the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第51章
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made his escape through a secret passageway。〃
〃A tunnel；〃 said Barton Ward。
〃With a concealed door opening into the hold；〃 said Watson Bard。
〃A ship with a secret tunnel！〃 cried Cleggett。 〃Who ever heard of the
like？ Why； the thing is〃
But he broke off。 He had been leaning against the starboard side of
the hold。 Even as he spoke he felt the wall behind him moving。 He
turned。 A door was opening。 It was built into the side of the Jasper B。
and the joints were cleverly concealed。 He had inadvertently found； with
his elbow； the nailhead which was in reality the push button that released
the spring。 The black entrance of a subterranean passage yawned before
him。
He stared in astonishment。 The three detectives were pointing at the
tunnel with plump forefingers and bland； triumphant smiles。
〃Nothing is impossible； my dear Cleggett；〃 said Barnstable。 〃The
tunnel HAD to be there！〃
〃It explains everything；〃 said Cleggett。 〃But a tunnel into MY ship！〃
And； in truth； for a moment he felt disappointed in the Jasper B。
A tunnel is all very well leading from the basement of a house； or
extending backward from a cave； but Cleggett felt that it was scarcely a
dignified sort of arrangement； nautically speaking； for a ship to have
leading from its hold。
It seemed； somehow； to stamp the Jasper B。 indelibly as a thing of the
land rather than as the gallant creature of piping winds and following seas。
Could the Jasper B。； a bone in her teeth and her tackle humming； ever
again sail through Cleggett's dreams？ For a moment； if the worst must
be known； he was almost disgusted with the Jasper B。； considered as a
ship。 For a moment he was willing to believe that Cap'n Abernethy was
nothing but a Long Island truck farmer； and NOT of a seafaring family at
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
all。 For a moment he felt himself to be a copyreader again on the New
York Enterprise。
But only for a moment！ The star of romance； clouded temporarily by
fact； rose serene and bright again in the wide heaven of the unusual spirit；
the barber's basin gleamed once more the helmet of Mambrino。 Cleggett
began to see the matter in its proper light。
〃A tunnel！〃 he cried； brightening； and looking at it with his legs spread
a little wide and his hands on his hips。 〃A tunnel！ Eh； by gad！ Who
could have prophesied a tunnel？ Barnstable； never tell me again there is
no romance in real life！ I tell you； Barnstable； she's a good old ship； the
Jasper B。！ I don't suppose there was ever another schooner in the world
with a secret passageway leading out of her hold！〃
〃She IS a remarkable vessel；〃 agreed Wilton Barnstable gravely。
〃But； come； we are wasting time！ The other end of this passage is at
Morris's； that is plain。 Loge Black has only a few minutes' start of us。
Therefore； to Morris's！〃
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER XXVI
A DOG DIES GAME
Clambering out of the hold； the three detectives and Cleggett briefly
made their followers acquainted with the extraordinary turn of events。
The Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop； Miss Pringle's Jefferson； and Washington Artillery
Lamb were detailed to guard the Jasper B。 end of the tunnel。 The others；
seizing their rifles； raced across the sands towards Morris's。
In a few moments the place was invested； with riflemen on every side
except the south； which fronted on the bay。 The steel…jacketed bullets
from the high…power guns tore through and through the flimsy walls。
Nevertheless the defenders replied pluckily； and the siege might have
dragged on for hours had it not been for the courage and resource of
Kuroki。 Gaining the stable； Kuroki found an old pushcart there。 He
piled three bales of hay upon it； and then set fire to the hay。 Pushing the
cart before him； and crouching behind the bales to protect himself from
revolver shots； he worked his way to the east verandah of the building and
left the hay blazing against the planks。 Then he ran as if the devil were
after him； and was almost out of pistol shot before he got a bullet in the
calf of his leg。
The blaze caught the wood and spread。 In two minutes the east
verandah was in flames。 Loge and his men attempted to pour water on
the blaze from above。 But Cleggett's party directed so hot a fire upon the
windows that the defenders were forced to retire。
The main building caught。 The road house was old； and was of very
light construction； the fire spread with rapidity。 Loge was in a trap。
But that evil and indomitable spirit refused to yield。 Even when his
remaining ruffians came out and gave themselves up Loge still fought on
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
alone in a sullen fury of despair。
Reckless of bullets； he leaned from an open window； a figure not
without its grandeur against the background of smoke and flame； and
shouted a savage and obscene insult at Cleggett。
〃Give yourself up；〃 cried Wilton Barnstable。
〃Damn it； man； anything's better than roasting to death！〃
Loge raised his hand and sped a last bullet at the detective； grazing
Barnstable's temple。
〃Come in and get me！〃 he shouted。
Barnstable fired； just as a whirl of smoke blew in front of Loge。
Cleggett thought the outlaw staggered； but he was not certain。
A moment later a portion of the roof fell； then the east wall crashed in。
Morris's was a blazing ruin。
〃He has perished in the flames；〃 said Wilton Barnstable。 〃So ends
Logan Black！〃
〃More like he's blowed his head off；〃 said Cap'n Abernethy。 〃If you
was to ask me； that's what I'd do。〃
〃He has done neither！〃 cried Cleggett。 〃He has taken to the tunnel。
That man will fight to the last breath。〃
And without waiting to see whether the others followed him or not
Cleggett set off at top speed for the Jasper B。
With a dagger between his teeth； his pistol in its holster； and his
electric； watchman's lantern in his pocket he entered the tunnel and
crawled forward on his hands and knees。 If Loge were in there indeed he
had the fire at one end and Cleggett at the other。 But even at that； escape
was possible； for all Cleggett knew。 What ramifications this peculiar
passageway might have he could not guess。
The place was narrow； and in spots so low that it was necessary for a
man to crouch almost to the ground。 Cleggett； because he did not wish to
reveal his presence； did not flash his lantern； there were stretches where he
might have stood almost erect and made quicker progress； if he had found
them with the light。 The earth beneath him was beaten hard and smooth。
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