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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 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
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。 Loge's teeth were bared in his malevolent
grimace； he head was bent forward； he sat upon a rock。 Cleggett；
unable to withdraw his eyes； waited for Loge's first movement。
The man made no sign。 Cleggett slowly raised his pistol。 。 。 。
But he did not fire。 The open； staring eyes； unchanging at the
menace of the lifted pistol； told the story。 Loge was dead。
Cleggett crossed over and examined him。 Clutched on his knees
was a bomb。 He had been wounded by Barnstable's last shot； but
he had crawled through the tunnel with a bomb for a final attempt
on the Jasper B。 His strength had failed； he had rested upon the
rock and bled to death。
As for his last thought； Cleggett had felt it。 Loge had died
hating and lusting for his blood。
CHAPTER XXVII
CLEGGETT ACCOMMODATES THE KING
There was a wedding next day on the deck of the Jasper B。 The
Rev。 Simeon Calthrop performed the ceremony； and Wilton
Barnstable insisted upon lending his vessel for a bridal cruise。
Washington Artillery Lamb； engineer； janitor； cook and butler of
the Annabel Lee； went with the vessel。
As for the Jasper B。； although his wife urged him to keep the
ship for the sake of old associations； Cleggett had the hole in
its side built in and gave it to the Rev。 Simeon Calthrop for a
gospel ship。 George the Greek； who married Miss Medley； shipped
with the preacher in his cruise around the world； and he and his
wife eventually reached Greece； as he had originally intended。
Elmer went with the Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop to assist him in his
missionary work。
But it was some time before the Jasper B。 sailed。 Besides the
hole which was the entrance to the tunnel it was discovered that
the vessel rested on a brick foundation。 The man who had used
her for a saloon and dancing platform in years past had dug away
part of the bank of the canal to fit the curve of her starboard
side and had then jammed her tight into the land。 Even then she
would move a trifle at times； so he had built a dam around her；
pumped the water out of the inclosed space； jacked the hulk up；
built the brick foundation； and let her down solidly on it again。
With the dam removed the water covered this masonry work； and she
looked quite like a real ship。 Mr。 Goldberg had known about this
foundation； but he had forgotten it； he expla