Cleggett had no idea that there would be an attack before nightfall, and at two o'clock in the afternoon he awakened all the members of his crew who were still sleeping, ordered them into bathing suits, a supply of which he had been thoughtful enough to have the young doctor bring out along with the nurses, and piped them into the canal.The water was cold, but they came out refreshed and invigorated by the plunge and feeling fit for any struggle that might be ahead of them.This maneuver on the part ofCleggett and his marines and infantrymen seemed still more to excite the curiosity and contribute to the bewilderment of Loge and his ruffians.
After the general bath and a substantial lunch, Cleggett called all hands aft and addressed them.
"Ladies and loyal followers and co-workers," he said."We have passed some nights and days of peril.And there are, I doubt not, still parlous times ahead of the Jasper B.before our ship sets sail for the China Seas.But what is sweeter than pleasure snatched from the very presence of danger? Courage and gayety should go hand in hand! It is a beautiful May afternoon, we have a goodly deck beneath our feet, and, briefly, who is for a dance?"A huzza showed the popularity of the suggestion.Washington Artillery Lamb, the janitor and butler of the Annabel Lee, possessed an accordion on which he was an earnest and artistic performer.Miss Pringle's Jefferson had with him a harmonica, or mouth organ, which he at once produced.Jefferson was endowed with the peculiar gift of manipulating this little musical instrument solely with his lips, moving it back and forth and round about as he played, without touching it with his hands; and this left his hands free to pat the time.The negro orchestra perched itself on the top of the cabin, and in a moment Lady Agatha, the five nurses, Cleggett, the three detectives, Dr.Farnsworth, and Captain Abernethy were tangoing on the deck.And this to the still further perplexity of Logan Black.As the dance started Cleggett saw that person, almost distracted by his inability to comprehend the mental processes of the commander of the Jasper B., rise to his feet in an automobile that had stopped a couple of hundred yards away, and beat with both hands upon his temples, gnashing his long yellow teeth the while.
The Rev.Simeon Calthrop turned sadly away from the vessel, and, with a sigh, went and sat in the trench, where he was soon joined by Elmer.The disgraced preacher and the reformed convict had struck up a fast friendship.They sat with their backs towards the Jasper B., and Cleggett supposed from their attitude that they were sternly condemnatory of thefrivolity and festivity on board ship.
Cleggett, after the first dance, sought them out.
"I hope," he said to the Rev.Mr.Calthrop, not unkindly, "that you don't disapprove of us.""It isn't that, Mr.Cleggett," said the ship's chaplain, with sorrow in his eloquent brown eyes, "it isn't that at all.In fact, I had a tango class in the basement of my church, every Thursday evening-when I had a church.""Then what is it?"
"Alas!" sighed the young preacher."I do not trust myself! Women, as I have told you, Mr.Cleggett, are apt to become fascinated with me.I cannot help it.It is in such gay scenes as this that the danger lies, Mr.Cleggett.As an honorable man, I feel that I am bound to withdraw myself and my fatal influence.""You are too subtle--too subtle for moral health," said Cleggett.
"But I will not attempt to influence you.Elmer, are you also afraid of inspiring a hopeless passion?""Mister Cleggett," said Elmer gloomily and huskily, out of one corner of his mouth, "I ain't takin' a chance.D' youse get me? Not a chancet.Oncet youse reformed, Mr.Cleggett, youse can't be too careful."Cleggett returned to the vessel.Miss Pringle the elder was leaving it.Miss Henrietta Pringle was following.Cleggett gathered that the niece left reluctantly, and under the coercion of the aunt.
Miss Pringle the elder was about to join the Rev.Mr.Calthrop in the trench.Morality, as well as misery, loves company.But Mr.Calthrop saw the Misses Pringle coming.He swiftly rose, passed them by with his face averted, and went aboard the Annabel Lee.It was evident that he believed that his fatal gift of fascination had attracted these ladies towards him in spite of himself.Elmer and the Misses Pringle sat gloomily on a clean plank in the trench while the dance went gayly on.
"If you was to ask me," said Captain Abernethy, pausing winded from the tango, strong old man that he was, "I'd give it as my opinion that them that gits their enjoyment in an oncheerful way don't git nigh as much of itas them that gits it in a cheerful way.Mrs.Lady Agatha, ma'am, if you kin fox-trot as well as you kin tango I'll never have another word to say agin female suffragettes."But as Cap'n Abernethy spoke the grin froze upon his face.
"My God! Look there!" he shrilled, pointing a long finger towards the plain.Simultaneously the Misses Pringle, shrieking wildly, leaped from the trench towards the ship and Elmer fired a pistol shot.
Cleggett beheld five taxicabs, filled with Loge's assassins, charging towards the vessel at the rate of thirty miles an hour.
"To arms!To arms!" shouted the commander of the Jasper B.
But the enemy, with Logan Black in the lead, had already reached the trenches.They flung themselves to the ground and swept over the trench towards the bulwarks, twenty strong, with flashing machetes.So confident had Cleggett been that Loge would not dare to attack in broad daylight that he had scarcely even considered the possibility.It was the one fault of his military and naval career.
"Cutlasses, men, and at them!" he cried.
