the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第35章
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trampling； scattering； filling them with confusion。 A rocking carriage
leaped and bounded behind the furious animals； and as the horses struck
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
the bulwark and swerved aside； its weight and bulk； hurled like a missile
among Cleggett's staggered and struggling enemies； completed and
confirmed their panic。
No troops on earth can stand the shock of a cavalry charge in the rear
and flank； few can face surprise； the boarding party； convinced that they
had fallen into a trap； melted away。 One moment they were sweeping
forward； vicious and formidable； confident of victory； the next they were
floundering weaponless； scrambling anyhow for safety； multiplying and
transforming； with the quick imagination of panic terror； these two horses
into a troop of mounted men。
This sudden and almost spectral apparition of galloping steeds and
flying carriage； hurled upon the vessel out of the tempest； flung； a piece of
whirling chaos； from the chaotic skies； had almost as startling an effect
upon the defenders。 For a moment they paused； with weapons uplifted；
and stared。 Where an enemy had been； there was nothing。 So doubtful
Greeks or Trojans might have paused and stared upon the plains of Ilion
when some splenetic and fickle deity burst unannounced and
overwhelming into the central clamor of the battle。
But it is in these seconds of pause and doubt that great commanders
assert themselves； it is these electric seconds from which the hero gathers
his vital lightning and forges his mordant bolt。 Genius claims and rules
these instants； and the gods are on the side of those who boldly grasp loose
wisdom and bind it into sheaves of judgment。 Cleggett （whom Homer
would have loved） was the first to recover his poise。 He came to his
decision instantaneously。 A lesser man might have lost all by rushing
after his retreating enemies； a lesser man； carried away by excitement；
would have pursued。 Cleggett did not relax his grasp upon the situation； he
restrained his ardor。
〃Stand firm； men！ Do not leave the ship；〃 he shouted。 〃The day is
ours！〃
And then； turning to Captain Abernethy； he cried：
〃We have routed them！〃
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
〃Look at them crazy horses！〃 screamed the Captain in reply。
The animals were rearing and struggling among the ruins of the broken
gangplank。 As the Captain spoke； they plunged aboard the ship； and the
carriage； bounding after them； overturned on the deckhorses and carriage
came down together in a welter of splintering wheels and broken harness
and crashing wood。
A negro driver； whom Cleggett now noticed for the first time； shot
clear of the mass and landed on the deck in a sitting posture。
For a moment； there he sat； and did nothing more。 The pole broke
loose from the carriage； the traces parted； and the two big white horses；
still kicking and plunging； struggled to their feet and free from the
wreckage。 Still side by side they leaped the port bulwark； splashed into
the canal； and swam straight across it； as if animated with the instinct of
going straight ahead in that fashion to the end of the world。 Cleggett
never saw or heard of them again。
〃Bring a lantern；〃 said Cleggett to Abernethy。 〃Let's see if this man is
badly hurt。〃
But the negro was not injured。 He rose to his feet as the Captain
brought the lightthe storm was now subsiding； and the lightning was less
frequentand stood revealed as a person of surprising size and unusual
blackness。 He was； in fact； so black that it was no wonder that Cleggett
had not seen him on the seat of the carriage； for unless one turned a light
full upon him his face could not be seen at all after dark。 He was in a
blue livery； and his high； cockaded coachman's hat had stayed on his head
in spite of everything。
Even sitting down on the deck he had possessed an air of patience。
When he arose and the Captain flashed the light upon his face； it revealed
a countenance full of dignified good humor。
〃Where did you come from？〃 asked Cleggett。
The negro removed the hat with the cockade before answering。 He
did it politely。 Even ceremoniously。 But he did not do it hastily。 He
had the air of one who was never inclined to do things hastily。
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〃From Newahk； sah；〃 he said。 〃Newahk； New Jehsey； sah。〃
〃But who are you？〃 said Cleggett。 〃How did you get here？〃
The negro was gazing reflectively at the broken carriage。
〃Ah yo' Mistah Cleggett； sah？ Mistah Clement J。 Cleggett； sah； the
ownah of dis hyeah boat？〃
〃Yes。〃
The negro fumbled in an inner pocket and produced a card。 He gave
it to Cleggett with a deferential bow； and then announced sonorously：
〃Miss Genevieve Pringle； sahin de cah…age； saha callin' on Mistah
Clement J。 Cleggett。〃
He completed the announcement with a dignified and courtly gesture；
which seemed to indicate that he was presenting the ruined carriage itself
to Cleggett。
〃You don't mean in that carriage？〃 cried Cleggett。
〃Yes； sah；〃 said the negro。 〃Leas'ways； she was； sah； some time back。
Mah time an' mah 'tention done been so tooken up wif dem incompatible
hosses fo' some moments past； sah； dat I cain't say fo' suah ef she
adheahed； or ef she didn't adheah。〃
He glanced speculatively at the carriage again。 Cleggett sprang
towards the broken vehicle； expecting to find someone seriously injured at
the very least。 But； from the ruin； a precise and high…pitched feminine
voice piped out：
〃Jefferson！ Kindly assist me to disentangle myself！〃
〃Yassum；〃 said the negro； moving forward in a leisurely and dignified
manner； 〃comin'； ma'am。 I hopes an' trusts； Miss Pringle； ma'am； yo' ain't
suffered none in yo' anatomy an' phlebotomy from dis hyeah runaway。〃
With which cheerful wish Jefferson lifted respectfully； and with a
certain calm detachment； the figure of a woman from the debris。
〃Thank you； Jefferson；〃 she said。 〃I fear I am very much bruised and
shaken； but I have been feeling all my bones while lying there； and I
believe that I have sustained no fractures。〃
Miss Pringle was a woman of about fifty； small and prim。 Prim with
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an unconquerable primness that neither storm nor battle nor accident could
shake。 If she had been killed in the runaway she would have looked prim
in death while awaiting the undertaker。 She must have been wet almost
to those unfractured bones which she had been feeling； her black silk dress；
with its white ruching about the neck； was torn and bedraggled； her black
hat； with its jet ornaments； was crushed and hung askew over one ea
