the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第20章
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found that its nature was such as to tease and balk his faculties of analysis。
The blast had blown a hole into the ground； certainly； but this hole was
curiously filled。 Two large bowlders that leaned towards each other had
stood on top of the ground。 These had been split and shattered into many
fragments。 A few pieces； like the one that came so near Cleggett； had
been flung to a distance； but for the most part the shivered crowns and
broken bulks had been served otherwise； the force of the blast had
disintegrated them； but had not scattered them； the greater part of this
newly…rent stone had toppled into the fissure in the ground； and lay there
mixed with earth； almost filling the hole。 It was impossible to determine
just where and how the blast had been set off； the rocks hid the facts。
But Cleggett judged that the force must have come from below the
bowlders； mightily smitten from beneath； they had collapsed into the
cavern suddenly opening there； as a building might collapse into and fill a
cellar。 The pieces that had been thrown high into the air were insignificant
in proportion to the great bulk which had settled into the hole and made its
origin a mystery。
As Cleggett； bewildered； stood and gazed upon the mass of rock and
earth； Cap'n Abernethy gave a cry and pointed at something with his finger。
Cleggett； looking at the spot indicated； saw upon the edge of this singular
fracture in the earth a thing that sent a quick chill of horror and repulsion
to his heart。 It was a dead hand； roughly severed between the wrist and
the elbow。 The back of it was uppermost； the fingers were clenched。
Cleggett set down his lantern beside it and turned it over with his foot。
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
The dead fingers clutched a scrap of something yellow。 On one of
them was a large and peculiar ring。
〃My God！〃 murmured Lady Agatha； grasping Cleggett convulsively
by the shoulder； 〃that is the Earl of Claiborne's signet ring！〃
But Cleggett scarcely realized what she had said； until she repeated her
words。 Fighting down his repugnance； he took from the lifeless and
stubborn fingers the yellow scrap of paper。
It was a torn and crumpled twenty…dollar bill。
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER IX
MYSTERIES MULTIPLY
Directing Kuroki to remove the ring and bring it along； Cleggett gave
his arm to Lady Agatha and led the way back to the Jasper B。 Neither
said anything to the point until； seated in the cabin； with the twenty…dollar
bill and the ring before them； Cleggett picked up the latter and remarked：
〃You are certain of the identity of this ring？〃
〃Certain；〃 she said。 〃I could not mistake it。 There is no other like it；
anywhere。〃
It was a very heavy gold band； set with a large piece of dark green jade
which was deeply graven on its surface with the Claiborne crest。
〃Was it；〃 asked Cleggett； 〃in the possession of Reginald Maltravers？〃
〃It might have been； readily enough；〃 she said； 〃although I had not
known that it was。 Still； that does not explain。 。 。 。〃 She shrugged her
shoulders。
〃There are a number of things unexplained；〃 answered Cleggett； 〃and
the presence of this ring； and the manner in which it has come into our
possession； are not the most mysterious of them。 The explosion itself
appears to me； just now； at least； hard to account for。〃
〃The manner in which people get into and out of the hold of your
vessel is also obscure；〃 said Lady Agatha。
〃Nor is the motive of their hostility clear；〃 said Cleggett。
He picked up the piece of paper money。 Something about the feel of it
aroused his suspicions。 He called Elmer； and when that exponent of
reform entered the cabin； asked him bluntly：
〃Did you ever have anything to do with bad money？〃
Elmer intimated that he might know it if he saw it。
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
〃Then look at that； please。〃
Elmer took the torn bill； produced a penknife； slit the yellow paper；
and cut out of it one of the small hair…like fibers with which the texture of
such notes is sprinkled。 After wetting this fiber and mangling it with his
penknife he gave his judgment briefly。
〃Queer；〃 he said。
〃But what does that explain？〃 asked Lady Agatha。 〃Perhaps the Earl
of Claiborne came to this country and took to making counterfeit money in
the hold of the Jasper B。； into and out of which he stole like a ghost？
Finally he got tired of it and blew himself up with a bomb out there；
leaving his ring with a piece of money intact？ Is that the explanation we
get out of our facts？ Because； you know；〃 she added； as Cleggett did not
smile； 〃all that is absurd！〃
〃Yes；〃 said Cleggett； still refusing to be amused； 〃but out of all this
jumble of mystery； just one certain thing appears。〃
〃And that is？〃
〃That our destinies are somehow linked！〃
〃Our destinies？ Linked？〃
She gave him a swift look； and as suddenly dropped her eyes again。
Cleggett could not tell whether she was offended or not by his expression
of the idea。
〃The same people；〃 said Cleggett； after a brief pause； 〃who are so
persistently hostile to me are also in some manner connected with your
own misfortunes。 Their possession of this ring shows that。〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； following his thought； 〃that is truewhoever set off
that bomb was also wearing this ring； or was very near the person who
was wearing it。 And；〃 with a shudder which conveyed to Cleggett that
she was thinking of the box on deck； 〃it COULDN'T have been Reginald
Maltravers！〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Cleggett； 〃someone was sneaking over from Morris's
with the intention of destroying the Jasper B。； and was himself the
victim of a premature explosion as he crouched behind the rocks to await
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
his opportunity。〃
〃But why；〃 puzzled Lady Agatha； with contracted brows； 〃should a
dynamiter； anarchistic or otherwise； be holding a counterfeit twenty…dollar
bill in his hand as he went about his work？〃
Cleggett brooded in silence。
〃We are in the midst of mysteries；〃 he said finally。 〃They are
multiplying about us。〃
He was about to say more。 He was about to express again his belief
that they had been flung together by fate。 The sense that their stories
were inextricably intertwined； that they must henceforward march on as
one mystery towards a solution； was exhilarating to him。 But how was it
possible that she should feel the same sense of pleasure in the fact that
they faced dangers； seen and unseen； toget
