the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第16章
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into compartments of any sort。 If it had ever had them； they had been
torn away。 Below deck； except for the rubbish heap and the steps for the
masts； she was empty as a soup tureen。 The pile of debris was the
highest toward the waist of the vessel。 There it formed a treacherous hill
of junk； this hill sloped downward towards the bow and towards the stern；
in both the fore and after parts； under the forecastle and the cabin； there
were comparatively clear spaces。
The four men forced their way back towards the stern and then came
slowly forward in a line that extended across the vessel； exploring with
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
their lanterns every inch of the precarious footing； and overturning and
looking behind； under； and into every box； cask； or jumble of planking that
might possibly offer a place of concealment。 They found no one。 And；
until they reached a clearer place； well forward； on the starboard side of
the ship； they found no trace of anyone。
Cleggett； who was examining this place； suddenly uttered an
exclamation which brought the others to him。 He pointed to stains of
blood upon the planking； near these stains were marks left by boots which
had been gaumed with a yellowish clay。 A revolver lay on the floor。
Cleggett examined it and found that only one cartridge had been exploded。
The stains of blood and the stains of yellow clay made an easily followed
trail for some yards to a point about halfway between the bow and stern on
the starboard side。
There； in the waist of the vessel； they ceased； ceased abruptly；
mysteriously。 Cleggett； not content； made his men go over the place
again； even more thoroughly than before。 But there was no one there； dead
or wounded； unless he had succeeded in contracting himself to the
dimensions of a rat。
〃There is nothing；〃 said Cleggett； standing by the ladder that led up to
the deck。 〃Nothing；〃 echoed George； and then as if with one impulse；
and moved by the same eerie thought； these four men suddenly raised their
lanterns head…high and gazed at one another。
A startled look spread from face to face。 But no one spoke。 There
was no need to。 All recognized that they were in the presence of an
apparent impossibility。 Yet this seemingly impossible thing was the fact。
There had been two men in the hold of the Jasper B。 They had entered as
mysteriously and silently as disembodied spirits might have done。 One of
them； wounded； had made his exit in the same baffling way。 Where？
How？
Cleggett broke the silence。
〃Let us go to the forecastle and have a look at that fellow；〃 he said； and
led the way。
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
No one lagged as they left the hold。 These were all brave men； but
there are times when the invisible； the incomprehensible； will send a
momentary chill to the heart of the most intrepid。
Cleggett found Lady Agatha； her own troubles for the time forgotten；
in the forecastle。 She had lighted a lamp and was bending over the
wounded man； whose coat and waistcoat she had removed。 His clothing
was a sop of blood。 They cut his shirt and undershirt from him。 Kuroki
brought water and the medicine chest and surgical outfit with which
Cleggett had provided the Jasper B。 They examined his wounds； Lady
Agatha； with a fine seriousness and a deft touch which claimed Cleggett's
admiration； washing them herself and proceeding to stop the flow of
blood。
〃Oh； I am not an altogether useless person；〃 she said； with a
momentary smile； as she saw the look in Cleggett's face。 And Cleggett
remembered with shame that he had not thanked her for her ministrations
to himself。
A pistol bullet had gone quite through the young man's shoulder。
There was a deep cut on his head； and there were half a dozen other stab
wounds on his body。 George had evidently worked with great rapidity in
the hold。
In the inside breast pocket of his coat he had carried a thin and narrow
little book。 There was a dagger thrust clear through it； if the book had
not been there this terrible blow delivered by the son of Leonidas must
inevitably have penetrated the lung。
Cleggett opened the book。 It was entitled 〃Songs of Liberty； by
Giuseppe Jones。〃 The verse was written in the manner of Walt Whitman。
A glance at one of the sprawling poems showed Cleggett that in sentiment
it was of the most violent and incendiary character。 〃Why； he is an
anarchist！〃 said Cleggett in surprise。
〃Oh； really！〃 Lady Agatha looked up from her work of mercy and
spoke with animation； and then gazed upon the youth's face again with a
new interest。 〃An anarchist！ How interesting！ I have ALWAYS
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
wanted to meet an anarchist。〃
〃Poor boy； he don't look like nothin' bad；〃 said Cap'n Abernethy； who
seemed to have taken a fancy to Giuseppe Jones。
〃Listen；〃 said Cleggett； and read：
〃As for your flag； I spit upon your flag！ I spit upon your
organized society anywhere and everywhere； I spit upon your
churches； I spit upon your capitalistic institutions；
I spit upon your laws； I spit upon the whole damned thing！
But； as I spit； I weep！ I weep！〃
〃How silly！〃 said Lady Agatha。 〃What does it mean？〃
〃It means〃 began Cleggett； and then stopped。 The book of
revolutionary verse； taken in conjunction with the red flag that had been
displayed and then withdrawn； made him wonder if Morris's were the
headquarters of some band of anarchists。
But； if so； why should this band show such an interest in the Jasper B。 ？
An interest so hostile to her present owner and his men？
〃If you was to ask me what it means；〃 said Captain Abernethy； who
had taken the book and was fingering it； 〃I'd say it means young Jones
here has fell into bad company。 That don't explain how he sneaked into
the hold of the Jasper B。； nor what for。 But he orter have a doctor。〃
〃He shall have a physician；〃 said Cleggett。 〃In fact； the Jasper B。
needs a ship's doctor。〃
〃It looks to me；〃 said Captain Abernethy； 〃as if she did。 And if you
was to go further； Mr。 Cleggett； and say that it looks as if she was liable to
need a couple o' trained nurses； too； I'd say to you that if they's goin' to be
many o' these kind o' goin's…on aboard of her she DOES need a couple of
trained nurses。〃
〃Captain；〃 said Cleggett； 〃you are a humane man let me shake your
hand。 You have voiced my very thought！〃
Long ago Cleggett had resolved that if Chance or Providence should
ever gratify his secret wish to participate in stirr
