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the Jasper B。 had taken effect。
〃To the starboard bulwark；〃 cried Cleggett； 〃and give them hell with
the next lightning flash！〃
It came as he spoke； with its vivid glare showing to Cleggett the
enemy magnified to a portentous bigness against a background of chaotic
night。 Two or three of them stood； leaning keenly forward； several of the
others had dropped to one knee； the rifle discharge had checked the rush；
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and they also were waiting for the lightning。 Cleggett and his men threw
a second volley at this wavering silhouette of astonishment。
A cartridge jammed in the mechanism of Cleggett's gun。 With an
oath he flung the weapon to the deck。 A hand thrust another one into his
grasp； and Lady Agatha's voice said in his ear； 〃Take this oneit's loaded。〃
〃My God；〃 said Cleggett； 〃I thought you were in the cabin！〃
〃Not I！〃 she cried； 〃I'm loading！〃
Just then the lightning came again and showed her to him plainly。
Drenched； bare…armed； bareheaded； her hair down and rolling backward in
a rich wet mass； she knelt on the deck behind the bulwark。 Her eyes
blazed with excitement； and there was a smile upon her lips。 Beside her
was the zinc bucket half full of cartridges。 George tossed a rifle to her。
She flung him back a loaded one； and began methodically to fill the empty
one with cartridges。
〃Agatha；〃 shouted Cleggett； catching her by the wrist； 〃go to the cabin
at onceyou will get yourself killed！〃
〃I'll do nothing of the sort！〃 she shouted。
〃I love you！〃 cried Cleggett； beside himself with fear for her； and
scarcely knowing what his words were。 〃Do you hearI love you； and I
won't have you killed！〃
A bullet ripped its way through the bulwark； perforated the zinc bucket；
struck the gun which Lady Agatha was loading and knocked it from her
hands。
〃Go to the cabin yourself！〃 she shouted in Cleggett's ear。 〃As for me；
I like it！〃
〃I tell you；〃 shouted Cleggett； 〃I won't have you hereI won't have
you killed！〃
He rose to his feet； and attempted to draw her out of danger。 She rose
likewise and struggled with him in the dark。 She wrenched herself free；
and in doing so flung him back against the rail； it lightened again； and she
screamed。 Cleggett turned； and with the next flash saw that one of the
enemy； his face bloody from the graze of a bullet across his forehead； and
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
evidently crazed with excitement of fight and storm； was leaping towards
the rail of the vessel。
Cleggett stooped to pick up a gun； but as he stooped the madman
vaulted over the bulwark and landed upon him； bearing him to the deck。
As he struggled to his feet Lady Agatha； who had grasped a cutlass； cut the
fellow down。 The man fell back over the rail with a cry。
For a long moment there was one continuous electric flash from
horizon to horizon； and Cleggett saw her； with windblown hair and wide
eyes and parted lips； standing poised with the red blade in her hand
beneath the driving clouds； the figure of an antique goddess。
The next instant all was dark； her arms were around his neck in the
rain。 〃Oh； Clement；〃 she sobbed； 〃I've killed a man！ I've killed a man！〃
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER XVI
ROMANCE REGNANT
Cleggett kissed her。 。 。 。
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER XVII
MISS PRINGLE CALLS ON MR。
CLEGGETT
But the rushing onset of events struck them apart。 Out of the night
leaped danger； enhancing love and forbidding it。 From the starboard bow
Captain Abernethy shrilled a cry of warning； and the heavy； bellowing
voice of Loge shouted an answer of challenge and ferocity。 The wind
had fallen； but the lightning played from the clouds now almost without
intermission。 Cleggett saw Loge and his followers； machete in hand；
flinging themselves at the rail。 They lifted a hoarse cheer as they came。
The fire from the Jasper B。 had checked the assault temporarily； it had not
broken it up； once they found lodgment on the deck the superior numbers
of Loge's crowd must inevitably tell。
Loge was a dozen feet in advance of his men。 He had cast aside the
light sword which belonged to Cleggett； and now swung a grim machete
in his hand。 Cleggett flung down his gun； grasped a cutlass； and sprang
forward； his one idea to come to close quarters with that gigantic figure of
rage and power。
But before Loge reached the bulwark on one side； and while Cleggett
was bounding toward him on the other； this on…coming group of Cleggett's
foes were suddenly smitten in the rear as if by a thunderbolt。 Out of the
night and storm； mad with terror； screaming like fiends； with distended
nostrils and flying manes and flailing hoofs； there plunged into the midst
of the assaulting party a pair of snow…white horsesastounding； felling；
trampling； scattering； filling them with confusion。 A rocking carriage
leaped and bounded behind the furious animals； and as the horses struck
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the bulwark and swerved aside； its weight and bulk； hurled like a missile
among Cleggett's staggered and struggling enemies； completed and
confirmed their panic。
No troops on earth can stand the shock of a cavalry charge in the rear
and flank； few can face surprise； the boarding party； convinced that they
had fallen into a trap； melted away。 One moment they were sweeping
forward； vicious and formidable； confident of victory； the next they were
floundering weaponless； scrambling anyhow for safety； multiplying and
transforming； with the quick imagination of panic terror； these two horses
into a troop of mounted men。
This sudden and almost spect