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〃I could not choose but pay it。 For four days we went from place to
place； in and about New York City's suburbsnow in town and now in the
countrycrossing rivers again and again on ferryboatsstopping at hotels；
road houses and all manner of placesdashing through Brooklyn and out
among the villages of Long Islandand with the fear on me that we were
being followed。
〃Elmer and I were continually on the lookout for some way to dispose
of the box； but nothing presented itself。 The driver； who had become
more and more impudent in his attitude and outrageous in his charges； was
now practically a spy upon us。 The necessity for ice made frequent stops
imperative； at the same time the increasing fear of pursuit made it agony
for me to stop anywhere。
〃Today； at a road house thirty or forty miles from here； I made certain
that I was pursued。 The very man from whom I had claimed the box at
the railway goods station in Newark confronted me。 It appears； from what
Elmer says； that he is taking a holiday and is visiting his brother； who is
the proprietor of the road house。
〃And the person who is pursuing me isa Miss Genevieve Pringle！
〃As fate would have it； there lives in Newark a person who really
owns that name which I thought I had invented。 It seems that she had
been expecting a shipment； and had called to inquire for it； upon learning
that a box had been delivered to a person in her name she had taken up the
trail at once。 Having somehow traced me to Long Island； she had
actually made inquiries at this very road house some hours earlier。 The
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
railway employee； I am certain； would have denounced me at oncehe
would have accused me of theft； and would have endeavored to have me
held until he could get into communication with Miss Pringle or with the
authoritiesbut I bought from him a promise of silence。 It cost me
another large sum。
〃A few hours ago the chauffeur； divining from a conversation between
Elmer and me that I was running short of ready money； deserted me here。
You know the rest。〃
Her voice trailed off into a tired whisper as she finished； and with her
elbows on the table Lady Agatha wearily supported her head in her hands。
Her attitude acknowledged defeat。 She was despairingly certain that she
would never see the last of the box which she believed to contain Reginald
Maltravers。
Cleggett did not hesitate an instant。 〃Lady Agatha；〃 he said； 〃the
Jasper B。 is at your service as long as you may require the ship。 The
cabin is your home until we arrive at a solution of your difficulties。〃
His glance and manner added what his tongue left unutteredthat the
commander of the ship was henceforth her devoted cavalier。 But she
understood。
She extended her hand。 Her answer was on her lips。 But at that
instant the jarring roar of an explosion struck the speech from them。
The blast was evidently near； though muffled。 The earth shook； a
tremor ran through the Jasper B。； the glasses leaped and rang upon the
table。 Cleggett； followed by Lady Agatha； darted up the companionway。
As Cleggett reached the deck there was a second shock； and he beheld
a flame leap out of the earth itselfa sudden sword of fire thrust into the
night from the midst of the sandy plain before him。 The light that
stabbed and was gone in an instant was about halfway between the Jasper
B。 and Morris's。 A second after； a missilewhich Cleggett later learned
was a piece of rock the size of a man's headfell with a splintering crash
upon and through the wooden platform beside the Jasper B。； not thirty feet
from where Cleggett stood； another splashed into the canal。 The next
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
day Cleggett saw several of these fragments lying about the plain。
Calling to his men to bring lanternsfor the night had fallen dark and
cloudyCleggett ran towards the place。 Lady Agatha； refusing to remain
behind； went with them。 Moving lights and a stir of activity at Morris's；
and the gleam of lanterns on board the Annabel Lee； showed Cleggett that
his neighbors likewise were excited。
But if Cleggett had expected an easy solution of this astonishing
eruption he was disappointed。 Arrived at the scene of the explosion； he
found that its nature was such as to tease and balk his faculties of analysis。
The blast had blown a hole into the ground； certainly； but this hole was
curiously filled。 Two large bowlders that leaned towards each other had
stood on top of the ground。 These had been split and shattered into many
fragments。 A few pieces； like the one that came so near Cleggett； had
been flung to a distance； but for the most part the shivered crowns and
broken bulks had been served otherwise； the force of the blast had
disintegrated them； but had not scattered them； the greater part of this
newly…rent stone had toppled into the fissure in the ground； and lay there
mixed with earth； almost filling the hole。 It was impossible to determine
just where and how the blast had been set off； the rocks hid the facts。
But Cleggett judged that the force must have come from below the
bowlders； mightily smitten from beneath； they had collapsed into the
cavern suddenly opening there； as a building might collapse into and fill a
cellar。 The pieces that had been thrown high into the air were insignificant
in proportion to the great bulk which had settled into the hole and made its
origin a mystery。
As Cleggett； bewildered； stood and gazed upon the mass of rock and
earth； Cap'n Abernethy gave a cry and pointed at something with his finger。
Cleggett； looking at the spot indicated； saw upon the edge of this singular
fracture in the earth a thing that sent a quick chill of horror and repulsion
to his heart。 It was a dead hand； roughly severed between the wrist and
the elbow。 The back of it was uppermost； the fingers were clenched。
Cleggett set down his lantern beside it and turned it over with his foot。
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