the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第47节
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he fancied that the darkness began to vibrate； as if an electrical current of
some sort were being passed through it； and it might forthwith burst into
light。 Cleggett； as we know； was not easily frightened。 But now he was
possessed of a strange feeling； akin to terror； but which was at the same
time not any terror of physical injury。 He did not fear Loge； in dark or
daylight he was ready to grapple with him and fight it out； nevertheless he
feared。 That he could not say what he feared only increased his fear。
Children say they are 〃afraid of the dark。〃 It is not the dark which
they are afraid of。 It is the bodiless presences which they imagine in the
dark。 It was so with Cleggett now。 He was not daunted by anything
that could strike a blow。 But the sense of a personality began to
encompass him。 It pressed in upon him； played upon him； embraced him；
his flesh tingled as if he were being brushed； he felt his hair stir。 One
recognizes a flower by its odor。 So a soul flings off； in some inexplicable
way； the sense of itself。 This force that laid itself upon Cleggett and
flowed around him had an individuality without a body。 Not through his
senses； but psychically； he recognized it； it was the hateful and sinister
individuality of Loge。
With choking throat and dry lips Cleggett stood and suffered beneath
the smothering presence of this terror while the slow seconds mounted to
an intolerable minute； then there burst from him an uncontrollable shout。
〃Loge！〃 he roared； and the cavern rang。
And with the word he pressed the button of his electric pocket lamp
and shot a beam of light straight in front of him。 It fell upon the
yellowish brow and the wide； unwinking eyes of Loge。 The eyes stared
straight at Cleggett's own from across the cave； thirty feet away。 Loge's
teeth were bared in his malevolent grimace； he head was bent forward； he
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
sat upon a rock。 Cleggett； unable to withdraw his eyes； waited for Loge's
first movement。 The man made no sign。 Cleggett slowly raised his
pistol。 。 。 。
But he did not fire。 The open； staring eyes； unchanging at the menace
of the lifted pistol； told the story。 Loge was dead。 Cleggett crossed
over and examined him。 Clutched on his knees was a bomb。 He had
been wounded by Barnstable's last shot； but he had crawled through the
tunnel with a bomb for a final attempt on the Jasper B。 His strength had
failed； he had rested upon the rock and bled to death。
As for his last thought； Cleggett had felt it。 Loge had died hating and
lusting for his blood。
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER XXVII
CLEGGETT ACCOMMODATES
THE KING
There was a wedding next day on the deck of the Jasper B。 The Rev。
Simeon Calthrop performed the ceremony； and Wilton Barnstable insisted
upon lending his vessel for a bridal cruise。 Washington Artillery Lamb；
engineer； janitor； cook and butler of the Annabel Lee； went with the vessel。
As for the Jasper B。； although his wife urged him to keep the ship for
the sake of old associations； Cleggett had the hole in its side built in and
gave it to the Rev。 Simeon Calthrop for a gospel ship。 George the Greek；
who married Miss Medley； shipped with the preacher in his cruise around
the world； and he and his wife eventually reached Greece； as he had
originally intended。 Elmer went with the Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop to assist him
in his missionary work。
But it was some time before the Jasper B。 sailed。 Besides the hole
which was the entrance to the tunnel it was discovered that the vessel
rested on a brick foundation。 The man who had used her for a saloon and
dancing platform in years past had dug away part of the bank of the canal
to fit the curve of her starboard side and had then jammed her tight into
the land。 Even then she would move a trifle at times； so he had built a
dam around her； pumped the water out of the inclosed space； jacked the
hulk up； built the brick foundation； and let her down solidly on it again。
With the dam removed the water covered this masonry work； and she
looked quite like a real ship。 Mr。 Goldberg had known about this
foundation； but he had forgotten it； he explained to Cleggett。
The Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop fitted her out as a floating chapel and filled her
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with Bibles printed in all languages； which he distributes in many lands。
When his fatal attractiveness for women threatens to involve him in
trouble he hastily puts to sea。 He has never become a really
accomplished sailor； and the Jasper B。 is something of a menace to
navigation in the ports and harbors of the world。 The suggestion has
frequently been made that she should be set ashore permanently and put
on wheels。 But she has her features。 She is； possibly； the only ship
extant with a memorial skylight to her cabin。 Cleggett wished her to
carry some sort of memorial to the faithful Teddy； the Pomeranian dog；
who perished of a stray shot in the fight at Morris's。 And as a memorial
window did not seem feasible a compromise was made on the memorial
skylight。 The glass is by Tiffany。
Dopey Eddie and Izzy the Cat； still followed by Reginald Maltravers；
made their way to Brooklyn； where all three were arrested and lodged in
the observation ward of the Kings County Hospital on the suspicion that
they were insane。 The two gunmen were able to get free through
political influence； but Maltravers was sent to England。 He was
maintained for some time in a private institution through the generosity of
the Cleggetts； but finally went on a hunger strike and died。
Wilton Barnstable smiles and prospers。 He gained great additional
fame for his clever work in the Case of Logan Black。
Cleggett； in 1925； was the father of four boys named D'Artagnan；
Athos； Porthos； and Aramis Cleggett； and the owner of the Claiborne
estates。
He is now immensely wealthy。 It never would have occurred to him；
perhaps； to attempt to increase his modest fortune of 500；000 by
speculating on the Stock Exchange； had it not been for a fortunate meeting
with a barber in Nassau Street。
This barber； whose Christian name was Walter； was； indeed； a mine of
suggestion and information of all sorts。 And being a good…natured fellow；
who wished the world well； Walter delighted to impart his original ideas
and the fruits of his observation to his patrons while shaving them。 Some
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of these received his remarks coldly； it is true； but Walter was so charged
with a sense of friendliness towards all mankind that he was never daunted
for long by a rebuff。
His interests were wide and varied； Walter found no difficulty in
talking pleasantly upon any subject； he could touch it lightly； or deal with
it in a more serious vein； as the mood of his customer seemed to require；
and he had the art of making deft and rapid transitions from topic to topic。
But there were two things in particular concerning which Walter had
thought deeply： racehorses and the stock market。
It was the settled grief of Walter's life that he had never been able to
persuade any person with money to take his advice concerning the races；
or follow any of the dazzling stock market campaigns which he was
forever outlining。
〃They listen to me；〃 said Walter； a little wistfully； but with a brave
smile； 〃or else they do not listenbut no one has ever yet
