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Cleggett paused。 But not a man moved。 On the contrary； a little
murmur of something like reproach ran around the semicircle。 The
ship's company looked in each other's eyes； they stood shifting
their feet uneasily。
Finally Cap'n Abernethy spoke； clearing his throat with a
prefatory hem：
〃If you was to ask me； Mr。 Cleggett；〃 said the Captain； with less
than his usual circumlocution； 〃I'd say the boys here ain't
flattered by what you've just said。 The boys here DOES consider
themselves friends of yours； and if you was anxious to hear my
opinion of it I'd say you've hurt their feelin's by your way of
putting it。 Speakin' for myself； Mr。 Cleggett； as the nautical
commander of this here ship to the military commander； I don't
mind owning up that MY feelin's is hurt。〃
〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 said George the Greek； addressing the nautical
commander； and the word went from lip to lip。
〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 said Dr。 Farnsworth； 〃the Captain speaks for us
all。〃
And the Reverend Mr。 Calthrop remarked with a sigh： 〃You may
have cause to doubt my circumspection； Mr。 Cleggett； but you have
no cause to doubt my courage。〃
Cleggett was not the sort of man who is ashamed to acknowledge an
error。 〃Friends；〃 he cried impulsively； 〃forgive me！ I should
have known better than to phrase my remarks as I did。 I would
not have hurt your feelings for worlds。 I know you are devoted
to me。 I call for volunteers for the perilous adventure which is
before us！〃
The ship's company stepped forward as one man。 As if by magic
the atmosphere cleared。
〃Now；〃 said Cleggett； smiling back on the enthusiastic faces
before him； but inexpressibly touched by the fineness of his
crew's devotion； 〃to get to the point。 There are seven of us；
but there are at least a dozen of them。 We have； however； the
advantage in position； for we can find cover on the ship； whereas
they must attack from the open。 More than that； we will have the
advantage in arms； here is a magazine rifle for each of you；
while they； if I am not mistaken； will attack with pistols。 We
must keep them at a distance； if possible。 If they should
attempt to rush us we will meet them with cutlasses and sabers。〃
〃Mr。 Cleggett；〃 said Lady Agatha； rising when he had finished；
and speaking with animation； 〃will you permit me to make a
suggestion？〃
She went on； without waiting for an answer： 〃It is this： Choose
your own ground for this battle！ The Jasper B。 is now a
full…rigged schooner。 Very well； then； sail her！ At the moment
you are attacked； weigh anchor； fight your way to the mouth of
the canal； take up a position in the bay in front of Morris's
within easy rifle range and out of pistol shot； and compel the
place to surrender on your own terms！〃
As the brilliance of this plan flashed upon her hearers； applause
ran around the room； and Kuroki； who spoke seldom； cried in
admiration：
〃The Honorable Miss Englishman have hit her head on the nail！
Let there be some naval warfares！〃
〃You are right；〃 cried Cleggett； catching fire with the idea； 〃a
hundred times right！ And why wait to be attacked？ Let us carry
the war to the enemy's coast。 Crack all sail upon her！Up with
the anchors！ We will show these gentry that the blood of Drake；
Nelson； and Old Dave Farragut still runs red in the veins of
their countrymen！〃
〃Banzai！〃 cried Kuroki。 〃Also Honorable Admiral Togo's veins！〃
A good breeze had sprung up out of the northwest while the
conference in the cabin was in progress。
Cleggett was relieved that it was not from the south。 There is
not much room to maneuver a schooner in a canal； and a breeze
from the south might have sailed the Jasper B。 backwards towards
Parker's Beach； which would undoubtedly have given the enemy the
idea that Cleggett was retreating。 The Jasper B。's bow was
pointed south； and Cleggett was naturally anxious that she should
sail south。
At the outset a slight difficulty presented itself with regard to
the anchorsfor although； as has been explained before； the
Jasper B。 was a remarkably stable vessel； Cleggett had had the
new anchors furnished by the contractor let down。 Having the
anchors down seemed； somehow； to make things more shipshape。 It
appeared that no one of the adventurers was acquainted with an
anchor song； and Cleggett； and； indeed； all on board； felt that
these anchors should be hoisted to the accompaniment of some
rousing chantey。 Lady Agatha was especially insistent on the
point。
While they stood about the capstan debating the matter the
Reverend Simeon Calthrop hesitatingly offered a suggestion which
showed that； while he was a novice as far as the nautical life
was concerned； he was also a person of resource。
〃How many of those present；〃 inquired the young preacher； 〃know
'Onward Christian Soldiers'？〃
All were acquainted with the hymn； the pastor grasped a capstan
bar and struck up the song in an agreeable tenor voice； they put
their backs into the work and their hearts into the song； and the
anchors of the Jasper B。 came out of mud to the stirring notes of
〃Onward Christian Soldiers； marching as to war！〃
While they were so engaged the breeze strengthened perceptibly。
Looking towards the west； Cleggett perceived the sun sinking
below the horizon。 A long； blue； low…lying bank of clouds seemed
to engulf it； for a moment the top of this cloud was shot through
with a golden color； then a mass of quicker moving； nearer vapors
from the north seemed to leap suddenly nearer still； to extend
itself at a bound over almost a third of the sky； in a breath the
day was gone； a storm threatened。
The rising wind made the task of getting the canvas on the poles
extraordinarily difficult。 Cleggett was well aware that the
usual method of procedure； in the presence of a storm； is rather
to take in sail than to crack on； but； always the original； he
decided in this case to reverse the common custom。 Ashore or at
sea； he never permitted himself to be the slave of
conventionalities。 The Jasper B。 had lain so long in one spot
that it would undoubtedly take more than a capful of wind to move
her。 Cleggett did not know when he would get such a strong wind
again； coming from the right direction； and determined to make
the most of this one while he had it。 Genius partly consists in
the acuteness which grasps opportunities。
From the struggles of Cap'n Abernethy and the crew with the
canvas； which he saw none too clearly through the increasing dusk
from his post at the wheel； Cleggett judged that the wind was
indeed strong enough for his purpose。 Yards； sheets and sails
seemed to be acting in the most singular manner。 He could not
remember reading of any parallel case in the treatises on
navigation which he had perused。 Every now and then the Cap'n or
one of the crew would be jerked clean off his feet by some quick
and unexpected motion of a s