ommander and crew--I 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, 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, wherea