the cruise of the jasper b.-第14章

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Under　the　leadership　of　this　capable　Watkins；　the　workmen　rushed

at　the　vessel　with　the　dash　and　vim　of　a　gang　of　circus　employees

engaged　in　putting　up　a　big　tent　and　making　ready　for　a　show。　　To

a　casual　observer　it　might　have　seemed　a　scene　of　confusion。　　But

in　reality　the　work　jumped　forward　with　order　and　precision；　for

the　position　of　every　bolt；　chain；　nail；　cord；　piece　of　iron　and

bit　of　wood　had　been　calculated　beforehand　to　a　nicety；　there　was

not　a　wasted　movement　of　saw；　adze；　or　hammer。　　The　Jasper　B。；　in

short；　had　been　measured　accurately　for　a　suit　of　clothes；　the

clothes　had　been　made；　they　were　now　merely　being　put　on。



Refreshed　by　the　first　sound　sleep　she　had　been　able　to　obtain

for　several　nights；　Lady　Agatha　joined　Cleggett　at　an

eight…o'clock　breakfast。　　It　was　the　first　of　May；　and　warm　and

bright；　in　a　simple　morning　dress　of　pink　linen　Lady　Agatha

stirred　in　Cleggett　a　vague　recollection　of　one　of　Tennyson's

earlier　poems。　　The　exact　phrases　eluded　him；　perhaps；　indeed；　it

was　the　underlying　sentiment　of　nearly　ALL　of　Tennyson's　earlier

poems　of　which　she　reminded　himthose　lyrics　which　are　at　once

so　romantic　and　so　irreproachable　morally。



〃We　must　give　you　Americans　credit　for　imagination　at　any　rate；〃

she　said　smilingly；　making　her　Pomeranian　sit　up　on　his　hind　legs

and　beg　for　a　morsel　of　crisp　bacon。　　〃I　awake　in　a　boatyard

after　having　gone　to　sleep　in　a　dismantled　barge。〃



〃Barge！〃　　The　word　〃barge〃　struck　Cleggett　unexpectedly；　he　was

not　aware　that　he　had　given　a　start　and　frowned。



〃Mercy！〃　exclaimed　Lady　Agatha；　〃how　the　dear　man　glares！　　What

should　I　call　it？　　Scow？〃



〃Scow？〃　　said　Cleggett。　　He　had　scarcely　recovered　from　the　word

〃barge〃；　it　is　not　to　be　denied　that　〃scow〃　jarred　upon　him　even

more　than　〃barge〃　had　done。



〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Lady　Agatha；　〃but　what　IS　the　Jasper

