the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第52章
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
Cleggett thought possibly that the tunnel had originally led from
Morris's basement to the smuggler's cave which Wilton Barnstable had
spoken of； and that it had been extended later to the ship。 He learned
afterwards that this was true from the men who had surrendered。 The
Jasper B。 had been abandoned for so long； and was so completely
abandoned except for the visits of Cap'n Abernethy； who fished from it
now and then； that Loge had conceived the idea of making it the back…door；
so to speak； of Morris's。 In the event of a raid upon Morris's his 〃get…
away〃 through the hulk was provided for。 He had intended buying the
ship himself； but Cleggett had forestalled him。
From the prisoners Cleggett also learned later that two men had been
concerned in the explosion which had broken the big rocks on the plain。
One of them had won the Claiborne signet ring at poker after Reginald
Maltravers had been stripped of his valuables； and had worn it。 They had
been dispatched with a bomb each； which they were to introduce into the
hold of the Jasper B。； retiring through the tunnel after they had started the
clockwork mechanism going。 It was known that one of them owed the
other money； they had been quarreling about it as they entered the tunnel
from the cellar of Morris's。 It was conjectured that the quarrel had
progressed and that the debtor had endeavored； by the light of his pocket
lantern in the tunnel； to palm off a counterfeit bill in settlement of the debt。
This may have led to a blow； or more likely only to an argument during
which a bomb was dropped and exploded； followed quickly by the other
explosion。 Dead hand； counterfeit bill and ring were flung whimsically
to the surface of the earth together； and the leaning rocks had been
astonishingly broken from beneath through this trivial quarrel。 Had it not
been for this squabble the Jasper B。 and all on board must have been
destroyed。 Verily； the minds of wicked men compass their own downfall；
and retribution can sometimes be an artist。
But Cleggett； as he crawled forward through the darkness and the
damp； thought little of these things that had so mystified him at the time。
He was alert for what the immediate future might hold； not doubting that
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
Loge had retreated to the tunnel。 He had too strong a sense of the man's
powerful and iniquitous personality to suppose that Loge would kill
himself while one chance remained； however remote； of injuring his
enemies。 Loge was the kind of dog that dies biting。
Suddenly； after pressing forward for several minutes； he ran against an
obstruction。 The tunnel seemed to come to an end。 He did not dare
show his light。 But he felt with his hands。 It was rock that blocked his
way。 Cleggett understood that this barrier was the result of the explosion。
Groping and exploring with his hands； he found that the passage turned
sharply to the left。 It was more narrow and curving； for the distance of a
few yards； and the earth beneath was fresher。 When the tunnel had been
blocked by the explosion； Loge and his men had burrowed around the
obstruction。
Cleggett judged that he must be at about the middle of the tunnel。 He
felt the more solid earth beneath his hands again； and knew that he had
passed the rock。 The passage now descended deeper into the ground；
slanting steeply downward。 This incline was twenty feet in length； then
the floor became horizontal again on the lower level。 At the same time
the passage widened。 Cleggett stretched one arm out； then the other； he
could not touch the wall on either hand。 He stood erect and held his hand
up； the roof was six inches above his head。 He was in a room of some
sort。 Wishing； if possible； to learn the extent of this subterranean
chamber； which he did not doubt had at one time been used as a cave and
storehouse of smugglers； Cleggett began to sidle around walls； feeling his
way with his hands。
He dislodged a pebble。 It rolled to the ground with what was really a
slight sound。
But to Cleggett； who had been getting more and more excited； it was
loud as an avalanche。 He stopped and held his breath； he fancied that he
had heard another noise besides the one which his pebble made。 But he
could not be sure。
The sensation that he was not alone suddenly gripped him with
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
overwhelming force。 His heart began to beat more quickly； the blood
drummed in his ears。 Nevertheless； he kept his head。 He took his
pocket lantern in his left hand； and his pistol in his right； and leaned with
his back against the wall。 He listened。 He heard nothing。
But the eerie feeling that he was watched grew upon him。 Presently
he fancied that the darkness began to vibrate； as if an electrical current of
some sort were being passed through it； and it might forthwith burst into
light。 Cleggett； as we know； was not easily frightened。 But now he was
possessed of a strange feeling； akin to terror； but which was at the same
time not any terror of physical injury。 He did not fear Loge； in dark or
daylight he was ready to grapple with him and fight it out； nevertheless he
feared。 That he could not say what he feared only increased his fear。
Children say they are 〃afraid of the dark。〃 It is not the dark which
they are afraid of。 It is the bodiless presences which they imagine in the
dark。 It was so with Cleggett now。 He was not daunted by anything
that could strike a blow。 But the sense of a personality began to
encompass him。 It pressed in upon him； played upon him； embraced him；
his flesh tingled as if he were being brushed； he felt his hair stir。 One
recognizes a flower by its odor。 So a soul flings off； in some inexplicable
way； the sense of itself。 This force that laid itself upon Cleggett and
flowed around him had an individuality without a body。 Not through his
senses； but psychically； he recognized it； it was the hateful and sinister
individuality of Loge。
With choking throat and dry lips Cleggett stood and suffered beneath
the smothering presence of this terror while the slow seconds mounted to
an intolerable minute； then there burst from him an uncontrollable shout。
〃Loge！〃 he roared； and the cavern rang。
And with the word he pressed the button of his electric pocket lamp
and shot a beam of light straight in front of him。 It fell upon the
yellowish brow and the wide； unwinking eyes of Loge。 The eyes stared
straight at Cleggett's own from across the cave； thirty feet away。
