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done。 A cloudburst； a hurricane； an electrical bombardment； struck the
Jasper B。 all at once。 One could not hear one's own voice。 In the glare
of the lightning Cleggett saw the rigging tossing in an indescribable
confusion of canvas； spars； and ropes。 Both masts and the bowsprit
snapped at almost the same instant。 The whole chaotic mass was lifted； it
writhed in the air a moment； and then it came crashing down； partly on the
deck and partly in the seething waters of the canal； where it lay and
whipped ship and water with lashing tentacles of wreckage。
But still the unusual Jasper B。 had not moved from her position。
Cleggett's men had had warning enough to save themselves。 They
gathered around him to wait for orders。 More than one of them cast
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anxious glances towards the land。 Shouting to them to attack the debris
with axes； and setting the example himself； Cleggett soon saw the deck
clear again； and the Jasper B。； to all intents； the same hulk she had been
when he bought her。 But such was the fury of the tempest that even with
the big kites gone the Jasper B。 continued to shake and quiver where she
lay。 Speech was almost impossible on deck； but Cap'n Abernethy signed
to Cleggett that he had something important to say to him。
The whole company adjourned to the cabin； and there； shouting to
make himself heard； the Cap'n cried out：
〃Her timbers have been strained something terrible； Mr。 Cleggett。
She ain't what I would call safe and seaworthy any more。 The' don't
seem to be any danger of her sailin' off； but that's no sign she can't be
blowed over onto her beam ends and sunk with all on board。 If you was
to ask me； Mr。 Cleggett； I'd say the time had come to leave the Jasper B。 〃
The anxiety depicted on the faces of the little circle about him might
have communicated itself to a less intrepid nature。 The old Cap'n himself
was no coward。 Indeed； in owning to his alarm he had really done a
brave thing； since few have the moral courage to proclaim themselves
afraid。 But Cleggett was a man of iron。 Although the tempest smote the
hulk with blow after blow； although both earth and water seemed to lie
prostrate and trampled beneath its unappeasable fury； Cleggett had no
thought of yielding。
Unconsciously he drew himself up。 It seemed to his crew that he
actually gained in girth and height。 The soul； in certain great moments；
seems to have power to expand the body and inform it with the quality of
immortality； Ajax； in his magnificent gesture of defiance； is all spirit。
Cleggett； with his hand on his hip； uttered these words； not without their
sublimity：
〃Whether the Jasper B。 sinks or swims； her commander will share her
fate。 I stay by my ship！〃
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER XV
NIGHT； TEMPEST； LOVE AND
BATTLE
And； indeed； if Cleggett had been of a mind to abandon the vessel； he
could scarcely have done so now。 For his words were no more than
uttered when the sharp racket of a volley of pistol shots ripped its way
through the low…pitched roaring of the wind。
Loge had chosen the height of the storm to mask his approach。 He
attacked with the tempest。
Without a word Cleggett put out the light in the cabin。 His men
grasped their weapons and followed him to the deck。 A flash of lightning
showed him； through the driving rain； the enemy rushing towards the
Jasper B。； pistol in hand。 They were scarcely sixty yards away； and were
firing as they came。 Loge； a revolver in one hand； and Cleggett's own
sword cane in the other； was leading the rush。 Besides their firearms； each
of Loge's men carried a wicked…looking machete。
〃Fire！〃 shouted Cleggett。 〃Let them have it； men！〃 And the rifles
blazed from the deck of the Jasper B。 in a crashing volley。 Instantly the
world was dark again； it was impossible to determine whether the fire of
the Jasper B。 had taken effect。
〃To the starboard bulwark；〃 cried Cleggett； 〃and give them hell with
the next lightning flash！〃
It came as he spoke； with its vivid glare showing to Cleggett the
enemy magnified to a portentous bigness against a background of chaotic
night。 Two or three of them stood； leaning keenly forward； several of the
others had dropped to one knee； the rifle discharge had checked the rush；
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and they also were waiting for the lightning。 Cleggett and his men threw
a second volley at this wavering silhouette of astonishment。
A cartridge jammed in the mechanism of Cleggett's gun。 With an
oath he flung the weapon to the deck。 A hand thrust another one into his
grasp； and Lady Agatha's voice said in his ear； 〃Take this oneit's loaded。〃
〃My God；〃 said Cleggett； 〃I thought you were in the cabin！〃
〃Not I！〃 she cried； 〃I'm loading！〃
Just then the lightning came again and showed her to him plainly。
Drenched； bare…armed； bareheaded； her hair down and rolling backward in
a rich wet mass； she knelt on the deck behind the bulwark。 Her eyes
blazed with excitement； and there was a smile upon her lips。 Beside her
was the zinc bucket half full of cartridges。 George tossed a rifle to her。
She flung him back a loaded one； and began methodically to fill the empty
one with cartridges。
〃Agatha；〃 shouted Cleggett； catching her by the wrist； 〃go to the cabin
at onceyou will get yourself killed！〃
〃I'll do nothing of the sort！〃 she shouted。
〃I love you！〃 cried Cleggett； beside himself with fear for her； and
scarcely knowing what his words were。 〃Do you hearI love you； and I
won't have you killed！〃
A bullet ripped its way through the bulwark； perforated the zinc bucket；
struck the gun which Lady Agatha was loading and knocked it from her
hands。
〃Go to the cabin yourself！〃 she shouted in Cleggett's ear。 〃As for me；
I like it！〃
〃I tell you；〃 shouted Cleggett； 〃I won't have you hereI won't have
you killed！〃
He rose to his feet； and attempted to draw her out of danger。 She rose
likewise and struggled with him in the dark。 She wrenched herself free；
and in doing so flung him back against the rail； it lightened again； and she
screamed。 Cleggett turned； and with the next flash saw that one of the
enemy； his face bloody from the graze of a bullet across his forehead； and
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evidently crazed with excitement of fight and storm； was leaping towards
the rail of the vessel。
Cleggett stooped to pick up a gun； but as he stooped the madman
vaulted over the bulwark and landed upon him； bearing him to the deck。
As he struggled to his feet Lady Agatha； who had grasped a cutlass； cut the
fellow down。 The man fell back over the rail with a cry。
For a long moment there was one continuous electric flash from
horizon to horizon； and Cleggett saw her； with windblown hair and wide
eyes and parted lips； standing poised with the red blade in her hand
beneath the driving clouds； the figure of an antique goddess。
The next instant all was dark； her arms were around his neck in the
rain。 〃Oh； Clement；〃 she sobbed； 〃I've killed a man！ I've killed a man！〃
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CHAPTER XVI
ROMANCE REGNANT