B。；　Mr。　Cleggett？〃



〃The　Jasper　B。　is　a　schooner；〃　said　Cleggett。　He　tried　to　say　it

casually；　but　he　was　conscious　as　he　spoke　that　there　was　a　trace

of　hurt　surprise　in　his　voice。　　The　most　generous　and　chivalrous

soul　alive；　Cleggett　would　have　gone　to　the　stake　for　Lady

Agatha；　and　yet　so　unaccountable　is　that　vain　thing；　the　human

soul　（especially　at　breakfast　time）；　that　he　felt　angry　at　her

for　misunderstanding　the　Jasper　B。　



〃You　aren't　going　to　be　horrid　about　it；　are　you？〃　she　said。　

〃Because；　you　know；　I　never　said　I　knew　anything　about　ships。〃



She　picked　up　the　little　dog　and　stood　it　on　the　table；　making

the　animal　extend　its　paws　as　if　pleading。　　〃Help　me　to　beg　Mr。

Cleggett's　pardon；〃　she　said；　〃he's　going　to　be　cross　with　us

about　his　old　boat。〃



If　Lady　Agatha　had　been　just　an　inch　taller　or　just　a　few　pounds

heavier　the　playful　mood　itself　would　have　jarred　upon　the

fastidious　Cleggett；　indeed；　as　she　was；　if　she　had　been　just　a

thought　more　playful；　it　would　have　jarred。　　But　Lady　Agatha；　it

has　been　remarked　before；　never　went　too　far　in　any　direction。



Even　as　she　smiled　and　held　out　the　dog's　paws　Cleggett　was　aware

of　something　in　her　eyes　that　was　certainly　not　a　tear；　but　was

just　as　certainly　a　film　of　moisture　that　might　be　a　tear　in

another　minute。　　Then　Cleggett　cursed　himself　inwardly　for　a

bruteit　rushed　over　him　how　difficult　to　Lady　Agatha　her

position　on　board　the　Jasper　B。　must　seem。　　She　must　regard

herself　as　practically　a　pensioner　on　his　bounty。　　And　he　had

been　churl　enough　to　show　a　spark　of　temperand　that；　too；　after

she　had　repeatedly　expressed　her　gratitude　to　him。



〃I　am　deeply　sorry；　Lady　Agatha；〃　he　began；　blushing　painfully；

〃if〃



〃Silly！〃　　She　interrupted　him　by　reaching　across　the　table　and

laying　a　forgiving　hand　upon　his　arm。　〃Don't　be　so　stiff　and

formal。　　Eat　your　egg　before　it　gets　cold　and　don't　say　another

work。　　Of　course　I　know　you're　not　REALLY　going　to　be　cross。〃　

And　she　attacked　her　breakfast；　giving　him　such　a　look　that　he

forthwith　forgave　himself　and　forgot　that　he　had　had　anything　to

forgive　in　her。



〃There's　going　to　be　a　frightful　racket　around　here　today；〃　he

said　presently。　　〃Maybe　you'd　like　to　get　away　from　it　for　a

while。　　How'd　you　like　to　go　for　a　row？〃



〃I'd　love　it！〃　she　said。



〃George　will　be　glad　to　take　you；　I'm　sure。〃



〃George？　　And　you？〃　　He　thought　he　detected　a　note　of

disappointment　in　her　voice；　he　had　not　thought　to　disappoint

her；　but　when　he　found　her　disappointed　he　got　a　certain　thrill

out　of　it。



〃I　am　going　over　to　Morris's　this　morning；〃　he　said。



〃To　Morris's？　　Alone？〃



〃Why；　yes。〃



〃Butbut　isn't　it　dangerous？〃



Cleggett　smiled　and　shrugged　his　shoulders。



〃Promise　me　that　you　will　not　go　over　there　alone；〃　she　demanded。



〃I　am　sorry。　　I　cannot。〃



〃But　it　is　rashit　is　mad！〃



〃There　is　no　real　danger。〃



〃Then　I　am　going　with　you。〃



〃I　think　that　would　hardly　be　advisable。〃



〃I'm　going　with　you；〃　she　repeated；　rising　with　determination。



〃But　you're　not；〃　said　Cleggett。　　〃I　couldn't　think　of　allowing

it。〃



〃Then　there　IS　danger；〃　she　said。



He　tried　to　evade　the　point。　　〃I　shouldn't　have　mentioned　it；〃　he

murmured。



She　ran　into　the　stateroom　and　was　back　in　an　instant　with　her

hat；　which　she　pinned　on　as　she　spoke。



〃I'm　ready　to　start；〃　she　said。



〃But　you're　not　going。〃



〃After　what　you've　done　for　me　I　insist　upon　my　right　to　share

whatever　danger　there　may　be。〃　　She　spoke　heatedly。



In　her　heat　and　impulsiveness　and　generous　bravery　Cleggett

thought　her　adorable；　although　he　began　to　get　really　angry　with

her；　too。　　At　the　same　time　he　was　aware　that　her　gratitude　to

him　was　such　that　she　was　on　fire　to　give　him　some　positive　and

early　proof　of　it。　　It　had　not　so　much　as　occurred　to　her　to

enjoy　immunity　on　account　of　her　sex；　it　had　not　entered　her

mind；　apparently；　that　her　sex　was　an　obstacle　in　the　way　of

participating　in　whatever　dangerous　enterprise　he　had　planned。　

She　was；　in　fact；　behaving　like　a　chivalric　but　obstinate　boy；

she　had　not　been　a　militant　suffragette　for　nothing。　　And　yet；

somehow；　this　attitude　only　served　to　enhance　her　essential

femininity。　　Nevertheless；　Cleggett　was　inflexible。



〃You　would　scarcely　forbid　me　to　go　to　Morris's　today；　or

anywhere　else　I　may　choose；〃　she　said　hotly；　with　a　spot　of　red

on　either　cheek　bone；　and　a　dangerous　dilatation　of　her　eyes。



