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particular sympathy with his employers； which attracted Loge； so
Cleggett divined。 Cleggett was astonished at the number of jobs
which Loge had engineered。 The book threw light on mysterious
explosions which had occurred throughout a period of five years。
But it was the third manuscript book which displayed the real
Logan Black。
This was also in cipher。 Dr。 Farnsworth and Cleggett had
translated but a few lines of it when they perceived that it was
a diary。 With a vanity almost inconceivable to those who have
not reflected upon the criminal nature； Loge had written here the
tale of his own life； for his own reading。 He had written it in
loving detail。 It was； in fact； the book in which he looked when
he wished to admire himself。
〃It is odd；〃 said Cleggett； 〃that so clever a man should write
down his own story in this way。〃
〃This book；〃 said Farnsworth； 〃would be a boon to a psychologist
interested in criminology。 You say it is odd。 But with a
certain type of criminal； it is almost usual。 The human soul is
full of strange impulses。 One of the strangest is towards just
this sort of record。 Cunning； and the vanity which destroys
cunning； often exist side by side。 The criminal of a certain
type almost worships himself； he is profoundly impressed with his
own cleverness。 He is a braggart； he swaggers； he defeats
himself。 A strange idiocy mingles with his cleverness。〃
〃Even people who are not criminals do just that sort of thing；〃
said Lady Agatha。 〃Look at Samuel Pepys。 He was one of the most
timid of beings。 And he valued his place in the world mightily。
But he wrote down the story of his own disgrace in his diaryit
had to come out of him！ And then； timid and cautious as he was；
he did not destroy the book！ He let it get out of his
possession。〃
It was an evil； a monstrous personality which leered out of Logan
Black's diary。 Boastful of his own iniquity； swaggering in his
wickedness； fatuous with self…love； he recounted his deeds with
gusto and with particularity。 They did not read a quarter of
this terrible autobiography at the time； but they read enough to
see the man in the process of building up a criminal organization
of his own； with ramifications of the most surprising nature。
〃This man；〃 said Dr。 Farnsworth； with a shudder； 〃actually has
the ambition to be the head of nothing less than a crime trust。〃
〃It seems to be something more than an ambition；〃 said Cleggett。
〃It seems to be almost an accomplished fact。〃
〃Ugh！〃 said Lady Agatha； with a gesture of disgust； 〃he's like a
great horrid spider spinning webs！〃
Interested in anarchy only on its practical side； as the paid
dynamiter of the inner circle of radicals； Logan Black in his
diary jeered at and mocked the cause he served。 And more than
that； the man seemed to take a perverted pleasure in attaching to
himself young enthusiasts of the radical type； eager to follow
him as the disinterested leader of a group of Reds； and then
betraying them into the most sordid sort of crime。 Cleggett
foundand could imagine the grimace of malevolent satisfaction
with which it had been writtenthis note：
Heinrich is about ready to leave off talking
his cant of universal brotherhood； and make a
little easy money in the way I have shown him。
It will be interesting to see what happens in
side of Heinrich when he realizes he is not an
idealist； but a criminal。 Will he stick to me on
the new lay？ But those Germans are so sentimental
he may commit suicide。
Cleggett recalled the manhandling Heinrich had received。 A
little farther along he came upon this entry：
The Italian…American boy is a find。 Jones and
Giuseppe！ Puritan father； Italian motherand
he worships me！ It will be a test for my personal
magnetism； the handling of Gieseppe Jones
will。 He hates a thief worse than the devil hates
holy water。 If I could make him steal for me； I
would know that I could do anything。
〃That's our young poet in the forecastle！〃 said Cleggett。 〃I
wonder if Loge still held him。〃 And then as the memory of the
boy's ravings came to him he mused： 〃Yeshe held the boy！ That
is what the fellow meant in his delirium。 Do you remember that
he kept saying： 'I'm a revolutionist； not a crook！'？ And yet he
continued to obey Loge！〃
〃Is it not strange；〃 said Lady Agatha； 〃that the man should take
such pride in working ruin？〃
All three were silent for a space。 And then they looked at each
other with a shiver。 The sense of the strong and sinister
personality of Logan Black struck on their spirits like a bleak
wind。
Cleggett was the first to recover himself。
〃God willing；〃 he said solemnly； 〃I will bring that man to
justice personally！〃
Just then two bells struck。 It had taken them more time than
they had realized to make even a partial examination of the
contents of the box。 Cleggett； when the bell sounded； looked at
his watch to see what time it washe was still a little
unfamiliar with the nautical system。
〃He will go to any length to get this back into his possession；〃
said Cleggett； as he dumped the heap of incriminating evidence
back into the box and began to nail the boards on again。
〃Any length；〃 echoed the Doctor。
Pat upon the thought came the sound of taxicabs without。 They
went on deck and saw a sinister procession rolling by。 It
consisted of three machines； and there were three men in each
cab。 Loge and Pierre were in the foremost one。 None of the
company vouchsafed so much as a glance in the direction of the
Jasper B。 as the cabs whirled past towards Morris's。 It was
undoubtedly a reinforcement of gunmen。
〃Ah！〃 said Cleggett； pointing to them。 〃The real battle is about
to begin！ They are making ready for the attack！〃
CHAPTER XIV
CLEGGETT STANDS BY HIS SHIP
Cleggett did not fear （or rather； expect； since there was very
little that Cleggett feared） an attack until well after
nightfall。 Nevertheless； he began to prepare for it at once。 He
called the entire ship's company aft； with the exception of Miss
Medley； who was on duty with Giuseppe Jones。
〃My friendsfor I hope we stand in the relation of friends as
well as that of commander and crewI have every reason to expect
that the enemy will make a demonstration in force sometime during
the night；〃 he said。 〃We have opposed to us the leader of a
dangerous and powerful criminal organization。 He is； in fact；
the president of a crime trust。 He will stop at nothing to
compass the destruction of the Jasper B。 and all on board her。
My quarrel with him has become； in a sense； personal。 I have no
right to ask you to share my risk unless you choose to do so
voluntarily。 Therefore； if there is anyone of you who wishes to
leave the Jasper B。； let him do it now。〃
Cleggett paused。 But not a man moved。 On the contrary；