the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第21章
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you ashore。 Before we sail you can put in your time holystoning the
deck。
〃The deck of the Jasper B。； said Cleggett； looking at it； 〃to all
appearances； has not been holystoned for some years。 You will find in
the forecastle several holystones that have never been used； and may begin
at once。〃
Cleggett； if his tastes had not inclined him towards a more active and
adventurous life； would have made a good bishop； for he knew how to
combine justice and mercy。 And yet few bishops have possessed his
rapidity of decision； when compelled； upon the spur of the moment； to
become the physician of an ailing soul。 He had determined in a flash to
make the man ship's chaplain； that Calthrop might come into close contact
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with other spiritual organisms and not think too exclusively of his own。
The Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop thanked him with becoming gratitude and
departed to get the new holystones。
By three o'clock that afternoon； with such celerity had the work gone
forward； Mr。 Watkins； the contractor； announced to Cleggett that his task
was finished； except for the removal of the rubbish in the hold。 Cleggett；
going carefully over the vessel； and examining the new parts with a
brochure on the construction and navigation of schooners in his hand；
verified the statement。
〃She is ready to sail；〃 said Cleggett； standing by the new wheel with a
swelling heart； and sweeping the vessel from bowsprit to rudder with a
gradual glance。
It was a look almost paternal in its pride； Cleggett loved the Jasper B。
She was an idea that no one else but Cleggett could have had。
〃Sail？〃 said Mr。 Watkins。
〃Why not？〃 said Cleggett； puzzled at his tone。
〃Oh； nothing；〃 said Mr。 Watkins。 〃It's none of my business。 My
business was to do the work I was hired to do according to specifications。
Further than that； nothing。〃
〃But why did you think I was having the work done？〃
〃Can't say I thought；〃 said Mr。 Watkins。 〃I took the job； and I done it。
Had an idea mebby you were in the movin' picture game。〃
Mr。 Watkins； as he talked； had been regarding Cap'n Abernethy； who in
turn was looking at the mainmast。 There seemed to be something in the
very way Cap'n Abernethy looked at the mainmast which jarred on Mr。
Watkins。 Mr。 Watkins dropped his voice； indicating the Cap'n with a
curved； disparaging thumb； as he asked Cleggett：
〃Is HE going to sail her？〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Ohnothing； nothing at all；〃 said Mr。 Watkins。 〃It's none o' MY
business。〃
Cleggett began to be a little annoyed。 〃Have you；〃 he said with
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
dignity； and fixing a rather stern glance upon Mr。 Watkins； 〃have you any
reason to doubt Cap'n Abernethy's ability as a sailing master？〃
〃No； indeed；〃 said Mr。 Watkins cheerfully； 〃not as a sailing master。
He may be the best in the world； for all I know。 _I_ never seen him sail
anything。 I never heard him play the violin； neither； for that matter； and
he may be a regular jim…dandy on the violin for all I know。〃
〃You are facetious；〃 said Cleggett stiffly。
〃Meaning I ain't paid to be fresh； eh？〃 said Mr。 Watkins。 〃And right
you are； too。 And there's all that junk down in the hold to pass out and
cart away。〃
Cleggett personally supervised this removal； standing on the deck by
the hatchway and scanning everything that was handed up。 The character
of this junk has already been described。 Every barrel or cask that was
placed upon the deck was stove in with an ax before Cleggett's eyes； he
satisfied himself that every bottle was empty； he turned over the broken
boxes and beer cases with his foot to see that they contained nothing。
But the work was three…quarters done before he found what he was
looking for。 From under a heap of debris； which had completely hidden
it； towards the forward part of the vessel； the workmen unearthed an
unpainted oblong box； almost seven feet in length。 It was of substantial
material and looked newer than any of the other stuff。 Cleggett had it
placed on one side of the hatchway and sat down on it。 It was tightly
nailed up； all of its surfaces were sound。 Cleggett did not doubt that he
would find in it what he wanted； yet in order to be on the safe side he
continued to scrutinize everything else that came out of the hold。
But finally the hold was as empty as a drum； and Watkins and his men
departed。 The oblong box upon which Cleggett sat was the only possible
