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mocked the cause he served。 And more than that； the man seemed to take
a perverted pleasure in attaching to himself young enthusiasts of the
radical type； eager to follow him as the disinterested leader of a group of
Reds； and then betraying them into the most sordid sort of crime。
Cleggett foundand could imagine the grimace of malevolent satisfaction
with which it had been writtenthis note：
Heinrich is about ready to leave off talking his cant of
universal brotherhood； and make a little easy money in the way I
have shown him。 It will be interesting to see what happens in
side of Heinrich when he realizes he is not an idealist； but a
criminal。 Will he stick to me on the new lay？ But those
Germans are so sentimental he may commit suicide。
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Cleggett recalled the manhandling Heinrich had received。 A little
farther along he came upon this entry： The Italian…American boy
is a find。 Jones and Giuseppe！ Puritan father； Italian motherand he
worships me！ It will be a test for my personal magnetism； the handling
of Gieseppe Jones will。 He hates a thief worse than the devil hates
holy water。 If I could make him steal for me； I would know that I could
do anything。
〃That's our young poet in the forecastle！〃 said Cleggett。 〃I wonder if
Loge still held him。〃 And then as the memory of the boy's ravings came
to him he mused： 〃Yeshe held the boy！ That is what the fellow meant
in his delirium。 Do you remember that he kept saying： 'I'm a
revolutionist； not a crook！'？ And yet he continued to obey Loge！〃
〃Is it not strange；〃 said Lady Agatha； 〃that the man should take such
pride in working ruin？〃
All three were silent for a space。 And then they looked at each other
with a shiver。 The sense of the strong and sinister personality of Logan
Black struck on their spirits like a bleak wind。
Cleggett was the first to recover himself。
〃God willing；〃 he said solemnly； 〃I will bring that man to justice
personally！〃
Just then two bells struck。 It had taken them more time than they
had realized to make even a partial examination of the contents of the box。
Cleggett； when the bell sounded； looked at his watch to see what time it
washe was still a little unfamiliar with the nautical system。
〃He will go to any length to get this back into his possession；〃 said
Cleggett； as he dumped the heap of incriminating evidence back into the
box and began to nail the boards on again。
〃Any length；〃 echoed the Doctor。
Pat upon the thought came the sound of taxicabs without。 They went
on deck and saw a sinister procession rolling by。 It consisted of three
machines； and there were three men in each cab。 Loge and Pierre were in
the foremost one。 None of the company vouchsafed so much as a glance
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in the direction of the Jasper B。 as the cabs whirled past towards Morris's。
It was undoubtedly a reinforcement of gunmen。
〃Ah！〃 said Cleggett； pointing to them。 〃The real battle is about to
begin！ They are making ready for the attack！〃
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CHAPTER XIV
CLEGGETT STANDS BY HIS
SHIP
Cleggett did not fear （or rather； expect； since there was very little that
Cleggett feared） an attack until well after nightfall。 Nevertheless； he
began to prepare for it at once。 He called the entire ship's company aft；
with the exception of Miss Medley； who was on duty with Giuseppe Jones。
〃My friendsfor I hope we stand in the relation of friends as well as
that of commander and crewI have every reason to expect that the enemy
will make a demonstration in force sometime during the night；〃 he said。
〃We have opposed to us the leader of a dangerous and powerful criminal
organization。 He is； in fact； the president of a crime trust。 He will stop
at nothing to compass the destruction of the Jasper B。 and all on board her。
My quarrel with him has become； in a sense； personal。 I have no right to
ask you to share my risk unless you choose to do so voluntarily。
Therefore； if there is anyone of you who wishes to leave the Jasper B。； let
him do it now。〃
Cleggett paused。 But not a man moved。 On the contrary； a little
murmur of something like reproach ran around the semicircle。 The ship's
company looked in each other's eyes； they stood shifting their feet
uneasily。
Finally Cap'n Abernethy spoke； clearing his throat with a prefatory
hem：
〃If you was to ask me； Mr。 Cleggett；〃 said the Captain； with less than
his usual circumlocution； 〃I'd say the boys here ain't flattered by what
you've just said。 The boys here DOES consider themselves friends of
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yours； and if you was anxious to hear my opinion of it I'd say you've hurt
their feelin's by your way of putting it。 Speakin' for myself； Mr。 Cleggett；
as the nautical commander of this here ship to the military commander； I
don't mind owning up that MY feelin's is hurt。〃
〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 said George the Greek； addressing the nautical
commander； and the word went from lip to lip。
〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 said Dr。 Farnsworth； 〃the Captain speaks for us all。〃
And the Reverend Mr。 Calthrop remarked with a sigh： 〃You may
have cause to doubt my circumspection； Mr。 Cleggett； but you have no
cause to doubt my courage。〃
Cleggett was not the sort of man who is ashamed to acknowledge an
error。 〃Friends；〃 he cried impulsively； 〃forgive me！ I should have
known better than to phrase my remarks as I did。 I would not have hurt
your feelings for worlds。 I know you are devoted to me。 I call for
volunteers for the perilous adventure which is before us！〃
The ship's company stepped forward as one man。 As if by magic the
atmosphere cleared。
〃Now；〃 said Cleggett； smiling back on the enthusiastic faces before
him； but inexpressibly touched by the fineness of his crew's devotion； 〃to
get to the point。 There are seven of us； but there are at least a dozen of
them。 We have； however； the advantage in position； for we can find
cover on the ship； whereas they must attack from the open。 More than
that； we will have the advantage in arms； here is a magazine rifle for each
of you； while they； if I am not mistaken； will attack with pistols。 We
must keep them at a distance； if possible。 If they should attempt to rush
us we will meet them with cutlasses and sabers。〃
〃Mr。 Cleggett；〃 said Lady Agatha； rising when he had finished； and
speaking with animation； 〃will you permit me to make a suggestion？〃
She went on； without waiting for an answer： 〃It is this： Choose
your own ground for this battle！ The Jasper B。 is now a full…rigged
schooner。 Very well； then； sail her！ At the moment you are attacked；
weigh anchor； fight your way to the mouth of the canal； take up a position
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in the bay in front of Morris's within easy rifle range and out of pistol shot；
and compel the place to surrender on your own terms！〃
As the brilliance of this plan flashed upon her hearers； applause ran
around the room； and Kuroki； who spoke seldom； cried in admiration：
〃The Honorable Miss Englishman have hit her head on the nail！