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he disdained to do so。 It was his purpose to take the man alive；
if possible。
But the rifle shot did not end the espionage。 All day scouting
parties in taxicabs kept appearing on the sandy plain to
reconnoiter the fleet and fortress。 They circled； they swooped；
they dashed； they zigzagged here and there； but always at a high
rate of speed； and always at a prudent distance from the canal。
Beyond sending an occasional rifle ball whistling towards the
wheels of the cabs； or over the heads of the occupants； to remind
them to keep their distance； Cleggett paid but little attention
to these parties。 If Loge thought him demented； if he had his
enemy guessing； so much the better。 The eccentric movements of
these cabs was a circumstance which in itself testified to Loge's
bewilderment and curiosity。
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 of Cleggett 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 the frivolity 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 subtletoo 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 it as 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。
CHAPTER XXIII
CUTLASSES
There was no thought of guns or pistols。 There was no time to aim
or fire。 Loge's rush had lodged him on the deck。 Roaring like a
wild animal； he carried the fight to the defenders。