receptacle of any sort in an undamaged condition； which had been in the
hold。 He determined to have it opened in the cabin。
As he arose from it he was struck by its resemblance to the box in
Elmer's charge； the dank box of Reginald Maltravers； which stood on one
end near the cabin companionway； leaning against the port side of the
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
cabin so that it was not visible from the road； which ran to the starboard of
the Jasper B。 But； since all oblong boxes are bound to have a general
resemblance； Cleggett； at the time； thought little enough of this likeness。
He called to George and Mr。 Calthrop； who； with Dr。 Farnsworth； were
forward receiving their first lecture on seamanship from Cap'n Abernethy
and Kuroki； to carry the box into the cabin。
But as George and the Rev。 Mr。 Calthrop lifted the box to their
shoulders； Cleggett was startled by a loud and violent oath； a veritable
bellow of blasphemy that made him shudder。 Turning； he saw than an
automobile had paused in the road。 In the forward part of the machine
stood Loge； raving in an almost demoniac fury and pointing at the box。 He
writhed in the grip of three men who endeavored to restrain him。 One of
them was the sinister Pierre。
Hoisting himself； as it were； on a mounting billow of his own
profanity； Loge cast himself with a wide swimming motion of his arms
from the auto。 But one of the men clung to him； they came to the ground
together like tackler and tackled in a football game。 The others cast
themselves out of the machine and flung themselves upon their leader； he
fought like a lion； but he was finally overpowered and thrown back into
the auto； which was immediately started up and which made off towards
Fairport at a rattling speed。 Three hundred yards away； however； Loge
rose again and shook a furious fist at the Jasper B。； and though Cleggett
could not distinguish the words； the sense of Loge's impotent rage rolled
towards him on the wind in a roaring； vibrant bass。
The sight of the box that he had not been able to buy； in Cleggett's
possession； had stirred him beyond all caution； he had actually
contemplated an attempt to rush the Jasper B。 in broad daylight。
But while this queer tableau of baffled rage was enacting itself on the
starboard bow of the Jasper B。； a no less strange and far less explicable
thing was occurring on the port side。 The swish of oars and the ripple of
a moving boat drew Cleggett's attention in that direction as Loge's
booming threats grew fainter。 He saw that two oarsmen； near the eastern
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and farther side of the canal； had allowed the dainty； varnished little craft
they were supposed to propel to come to a rest in spite of the evident
displeasure of a man who sat in its stern。 This third man was the same
that Cleggett had seen on the deck of the Annabel Lee with a spy glass；
and again that same morning driving the two almost nude figures up and
down the canal。
The two oarsmen； Cleggett saw with surprise； rowed with shackled
feet； their feet were； indeed； chained to the boat itself。 About the wrists
of each were steel bands； fixed to these bands were chains； the other ends
of which were locked to their oars。 They were； in effect； galley slaves。
All this iron somewhat hampered their movements。 But the reason of
their pause was an engrossing interest in the box of Reginald Maltravers；
which stood； as has already been said； on the port side of the cabin； on one
end； and so was visible from their boat。 They were looking at it with
slack oars； dropped jaws and starting eyes； the thing seemed to have
fascinated them and bereft them of motion； it was as if they were unable to
get past it at all。 Elmer； worn out by his many long vigils； lay asleep on
the deck at the foot of the box； with an arm flung over his face。
The stout man； after vainly endeavoring to start his oarsmen with
words； took up an extra oar and began vigorously prodding them with it。
Cleggett had not seen this man look towards the Jasper B。； but he
nevertheless had the feeling that the man had missed little of what had
been going on there。 He seemed to be that kind of man。
His crew responding to the stabs of the oar； the little vessel went
perhaps fifty yards farther up the canal towards Parker's； and then swung
daintily around and came back towards the Jasper B。 at almost the speed
of a racing shell； the men in chains bending doggedly to their work。
Cleggett saw that the boat must pass close to the Jasper B。； and leaned
over the port