〃That　is　exactly　what　I　intend　to　do；〃　said　Cleggett；　with　an

intensity　equal　to　her　own；　〃FORBID　you。〃



〃You　are　curiously　presumptuous；〃　she　said。



It　was　a　real　quarrel　before　they　were　done　with　it；　will　opposed

to　naked　will。　　And　oddly　enough　Cleggett　found　his　admiration

grow　as　his　determination　to　gain　his　point　increased。　　For　she

fought　fair；　disdaining　the　facile　weapon　of　tears；　and　when　she

yielded　she　did　it　suddenly　and　merrily。



〃You've　the　temper　of　a　sultan；　Mr。　Cleggett；〃　she　said　with　a

laugh；　which　was　her　signal　of　capitulation。　　And　then　she　added

maliciously：　〃You've　a　devil　of　a　temperfor　a　little　man！〃



〃Little！〃　　Cleggett　felt　the　blood　rush　into　his　face　again　and

was　vexed　at　himself。　　〃I'm　taller　than　you　are！〃　he　cried；　and

the　next　instant　could　have　bitten　his　tongue　off　for　the

childish　vanity　of　the　speech。



〃You're　not！〃　she　cried；　her　whole　face　alive　with　laughter。　

〃Measure　and　see！〃



And　pulling　off　her　hat　she　caught　up　a　table　knife　and　made　him

stand　with　his　back　to　hers。　〃You're　cheating；〃　said　Cleggett；

laughing　now　in　spite　of　himself；　as　she　laid　the　knife　across

their　heads。　　But　his　voice　broke　and　trembled　on　the　next　words；

for　he　was　suddenly　thrilled　with　her　delicious　nearness。　

〃You're　standing　on　your　tiptoes；　and　your　hair's　piled　on　top　of

your　head。〃



〃Maybe　you　are　an　inch　taller；〃　she　admitted；　with　mock

reluctance。　　And　then　she　said；　with　a　ripple　of　mirth：　　〃You　are

taller　than　I　amI　give　up；　I　won't　go　to　Morris's。〃



Cleggett；　to　tell　the　truth；　was　a　bit　relieved　at　the

measurement。　　He　was　of　the　middle　height；　she　was　slightly

taller　than　the　average　woman；　he　had　really　thought　she　might

prove　taller　than　he。　　He　could　scarcely　have　told　why　he

considered　the　point　important。



But　after　the　quarrel　she　looked　at　Cleggett　with　a　new　and　more

approving　gaze。　　Neither　of　them　quite　realized　it；　but　she　had

challenged　his　ability　to　dominate　her；　and　she　had　been　worsted；

he　had　unconsciously　met　and　satisfied　in　her　that　subtle

inherent　craving　for　domination　which　all　women　possess　and　so

few　will　admit　the　possession　of。



Cleggett　started　across　the　sands　toward　Morris's　with　an

automatic　pistol　slung　in　a　shoulder　holster　under　his　left　arm

and　a　sword　cane　in　his　hand。　　He　paused　a　moment　by　the　scene　of

the　explosion　of　the　night　before；　but　daylight　told　him　nothing

that　lantern　light　had　failed　to　reveal。　　He　had　no　very　definite

plan；　although　he　thought　it　possible　that　he　might　gain　some

information。　　The　more　he　reflected　on　the　attitude　of　Morris's；

the　more　it　irritated　him；　and　he　yearned　to　make　this　irritation

known。



Perhaps　there　was　more　than　a　little　of　the　spirit　of　bravado　in

the　call　he　proposed　to　pay。　　He　planned；　the　next　day；　to　sail

the　Jasper　B。　out　into　the　bay　and　up　and　down　the　coast　for　a

few　miles；　to　give　himself　and　his　men　a　bit　of　practice　in

navigation　before　setting　out　for　the　China　Seas。　And　he　could

not　bear　to　think　that　the　hostile　denizens　of　Morris's　should

think　that　he　had　moved　the　Jasper　B。　from　her　position　through

any　fear　of　them。　　He　reasoned　that　the　most　pointed　way　of

showing　his　opinion　of　them　would　be　to　walk　casually　into

Morris's　barroom　and　order　a　drink　or　two。　　If　Cleggett　had　a

fault　as　a　commander　it　lay　in　these　occasional　foolhardy

impulses　which　he　found　it　difficult　to　control。　　Julius　Caesar

had　the　same　sort　of　pride；　which；　in　Caesar's　case；　amounted　to

positive　vanity。　　In　fact；　the　character　of　Caesar　and　the

character　of　Cleggett　had　many　points　in　common；　although

Cleggett　possessed　a　nicer　sense　of　honor　than　Caesar。



The　main　entrance　to　Morris's　was　on　the　west　side。　　From　the

west　verandah　one　could　enter　directly　either　the　main

dining…room；　at　the　north　side　of　the　building；　the　office；　or

the　barroom。　　The　barroom；　which　was　large；　ran　the　whole　length

of　the　south　side　of　the　place。　　Doors　also　led　into　the　barroom；

from　the　south　verandah；　which　was　built　over　the　water；　and　from

the　east　verandah；　which　was　visible　from　the　Jasper　B。and

onto　the　roof　of　which　Cleggett　had　seen　Loge　tumble　the　limp

body　of　his　victim；　Heinrich。　　That　had　been　only　the　day　before；

but　so　much　had　happened　since　that　Cleggett　could　scarcely

realize　that　so　little　time　had　elapsed。



Cleggett　strolled　into　the　barroom　and　took　a　seat　at　a　table　in

the　southeast　corner　of　it；　with　his　back　to