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of thunder。 A whirl of dust and fine gravel enveloped the Jasper B。 For
a moment it was like a sandstorm。 A few large drops of water fell。 The
gust was violent； the sails filled with it and struggled like kites to be free；
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
here and there a strand of rope snapped； the masts bent and creaked； the
booms jumped and swung round like live things； the whole ship from
bowsprit to rudder shook and trembled with the assault。
Cleggett； watchful at the wheel； prepared to turn her nose away from
the bank； but he was astonished to perceive that in spite of her quaking
and shivering the Jasper B。 did not move one inch forward from her
position。 He was prepared for a certain stability on the part of the Jasper
B。； but not for quite so much of it。
With the next gust the storm was on them in earnest。 This blast came
with zigzag flashes of lightning that showed the heavens riotous with
battalions of charging clouds； it came with deafening thunder and a
torrential discharge of rain。 One would have thought the power of the
wind sufficient to set a steel battleship scudding before it like a wooden
shoe。 And yet the extraordinary Jasper B。； although she shrieked and
groaned and seemed to stagger with the force of the blow； did not move
either forward or sidewise。
She flinched； but she stood her ground。
Second by second the storm increased in fury； in a moment it was no
longer merely a storm； it was a tempest。 Cleggett； alarmed for the safety
of his masts； now ordered his men to take in sail。
But even as he gave the order he realized that it could no longer be
done。 A cloudburst； a hurricane； an electrical bombardment； struck the
Jasper B。 all at once。 One could not hear one's own voice。 In the glare
of the lightning Cleggett saw the rigging tossing in an indescribable
confusion of canvas； spars； and ropes。 Both masts and the bowsprit
snapped at almost the same instant。 The whole chaotic mass was lifted； it
writhed in the air a moment； and then it came crashing down； partly on the
deck and partly in the seething waters of the canal； where it lay and
whipped ship and water with lashing tentacles of wreckage。
But still the unusual Jasper B。 had not moved from her position。
Cleggett's men had had warning enough to save themselves。 They
gathered around him to wait for orders。 More than one of them cast
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
anxious glances towards the land。 Shouting to them to attack the debris
with axes； and setting the example himself； Cleggett soon saw the deck
clear again； and the Jasper B。； to all intents； the same hulk she had been
when he bought her。 But such was the fury of the tempest that even with
the big kites gone the Jasper B。 continued to shake and quiver where she
lay。 Speech was almost impossible on deck； but Cap'n Abernethy signed
to Cleggett that he had something important to say to him。
The whole company adjourned to the cabin； and there； shouting to
make himself heard； the Cap'n cried out：
〃Her timbers have been strained something terrible； Mr。 Cleggett。
She ain't what I would call safe and seaworthy any more。 The' don't
seem to be any danger of her sailin' off； but that's no sign she can't be
blowed over onto her beam ends and sunk with all on board。 If you was
to ask me； Mr。 Cleggett； I'd say the time had come to leave the Jasper B。 〃
The anxiety depicted on the faces of the little circle about him might
have communicated itself to a less intrepid nature。 The old Cap'n himself
was no coward。 Indeed； in owning to his alarm he had really done a
brave thing； since few have the moral courage to proclaim themselves
afraid。 But Cleggett was a man of iron。 Although the tempest smote the
hulk with blow after blow； although both earth and water seemed to lie
prostrate and trampled beneath its unappeasable fury； Cleggett had no
thought of yielding。
Unconsciously he drew himself up。 It seemed to his crew that he
actually gained in girth and height。 The soul； in certain great moments；
seems to have power to expand the body and inform it with the quality of
immortality； Ajax； in his magnificent gesture of defiance； is all spirit。
Cleggett； with his hand on his hip； uttered these words； not without their
sublimity：
〃Whether the Jasper B。 sinks or swims； her commander will share her
fate。 I stay by my ship！〃
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER XV
NIGHT； TEMPEST； LOVE AND
BATTLE
And； indeed； if Cleggett had been of a mind to abandon the vessel； he
could scarcely have done so now。 For his words were no more than
uttered when the sharp racket of a volley of pistol shots ripped its way
through the low…pitched roaring of the wind。
Loge had chosen the height of the storm to mask his approach。 He
attacked with the tempest。
Without a word Cleggett put out the light in the cabin。 His men
grasped their weapons and followed him to the deck。 A flash of lightning
showed him； through the driving rain； the enemy rushing towards the
Jasper B。； pistol in hand。 They were scarcely sixty yards away； and were
firing as they came。 Loge； a revolver in one hand； and Cleggett's own
sword cane in the other； was leading the rush。 Besides their firearms； each
of Loge's men carried a wicked…looking machete。
〃Fire！〃 shouted Cleggett。 〃Let them have it； men！〃 And the rifles
blazed from the deck of the Jasper B。 in a crashing volley。 Instantly the
world was dark again； it was impossible to determine whether the fire of
the Jasper B。 had taken effect。
〃To the starboard bulwark；〃 cried Cleggett； 〃and give them hell with
the next l