按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
endeavoring to enforce some point of view with regard to the Jasper B。
upon his two followers。 Finally Loge； making a gesture towards Cleggett
with one hand； tapped himself several times on the forehead with the other；
his lips moving rapidly the while。 The two other men shrugged their
shoulders and nodded； as if in agreement with Loge。 The insulting
significance of the gesture was only too apparent。 As plainly as if he had
heard the accompanying words Cleggett understood that Loge； out of the
depths of his perplexity； had said that he （Cleggett） was mentally erratic。
〃Ah； you think so； do you？〃 said Cleggett aloud； laying down his glass
and seizing a rifle。 〃Well； just to let you know that I have a certain
opinion of you； also； my friend Loge〃 And he sent a bullet over the
heads of the three men。 They hastily ducked into the house。 Cleggett
might have picked Loge off； but he disdained to do so。 It was his
purpose to take the man alive； if possible。
But the rifle shot did not end the espionage。 All day scouting parties
in taxicabs kept appearing on the sandy plain to reconnoiter the fleet and
fortress。 They circled； they swooped； they dashed； they zigzagged here
and there； but always at a high rate of speed； and always at a prudent
distance from the canal。 Beyond sending an occasional rifle ball
whistling towards the wheels of the cabs； or over the heads of the
occupants； to remind them to keep their distance； Cleggett paid but little
attention to these parties。 If Loge thought him demented； if he had his
enemy guessing； so much the better。 The eccentric movements of these
cabs was a circumstance which in itself testified to Loge's bewilderment
and curiosity。
Cleggett had no idea that there would be an attack before nightfall； and
at two o'clock in the afternoon he awakened all the members of his crew
who were still sleeping； ordered them into bathing suits； a supply of which
he had been thoughtful enough to have the young doctor bring out along
with the nurses； and piped them into the canal。 The water was cold； but
they came out refreshed and invigorated by the plunge and feeling fit for
any struggle that might be ahead of them。 This maneuver on the part of
154
… Page 155…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
Cleggett and his marines and infantrymen seemed still more to excite the
curiosity and contribute to the bewilderment of Loge and his ruffians。
After the general bath and a substantial lunch； Cleggett called all
hands aft and addressed them。
〃Ladies and loyal followers and co…workers；〃 he said。 〃We have
passed some nights and days of peril。 And there are； I doubt not； still
parlous times ahead of the Jasper B。 before our ship sets sail for the China
Seas。 But what is sweeter than pleasure snatched from the very presence
of danger？ Courage and gayety should go hand in hand！ It is a
beautiful May afternoon； we have a goodly deck beneath our feet； and；
briefly； who is for a dance？〃
A huzza showed the popularity of the suggestion。 Washington
Artillery Lamb； the janitor and butler of the Annabel Lee； possessed an
accordion on which he was an earnest and artistic performer。 Miss
Pringle's Jefferson had with him a harmonica； or mouth organ； which he at
once produced。 Jefferson was endowed with the peculiar gift of
manipulating this little musical instrument solely with his lips； moving it
back and forth and round about as he played； without touching it with his
hands； and this left his hands free to pat the time。 The negro orchestra
perched itself on the top of the cabin； and in a moment Lady Agatha； the
five nurses； Cleggett； the three detectives； Dr。 Farnsworth； and Captain
Abernethy were tangoing on the deck。 And this to the still further
perplexity of Logan Black。 As the dance started Cleggett saw that person；
almost distracted by his inability to comprehend the mental processes of
the commander of the Jasper B。； rise to his feet in an automobile that had
stopped a couple of hundred yards away； and beat with both hands upon
his temples； gnashing his long yellow teeth the while。
The Rev。 Simeon Calthrop turned sadly away from the vessel； and；
with a sigh； went and sat in the trench； where he was soon joined by Elmer。
The disgraced preacher and the reformed convict had struck up a fast
friendship。 They sat with their backs towards the Jasper B。； and Cleggett
supposed from their attitude that they were sternly condemnatory of the
155
… Page 156…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
frivolity and festivity on board ship。
Cleggett； after the first dance； sought them out。
〃I hope；〃 he said to the Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop； not unkindly； 〃that you
don't disapprove of us。〃
〃It isn't that； Mr。 Cleggett；〃 said the ship's chaplain； with sorrow in his
eloquent brown eyes； 〃it isn't that at all。 In fact； I had a tango class in the
basement of my church； every Thursday evening…when I had a church。〃
〃Then what is it？〃
〃Alas！〃 sighed the young preacher。 〃I do not trust myself！ Women；
as I have told you； Mr。 Cleggett； are apt to become fascinated with me。 I
cannot help it。 It is in such gay scenes as this that the danger lies； Mr。
Cleggett。 As an honorable man； I feel that I am bound to withdraw
myself and my fatal influence。〃
〃You are too subtletoo subtle for moral health；〃 said Cleggett。
〃But I will not attempt to influence you。 Elmer； are you also afraid of
inspiring a hopeless passion？〃
〃Mister Cleggett；〃 said Elmer gloomily and huskily； out of one corner
of his mouth； 〃I ain't takin' a chance。 D' youse get me？ Not a chancet。
Oncet youse reformed； Mr。 Cleggett； youse can't be too careful。〃
Cleggett returned to the vessel。 Miss Pringle the elder was leaving it。
Miss Henrietta Pringle was following。 Cleggett gathered that the niece
left reluctantly； and under the coercion of the aunt。
Miss Pringle the elder was about to join the Rev