　her　beauty　and　her　trouble；　stepped　nearer　to　her；　for

she　swayed　with　her　emotion　as　if　she　were　about　to　fall。　

Impulsively　she　put　a　hand　on　his　arm；　and　the　Pomeranian；

dropped　unceremoniously　to　the　ground；　sprang　at　Cleggett

snarling　and　snapping　as　if　sure　he　were　the　author　of　the　lady's

misfortunes。



〃You　will　think　I　am　mad；〃　said　the　lady；　endeavoring　to　control

her　tears；　〃but　I　MUST　have　ice。　　Don't　tell　me　that　you　have　no

ice！〃



〃My　dear　lady；〃　said　Cleggett；　unconsciously　clasping；　in　his

anxiety　to　reassure　her；　the　hand　that　she　had　laid　upon　his　arm；

〃I　have　iceyou　shall　have　all　the　ice　you　want！〃



〃Oh；〃　she　murmured；　leaning　towards　him；　〃you　cannot　know〃



But　the　rest　was　lost　in　an　incoherent　babble；　and　with　a　deep

sigh　she　fell　lax　into　Cleggett's　arms。　　The　reaction　from

despair　had　been　too　much　for　her；　it　had　come　too　suddenly；　at

the　first　word　of　reassurance；　at　the　first　ray　of　dawning　hope；

she　had　fainted。　　High…strung　natures；　intrepid　in　the　face　of

danger；　are　apt　to　such　collapses　in　the　moment　of　deliverance；

and；　whatever　the　nature　of　the　lady's　trouble；　Cleggett　gained

from　her　swoon　a　sharp　sense　of　its　intensity。



Cleggett　was　not　used　to　having　beautiful　women　faint　and　fall

into　his　arms；　and　he　was　too　much　of　a　gentleman　to　hold　one

there　a　single　moment　longer　than　was　absolutely　necessary。　　He

turned　his　head　rather　helplessly　towards　the　vehicle　in　which

the　lady　had　arrived。　　To　his　consternation　and　surprise　it　had

turned　around　and　the　chauffeur　was　in　the　act　of　starting　back

towards　Fairport。　　But　he　had　left　behind　him　a　large　zinc　bucket

with　a　cover　on　it；　a　long　unpainted；　oblong　box；　and　two　steamer

trunks；　on　the　oblong　box　sat　a　short；　squat　young　man　in　an

attitude　of　deep　dejection。



〃Hi　there！　　Stop！〃　cried　Cleggett　to　the　chauffeur。　　That　person

stopped　his　machine。　　He　did　more。　　He　arose　in　the　seat；　applied

his　thumb　to　his　nose；　and　vigorously　and　vivaciously　waggled　his

outspread　fingers　at　Cleggett　in　a　gesture；　derisive　and

inelegant；　that　is　older　than　the　pyramids。　　Then　he　started　his

machine　again　and　made　all　speed　in　the　direction　of　Fairport。



〃I　say；　you；　come　here！〃　Cleggett　called　to　the　squat　young　man。　

〃Can't　you　see　that　the　lady's　fainted？〃



The　squat　young　man；　thus　exhorted；　sadly　approached。



〃Can't　you　see　the　lady　has　fainted？〃　repeated　Cleggett。



〃Skoits　often　does；〃　said　the　squat　young　man；　looking　over　the

situation　in　a　detached；　judicial　manner。　　He　spoke　out　of　the

left　corner　of　his　mouth　in　a　hoarse　voice；　without　moving　the

right　side　of　his　face　at　all；　and　he　seemed　to　feel　that　the

responsibility　of　the　situation　was　Cleggett's。



〃But；　don't　you　know　her？　　Didn't　you　come　here　with　her？〃



The　squat　young　man　appeared　to　debate　some　moral　issue　inwardly

for　a　moment。　　And　then；　speaking　this　time　out　of　the　right

corner　of　his　mouth；　which　was　now　nearer　Cleggett；　without

disturbing　the　left　half　of　his　face；　he　pointed　towards　the

oblong　box　and　murmured　huskily：　〃That's　my　job。〃　　He　went　and

sat　down　on　the　box　again。



Without　more　ado　Cleggett　lifted　the　lady　and　bore　her　onto　the

Jasper　B。　She　was　a　heavy　　burden；　but　Cleggett　declined　the

assistance　of　Cap'n　Abernethy　and　George　the　Greek；　who　had　come

tardily　out　of　the　forecastle　and　now　offered　their　assistance。



〃Get　a　bottle　of　wine；〃　he　told　Yosh；　as　he　passed　the　Japanese

on　the　deck；　〃and　then　make　some　tea。〃



Cleggett　laid　the　lady　on　a　couch　in　the　cabin；　and　then　lighted

a　lamp；　as　it　got　dark　early　in　these　quarters。　　While　he　waited

for　Yoshahira　Kuroki　and　the　wine；　he　looked　at　her。　　In　her

appealing　helplessness　she　looked　even　more　beautiful　than　she

had　at　first。　　She　was　a　blonde；　with　eyebrows　and　lashes　darker

than　her　hair；　and；　even　in　her　swoon；　Cleggett　could　see　that

she　was　of　the　thin…skinned；　high…colored　type。　　Her　eyes；　as　he

had　seen　before　she　swooned；　were　of　a　deep；　dark　violet　color。　

She　was　no　chit　of　a　girl；　but　a　mature　woman；　tall　and　splendid

in　the　noble　fullness　of　her　contours。　　The　high　nose　spoke　of

love　of　activity　and　energy　of　character。　　The　full　mouth

indicated　warmth　of　heart；　the　chin　was　of　that　sort　which　we

have　been　taught　to　associate　with　determination。



The　Japanese　brought　the　wine；　and　Cleggett　poured　a　few

spoonfuls　down　the　lady's　throat。　Presently　she　sighed　and

stirred　and　began　to　show　signs　of　returning　animation。



The　Pomeranian；　which　had　followed　them　into　the　cabin；　and　which

now　lay　whimpering　at　her　feet；　also　seemed　to　feel　that　she　was

awakening；　and；　c