按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
gangplank； hand on hip； and called out sharply：
〃Well； my friend； you will know me the next time you see me！〃
The tall man turned without a word and walked back to the taxicab；
the occupants of which had watched this singular duel of looks in silence。
In the act of getting into the machine he face about again and said； with a
lift of the lip that showed two long； protruding canine teeth of an almost
saffron hue：
〃I WILL know you again。〃
He spoke with a kind of cold hostility that gave his words all the effect
of a threat。 Cleggett felt the blood leap faster through his veins； he
tingled with a fierce； illogical desire to strike the fellow on the mouth； his
soul stirred with a premonition of conflict； and the desire for it。 And yet；
on the surface of things at least； the man had been nothing more than rude；
22
… Page 23…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
as Cleggett watched the machine make off towards an isolated road house
on the bayside he wondered at the quick intensity of his own antipathy。
Unconsciously he flexed his wrist in his characteristic gesture。 Scarcely
knowing that he spoke； he murmured：
〃That man gets on my nerves。〃
That man was destined to do something more than get on Cleggett's
nerves before the adventures of the Jasper B。 were ended。
23
… Page 24…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER IV
A BAD MAN TO CROSS
The isolated road house on the bay was a nondescript； jumbled；
dilapidated…looking assemblage of structures； rather than one house。 It
was known simply as Morris's。 It stood a few hundred yards west of the
end of the canal which opened into the bay and was about a quarter of a
mile from the Jasper B。
The canal itself was broad； straight； low…banked； and about three…
quarters of a mile in length。 The town had thrown out a few ranks of
cottages in the direction of the canal。 But these were all summer
bungalows； occupied only from June until the middle of September。 The
solider and more permanent part of Fairport was well withdrawn from the
sandy； sedgy stretches that bordered on tidewater。
At the north and inland terminus of the quiet strip of water in which
the Jasper B。 reposed was a collection of buildings including bathhouses； a
boathouse； and a sort of shed where 〃soft drinks〃 and sea food were served
during the bathing season。 This place was known as Parker's Beach and
was open only during the summer。
Morris's was of quite a different character from Parker's Beach。 One
could bathe at Morris's； but the beach near by was not particularly good。
One could hire boats there and buy bait for a fishing trip。 In one of its
phases it made some pretensions to being a summer hotel。 It had an
extensive barroom。 There was a dancing floor； none too smooth。 There
were long verandahs on three sides。 That on the south side was built on
piles' people ate and drank there in the summer； beneath it the water
swished and gurgled when the tide was in。
The townspeople of Fairport； or the more respectable ones； kept away
24
… Page 25…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
from Morris's； summer and winter。 Summer transients； inhabitants of the
bungalows during the bathing season； patronized the place。 But most of
the patronage at all seasons seemed to consist of automobile parties from
the city； people apparently drawn from all classes； or eluding definite
classification entirely。 In the bleakest season there was always a little stir
of dubious activity about Morris's。 In the summer it impressed you with
its look of cheapness。 In the winter； squatted by the cold water amidst its
huddle of unpainted outhouses； at the end of a stretch of desolate beach；
the fancy gave Morris's a touch of the sinister。
Cleggett was anxious to get the Jasper B。 into seaworthy condition as
soon as possible。 It occurred to him that the employment of expert
advice should be his first step； and early the next morning he hired Captain
Abernethy。 That descendant of a seafaring family； though he felt it
incumbent upon him to offer objections that had to be overcome with a
great show of respect； was really overjoyed at the commission。 He left
his own cottage a mile or so away and took up his abode in the forecastle
at once。 By nine o'clock that morning Cleggett had a force of workmen
renovating both cabin and forecastle； putting the cook's galley into
working order； and cleansing the decks of soil and sand。 That night
Cleggett spent on the vessel； with Captain Abernethy。
By Saturday of the same weekCleggett had bought the vessel on
Wednesdayhe was able to take up his abode in the cabin with his books
and arms about him。 To his library he had added a treatise on navigation。
And； reflecting that his firearms were worthless； considered as modern
weapons； he also purchased a score of 。44 caliber Colt's revolvers and
automatic pistols of the latest pattern； and a dozen magazine rifles。
He brought on board at the same time； for cook and cabin boy； a
Japanese lad； who said he was a sailor； and who called himself Yoshahira
Kuroki； and a Greek； George Stefanopolous。
The latter was a handsome； rather burly fellow of about thirty； a man
with a kindling eye and a habit of boasting of his ancestors。
Among them； he declared； was Leonidas； the hero of Thermopylae。
25
… Page 26…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
George admitted he was not a sailor； but professed a willingness to learn；
and looked so capable； as he squared his bulky shoulders and twisted his
fine black mustache； that Cleggett engaged him； taking him immediately
from the dairy lunch room in which he had been employed。 George's
idea was to work his way back to Greece； he said； on the Jasper B。 If she
did not sail for Greece for some time； George was willing to wait； he was
patient； sometime； no doubt； she would touch the shores of Greece。
The hold of the Jasper B。 Cleggett and Captain Abernethy found to be
in a chaotic state。 Casks； barrels； empty bottles by the hundred； ruins of
benches； tables； chairs； old nondescript pieces of planking； broken crates
and boxes； were flung together there in moldering confusion。 It was
evident that after the scheme of using the Jasper B。's hulk as one of the
attractions of a pleasure resort had failed； all the debris of the failure had
simply been thrown pell…mell into the hold。 Cleggett and Captain
Abernethy decided that the vessel； which was stepped for two masts；
should be rigged as a schooner。 The Captain was soon busy securing
estimates on the amount of work that would have to be done； and the cost
of it。 The pile of rubbish in the hold； which filled it to such an extent that
Cleggett gave up the attempt to examine it； was to be removed by the
same contractor who put in the sticks。
All the activity on board and about the Jasper B。 had not gone on
without attracting the attention of Morris's。 Cleggett noticed that there
was usually someone in the neighborhood of that dubious resort cocking
an eye in the direction of the vessel。 Indeed； the interest became so
pronounced； and seemed of a quality so different from ordinary frank
rustic curiosity； that it looked very like espionage。 It had struck Cleggett
that Morris's seemed at all times to have more than its share of idlers and
hangers…on； men who appeared to make the place their headquarters and
were not to be confused with the occasional off…season parties from the
city。
On Sunday morning Cleggett was awakened by Captain Abernethy；
who announced：