the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第32章
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her。
〃My niece； Miss Henrietta Pringle； of Flatbush；〃 said Miss Pringle；
primly presenting her prim relation。 〃She has just arrived〃
〃With the plum preserves！〃 cried Lady Agatha。
〃With the plum preserves；〃 confirmed Miss Genevieve Pringle。
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And Captain Abernethy and George the Greek bore into the cabin a
third oblong box； exactly similar in appearance to the box of Reginald
Maltravers and the box which contained the evidence against Logan Black；
and set it on the floor。
The three detectives stood and looked at the three boxes with an air of
great satisfaction。
〃With this addition to our oblong boxes；〃 said Wilton Barnstable；
〃their number is now complete。 Miss Henrietta Pringle； we will listen to
your story。〃
There was little to tell； and Miss Henrietta Pringle told it in a breath。
Having received no acknowledgment of the receipt of the plum preserves
from her aunt； an unusual oversight on her aunt's part； she had journeyed
to Newark with a vague fear that there might be something wrong。
〃Arrived in Newark；〃 she said； 〃I learned that my aunt； with her two
white horses and her family carriage driven by Jefferson； the negro
coachmen； had suddenly left Newark； without giving any explanation to
anyone； or making her destination known。
〃The proceeding was very strange； it was very unlike my aunt； and I
was frightened。 Everyone who had seen her start testified that she was
laboring under a great nervous strain of some sort。
〃I called at the freight depot and got the box of plum preserves which I
had shipped to her。 To tell the truth； I feared for her reason。 I thought
that if I could find her； and could show her the familiar plum preserves；
which she loved so well； they would be of material assistance in
influencing her to return to her home。 So； setting out to search for her in
my Ford auto； I took the box of plum preserves with me。
〃I soon got upon her trail。 The negro coachman； the family carriage
and the white horses had excited remark everywhere。 Briefly； I traced
her here； and am happy to discover that my worst fears with regard to her
have proved false。〃
〃Henrietta；〃 said her aunt； reproachfully； 〃your fears do you very little
credit； or me either。〃
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〃Aunt Genevieve；〃 said the niece； 〃pray； do not rebuke me。〃
〃I was certain；〃 said Wilton Barnstable； complacently； 〃that it would
develop that Miss Genevieve Pringle was herself being pursued。 I was
confident of it； Cleggett。 And now that I have cleared up for you the
mystery of Logan Black； the mystery of the box of Reginald Maltravers；
and the mystery of the box of plum preserves； there only remains the
capture of Logan Black to hold me in this part of the country and to keep
you from your voyage to the China Seas。〃
〃We must get together；〃 said Cleggett； 〃on a plan of campaign。
Logan Black will certainly attack again。 He has only been beaten off
temporarily。 In the meanwhile； it is almost breakfast time。〃
And； indeed； the lights in the cabin were suddenly growing pale。 The
sun was rising。 Its beams； shining through the cabin skylight； fell upon
the three great detectives； each one of whom； with an air of ineffable
satisfaction； was gloatingbut gloating urbanely and with dignityover an
oblong box。
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CHAPTER XXII
DANCING ON THE DECK
It was decided； at a conference of Lady Agatha； Cleggett； and the three
detectives； at the breakfast table； to throw up a line of entrenchments along
the bank of the canal commanding the approach to the Jasper B。 and the
Annabel Lee。 No one felt the least doubt that Logan Black would renew
the attack sooner or later； unless the two vessels made off。
〃And；〃 said Cleggett； 〃I shall not leave until the Jasper B。 has been
rigged as a schooner again。 Anything else would have the appearance of
a retreat。 Nor will I be hurried。 I am on my own property； and I
purpose to defend it at whatever cost。〃
He set his jaws firmly as he declared this intention； and Lady Agatha's
eyes dwelt upon him in admiration。
〃The Annabel Lee could tow you away； you know；〃 demurred Wilton
Barnstable。
〃When the Jasper B。 moves；〃 said Cleggett； with finality； 〃it will be
under her own power。〃
Accordingly； work was begun at once on the entrenchments。
Everyone on board the Jasper B。 was sadly in need of sleep； but Cleggett
felt that the earthworks could not wait。 He divided his force into two
shifts。 Cleggett； the three detectives； Jefferson the genial coachman； and
Washington Artillery Lamb； the janitor and butler of the house boat
Annabel Lee； a negro as large and black as Jefferson himself； took a two…
hour trick with the spades and then lay down and slept while Abernethy；
Kuroki； Elmer； Calthrop； George the Greek； and Farnsworth dug for an
equal length of time。 The two prisoners captured by Barnstable the night
before； one of whom was the smirking and sinister Pierre； were compelled
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to dig all the time。 Even Teddy； Lady Agatha's little Pomeranian； dug。
The ladies of the party slept throughout the morning。
During the forenoon Cleggett dispatched Dr。 Farnsworth to the city in
Miss Henrietta Pringle's Ford car； and he returned about one o'clock with
four more trained nurses。 They were installed on board the houseboat
Annabel Lee； instead of at Parker's Beach as Cleggett had originally
intended； and the Red Cross flag was hoisted over that vessel。 Cleggett
felt confident that the next battle would be sanguinary in character； and；
true to his humanitarian ideals； was resolved to be fully prepared this time
to care for as many people as he might disable。 Giuseppe Jones； who
was quieter now； although at times still irrationally babbling incendiary
vers libre poems； was removed to the Annabel Lee； where Miss Medley；
quite worn out； turned him over to a fresh nurse。
By the time the reinforcement of nurses had arrived the earthworks of
the good ship Jasper B。 were completed； and； after a double portion of stiff
grog all around； Cleggett ordered all hands to lie down on the deck for an
hour's comfortable nap。 He stood watch himself。 Cleggett had not slept
much during the past forty…eight hours； but he was a man of iron。 Like
King Henry Fifth of England； Cleggett found a certain pleasure in
watching while his troops slumbered。 Cleggett and this lively monarch
had other points in common； although Cleggett； even in his youth； would
never have associated with a character so habitually dissolute as Sir John
Falstaff。
The construction of the trench was not without its effect upon the gang
of villains at Morris's。 About nine in the morning Cleggett noticed that
he was under observation from the roof of the east verandah of the road
house。 Loge and two of his ruffianly lieutenants were scrutinizing the
Cleggett flotilla and fortifications through their binoculars。 Cleggett；
through his own glass； returned the compliment。
The three men were conducting an animated discussion。 From their
gestures they seemed to be completely nonplussed by the entrenchments。
Watching their pantomime closely； Cleggett gathered that Loge was
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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 i
