the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第15节
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seemed to have taken a fancy to Giuseppe Jones。
〃Listen；〃 said Cleggett； and read：
〃As for your flag； I spit upon your flag！ I spit upon your
organized society anywhere and everywhere； I spit upon your
churches； I spit upon your capitalistic institutions；
I spit upon your laws； I spit upon the whole damned thing！
But； as I spit； I weep！ I weep！〃
〃How silly！〃 said Lady Agatha。 〃What does it mean？〃
〃It means〃 began Cleggett； and then stopped。 The book of
revolutionary verse； taken in conjunction with the red flag that had been
displayed and then withdrawn； made him wonder if Morris's were the
headquarters of some band of anarchists。
But； if so； why should this band show such an interest in the Jasper B。 ？
An interest so hostile to her present owner and his men？
〃If you was to ask me what it means；〃 said Captain Abernethy； who
had taken the book and was fingering it； 〃I'd say it means young Jones
here has fell into bad company。 That don't explain how he sneaked into
the hold of the Jasper B。； nor what for。 But he orter have a doctor。〃
〃He shall have a physician；〃 said Cleggett。 〃In fact； the Jasper B。
needs a ship's doctor。〃
〃It looks to me；〃 said Captain Abernethy； 〃as if she did。 And if you
was to go further； Mr。 Cleggett； and say that it looks as if she was liable to
need a couple o' trained nurses； too； I'd say to you that if they's goin' to be
many o' these kind o' goin's…on aboard of her she DOES need a couple of
trained nurses。〃
〃Captain；〃 said Cleggett； 〃you are a humane man let me shake your
hand。 You have voiced my very thought！〃
Long ago Cleggett had resolved that if Chance or Providence should
ever gratify his secret wish to participate in stirring adventures； he would
see to it that all his wounded enemies； no matter how many there might be
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
of them； received adequate medical attention。 He had often been
shocked at the callousness with which so many of the heroes of romance
dash blithely into the next adventurethough those whom they have
seriously injured lie on all sides of them as thick as autumn leaveswith
only the most perfunctory consideration of these victims； sometimes；
indeed； with no thought of them at all。
〃Something tells me；〃 said Cleggett seriously； 〃that this intrusion of
armed men is only a prelude。 I have little doubt of the hostility of
Morris's； I am sure that the men who hid in the hold are spies from
Morris's。 I do not yet know the motive for this hostility。 But the Jasper
B。 is in the midst of dangers and mysteries。 There is before us an affair
of some magnitude。 Ere the Jasper B。 sets sail for the China Seas； there
may be many wounds。〃
And then he began to outline a plan that had flashed； full formed； into
his mind。 It was to rent； or purchase； the buildings at Parker's Beach； and
fit them up as a field hospital； with three or four nurses in charge。 Lady
Agatha； who had been listening intently； interrupted。
〃Butthe China Seas；〃 she said。 〃Did I understand you to say that
you intend to set sail for the China Seas？〃
〃That is the ultimate destination of the Jasper B。〃 said Cleggett。
〃I have heardit seems to me that I have heardthat it's a very
dangerous place；〃 ventured Lady Agatha。 〃Pirates； you know； and all that
sort of thing。〃
〃Pirates；〃 said Cleggett； 〃abound。〃
〃Well； then；〃 persisted Lady Agatha； 〃you are going out to fight
them？〃
〃I should not be surprised；〃 said Cleggett； folding his arms； and
standing with his feet spread just a trifle wider than usual； 〃if the Jasper B。
had a brush or two with them。 A brush or two！〃
Lady Agatha regarded him speculatively。 But admiringly； too。
〃But those nurses〃 she said。 〃If you're going to the China Seas
you can't very well take Parker's Beach along。〃
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
〃I was coming to that；〃 said Cleggett； bowing。 〃I contemplate a
hospital shipa vessel supplied with nurses and lint and medicines； that
will accompany the Jasper B。； and fly the Red Cross flag。〃
〃But they are frightful people； really； those Chinese pirates； you
know；〃 said Lady Agatha。 〃Do you think they'll quite appreciate a hospital
ship？〃
〃It is my duty；〃 said Cleggett； simply。 〃Whether they appreciate it or
not； a hospital ship they shall have。 This is the twentieth century。 And
although the great spirits of other days had much to commend them； it is
not to be denied that they knew little of our modern humanitarianism。 It
has remained for the twentieth century to develop that。 And one owes a
duty to one's epoch as well as to one's individuality。〃
〃But；〃 repeated Lady Agatha； with a meditative frown； 〃they are really
FRIGHTFUL people！〃
〃There is good in all men；〃 said Cleggett； 〃even in those whom the
stern necessities of idealism sentence to death。 And I have no doubt that
many a Chinese pirate would； under other circumstances； have developed
into a very contented and useful laundry…man。〃
Lady Agatha studied him intently for a moment。 〃Mr。 Cleggett；〃 she
said； 〃if you will permit me to say so； a great suffragist leader was lost
when fate made you a man。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Cleggett； bowing again。
He dispatched Georgea person of address as well as a fighter in
whom the blood of ancient Greece ran quick and strongon a
humanitarian mission。 George was to walk a mile to the trolley line； go
to Fairport； hire a taxicab； and make all possible speed into Manhattan。
There he was to communicate with a young physician of Cleggett's
acquaintance； Dr。 Harry Farnsworth。
Dr。 Farnsworth； as Cleggett knew； was just out of medical school。 He
had his degree； but no patients。 But he was bold and ready。 He was； in
short； just the lad to welcome with enthusiasm such a chance for active
service as the cruise of the Jasper B。 promised to afford。
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
It was something of a risk to weaken his little party by sending George
away for several hours。 But Cleggett did not hesitate。 He was not the
man to allow considerations of personal safety to outweigh his devotion to
an ideal。
〃And now；〃 said Cleggett； turning to Lady Agatha； who had hearkened
to his orders to George with a bright smile of approval； 〃we will dine； and
I will hear the rest of your story； which was so rudely interrupted。 It is
possible that together we may be able to find some solution of your
problem。〃
〃Dine！〃 exclaimed Lady Agatha； eagerly。 〃Yes； let us dine！ It may
sound incredible to you； Mr。 Cleggett； that the daughter of an English peer
and the widow of a baronet should confess that； except for your tea； she
has scarcely eaten for twenty…four hoursbut it is so！〃
Then she said； sadly； with a sign and sidelong glance at the box of
Reginald Maltravers which stood near the cabin companionway dripping
coldly： 〃Until now； Mr。 Cleggettuntil your aid had given me fresh hope
and strengthI had； indeed； very little appetite。〃
Cleggett followed her gaze； and it must be admitted that he himself
experienced a momentary sense of depression at the sight of the box of
Reginald Maltravers。 It looked so damp； it looked so chill； it looked so
starkly and patiently and malevolently watchful of himself and Lady
Agatha。 In a flash his lively fancy furnished him with a picture
