the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第42部分
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which a bomb was dropped and exploded； followed quickly by the other
explosion。 Dead hand； counterfeit bill and ring were flung whimsically
to the surface of the earth together； and the leaning rocks had been
astonishingly broken from beneath through this trivial quarrel。 Had it not
been for this squabble the Jasper B。 and all on board must have been
destroyed。 Verily； the minds of wicked men compass their own downfall；
and retribution can sometimes be an artist。
But Cleggett； as he crawled forward through the darkness and the
damp； thought little of these things that had so mystified him at the time。
He was alert for what the immediate future might hold； not doubting that
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Loge had retreated to the tunnel。 He had too strong a sense of the man's
powerful and iniquitous personality to suppose that Loge would kill
himself while one chance remained； however remote； of injuring his
enemies。 Loge was the kind of dog that dies biting。
Suddenly； after pressing forward for several minutes； he ran against an
obstruction。 The tunnel seemed to come to an end。 He did not dare
show his light。 But he felt with his hands。 It was rock that blocked his
way。 Cleggett understood that this barrier was the result of the explosion。
Groping and exploring with his hands； he found that the passage turned
sharply to the left。 It was more narrow and curving； for the distance of a
few yards； and the earth beneath was fresher。 When the tunnel had been
blocked by the explosion； Loge and his men had burrowed around the
obstruction。
Cleggett judged that he must be at about the middle of the tunnel。 He
felt the more solid earth beneath his hands again； and knew that he had
passed the rock。 The passage now descended deeper into the ground；
slanting steeply downward。 This incline was twenty feet in length； then
the floor became horizontal again on the lower level。 At the same time
the passage widened。 Cleggett stretched one arm out； then the other； he
could not touch the wall on either hand。 He stood erect and held his hand
up； the roof was six inches above his head。 He was in a room of some
sort。 Wishing； if possible； to learn the extent of this subterranean
chamber； which he did not doubt had at one time been used as a cave and
storehouse of smugglers； Cleggett began to sidle around walls； feeling his
way with his hands。
He dislodged a pebble。 It rolled to the ground with what was really a
slight sound。
But to Cleggett； who had been getting more and more excited； it was
loud as an avalanche。 He stopped and held his breath； he fancied that he
had heard another noise besides the one which his pebble made。 But he
could not be sure。
The sensation that he was not alone suddenly gripped him with
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overwhelming force。 His heart began to beat more quickly； the blood
drummed in his ears。 Nevertheless； he kept his head。 He took his
pocket lantern in his left hand； and his pistol in his right； and leaned with
his back against the wall。 He listened。 He heard nothing。
But the eerie feeling that he was watched grew upon him。 Presently
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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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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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 Pom
