the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第8节
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！
and struggled； swaying back and forth within the open window； like a
moving picture in a frame。 Suddenly the tall fellow seemed to get the
upper hand； exerting all his strength； he bent the other backward over the
window sill。 The two contending figures writhed desperately a moment
and then the tall man shifted one powerful； sinewy hand to Heinrich's
throat。
The binoculars brought the thing so near to Cleggett that it seemed as
if he could touch the contorted faces； he could see the tall man's neck
muscles work as if that person were panting； he could see the signs of
suffocation in Heinrich's countenance。 The fact that he saw so plainly
and yet could hear no sound of the struggle somehow added to its horror。
All at once the tall man put his knee upon the other's chest； and flung
his weight upon Heinrich with a vehement spring。 Then he tumbled
Heinrich out of the window onto the roof of the verandah。
He stepped out of the window himself； picked Heinrich up with an
ease that testified to his immense strength； and flung him over the edge of
the verandah onto the ground。 A few moments later a couple of men ran
out from Morris's； busied themselves about reviving the fellow； and helped
him into the house。 If Heinrich was not badly injured； certainly all the
30
… Page 31…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
fight had been taken out of him for one day。
With Heinrich thus disposed of； the tall man turned composedly to the
task of putting out the American flag again。 Through the glass Cleggett
perceived that his face was twisted by a peculiar smile； a smile of joyous
malevolence。
〃A bad man to cross； that tall man；〃 said Cleggett； musingly。 And
indeed； his violence with Heinrich had seemed out of all proportion to the
apparent grounds of the quarrel； for it was evident to Cleggett that
Heinrich and the tall man had differed merely about the policy of
displaying the red flag。 〃A man determined to have his way；〃 mused
Cleggett。 〃If he and I should meet〃 Cleggett did not finish the
sentence in words； but his hand closed over the butt of his revolver。
His musing was interrupted by the noise of an approaching automobile。
Turning； he saw a vehicle； the rather long body of which was covered so
that it resembled a merchant's delivery wagon； coming along the road
from Fairport。
It stopped opposite the Jasper B。； and from the seat beside the driver
leaped lightly the most beautiful woman Cleggett had ever seen； and
walked hesitatingly but gracefully towards him。
She was agitated。 She was； in fact； sobbing； and a Pomeranian dog
which she carried in her arms was whimpering excitedly as if in sympathy
with its mistress。 Cleggett； soul of chivalry that he was； born cavalier of
beauty in distress； removed his hat and advanced to meet her。
31
… Page 32…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER V
BEAUTY IN DISTRESS
〃Can you tell me where I can get some ice？ Can you sell me some
ice？〃 cried the lady excitedly； when she was still some yards distant from
Cleggett。
〃Ice？〃 The request was so unusual that Cleggett was not certain that
he had understood。
〃Yes； ice！ Ice！〃 There was no mistaking the genuine character of
her eagerness； if she had been begging for her life she could not have been
more in earnest。 〃Don't tell me that you have none on your boat。 Don't
tell me that！ Don't tell me that！〃
And suddenly； like a woman who has borne all that she can bear； she
burst undisguisedly into a paroxysm of weeping。 Cleggett； stirred by her
beauty and her trouble； stepped nearer to her； for she swayed with her
emotion as if she were about to fall。 Impulsively she put a hand on his
arm； and the Pomeranian； dropped unceremoniously to the ground； sprang
at Cleggett snarling and snapping as if sure he were the author of the
lady's misfortunes。
〃You will think I am mad；〃 said the lady； endeavoring to control her
tears； 〃but I MUST have ice。 Don't tell me that you have no ice！〃
〃My dear lady；〃 said Cleggett； unconsciously clasping； in his anxiety
to reassure her； the hand that she had laid upon his arm； 〃I have iceyou
shall have all the ice you want！〃
〃Oh；〃 she murmured； leaning towards him； 〃you cannot know〃
But the rest was lost in an incoherent babble； and with a deep sigh she
fell lax into Cleggett's arms。 The reaction from despair had been too
much for her； it had come too suddenly； at the first word of reassurance； at
32
… Page 33…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
the first ray of dawning hope； she had fainted。 High…strung natures；
intrepid in the face of danger； are apt to such collapses in the moment of
deliverance； and； whatever the nature of the lady's trouble； Cleggett gained
from her swoon a sharp sense of its intensity。
Cleggett was not used to having beautiful women faint and fall into his
arms； and he was too much of a gentleman to hold one there a single
moment longer than was absolutely necessary。 He turned his head rather
helplessly towards the vehicle in which the lady had arrived。 To his
consternation and surprise it had turned around and the chauffeur was in
the act of starting back towards Fairport。 But he had left behind him a
large zinc bucket with a cover on it； a long unpainted； oblong box； and two
steamer trunks； on the oblong box sat a short； squat young man in an
attitude of deep dejection。
〃Hi there！ Stop！〃 cried Cleggett to the chauffeur。 That person
stopped his machine。 He did more。 He arose in the seat； applied his
thumb to his nose； and vigorously and vivaciously waggled his outspread
fingers at Cleggett in a gesture； derisive and inelegant； that is older than
the pyramids。 Then he started his machine again and made all speed in
the direction of Fairport。
〃I say； you； come here！〃 Cleggett called to the squat young man。
〃Can't you see that the lady's fainted？〃
The squat young man； thus exhorted； sadly approached。
〃Can't you see the lady has fainted？〃 repeated Cleggett。
〃Skoits often does；〃 said the squat young man； looking over the
situation in a detached； judicial manner。 He spoke out of the left corner
of his mouth in a hoarse voice； without moving the right side of his face at
all； and he seemed to feel that the responsibility of the situation was
Cleggett's。
〃But； don't you know her？ Didn't you come here with her？〃
The squat young man appeared to debate some moral issue inwardly
for a moment。 And then； speaking this time out of the right corner of his
mouth； which was now nearer Cleggett； without disturbing the left half of
33
… Page 34…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
his face； he pointed towards the oblong box and murmured huskily：
〃That's my job。〃 He went and sat down on the box again。
Without more ado Cleggett lifted the lady and bore her onto the Jasper
B。 She was a heavy burden； but Cleggett declined the assistance of Cap'n
Abernethy and George the Greek； who had come tardily out of the
forecastle and now offered their assistance。
〃Get a bottle of wine；〃 he told Yosh； as he passed the Japanese on the
deck； 〃and then make some tea。〃
Cleggett laid the lady on a couch in the cabin； and then lighted a lamp；
as it got dark early in these quarters。 While he waited for Yoshahira
Kuroki and the wine； he looked at her。 In her appealing helplessness she
looked even more beautiful than she had at first。 She was a blonde； with
eyebrows and lashes darker than her hair； and； even in her swoon； Cleggett
co
