the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第3章
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He considered。 He tried to look into that bright； adventurous future。
Presently he went to the window； and gazed out。 Tides of night and
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
mystery； flooding in from the farther； dark； mysterious ocean； all but
submerged lower Manhattan； high and beautiful above these waves of
shadow； triumphing over them and accentuating them； shone a star from
the top of the Woolworth building； flecks of light indicated the noble
curve of that great bridge which soars like a song in stone and steel above
the shifting waters； the river itself was dotted here and there with moving
lights； it was a nocturne waiting for its Whistler； here sea and city met in
glamour and beauty and illusion。
But it was not the city which called to Cleggett。 It was the sea。
A breeze blew in from the bay and stirred his window curtains； it was
salt in his nostrils。 。 。 。And； staring out into the breathing night； he saw a
succession of pictures。 。 。 。
Stripped to a pair of cotton trousers； with a dripping cutlass in one
hand and a Colt's revolver in the other； an adventurer at the head of a
bunch of dogs as desperate as himself fought his way across the reeking
decks of a Chinese junk； to close in single combat with a gigantic one…
eyed pirate who stood by the helm with a ring of dead men about him and
a great two…handed sword upheaved。 。 。 。 This adventurer wasClement J。
Cleggett！ 。 。 。
Through the phosphorescent waters of a summer sea； reckless of
cruising sharks； a sailor's clasp knife in his teeth； glided noiselessly a
strong swimmer； he reached the side of a schooner yacht from which rose
the wild cries of beauty in distress； swarmed aboard with a muttered
prayer that was half a curse； swept the water from his eyes； and with pale；
stern face went about the bloody business of a hero。 。 。 。 Again； this
adventurer was Clement J。 Cleggett！
Cleggett turned from the window。
〃I'll do it；〃 he cried。 〃I'll do it！〃
He grasped a cutlass。
〃Pirates！〃 he cried； swinging it about his head。 〃That's the thing
pirates and the China Seas！〃
And with one frightful sweep of his blade he disemboweled a sofa
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
cushion； the second blow clove his typewriting machine clean to the tattoo
marks upon its breast； the third decapitated a sectional bookcase。
But what is a sectional bookcase to a man with 500；000 in his pocket
and the Seven Seas before him？
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER III
A SCHOONER； A SKIPPER； AND
A SKULL
It was a few days later； when a goodly number of the late Uncle Tom's
easily negotiable securities had been converted into cash； and the cash
deposited in the bank； that Cleggett bought the Jasper B。
He discovered her near the town of Fairport； Long Island； one
afternoon。 The vessel lay in one of the canals which reach inward from
the Great South Bay。 She looked as if she might have been there for
some time。 Evidently； at one period； the Jasper B。 had played a part in
some catch…coin scheme of summer entertainment； a scheme that had
failed。 Little trace of it remained except a rotting wooden platform；
roofless and built close to the canal； and a gangway arrangement from this
platform to the deck of the vessel。
The Jasper B。 had seen better days； even a landsman could tell that。
But from the blunt bows to the weather…scarred stern； on which the name
was faintly discernible； the hulk had an air about it； the air of something
that has lived； it was eloquent of a varied and interesting past。
And； to complete the picture； there sat on her deck a gnarled and
brown old man。 He smoked a short pipe which was partially hidden in a
tangle of beard that had once been yellowish red but was now streaked
with dirty white； he fished earnestly without apparent result； and from
time to time he spat into the water。 Cleggett's nimble fancy at once put
rings into his ears and dowered him with a history。
Cleggett noticed； as he walked aboard the vessel； that she seemed to be
jammed not merely against； but into the bank of the canal。 She was
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nearer the shore than he had ever seen a vessel of any sort。 Some weeds
grew in soil that had lodged upon the deck； in a couple of places they
sprang as high as the rail。 Weeds grew on shore； in fact； it would have
taken a better nautical authority than Cleggett to tell offhand just exactly
where the land ended and the Jasper B。 began。 She seemed to be
possessed of an odd stability； although the tide was receding the Jasper B。
was not perceptibly agitated by the motion of the water。 Of anchor； or
mooring chains or cables of any sort； there was no sign。
The brown old manhe was brown not only as to the portions of his
skin visible through his hair and whiskers； but also as to coat and trousers
and worn boots and cap and pipe and flannel shirtturned around as
Cleggett stepped aboard； and stared at the invader with a shaggy…browed
intensity that was embarrassing。
It occurred to Cleggett that the old man might own the vessel and
make a home of her。
〃I beg your pardon if I am intruding；〃 ventured Cleggett； politely； 〃but
do you live here？〃
The brown old man made an indeterminate motion of his head；
without otherwise replying at once。 Then he took a cake of dark； hard…
looking tobacco from the starboard pocket of his trousers and a clasp knife
from the port side。 He shaved off a fresh pipeful； rolled it in his palms；
knocked the old ash from his pipe； refilled and relighted it； all with the
utmost deliberation。 Then he cut another small piece of tobacco from the
〃plug〃 and popped it into his mouth。 Cleggett perceived with surprise
that he smoked and chewed tobacco at the same time。 As he thus
refreshed himself he glanced from time to time at Cleggett as if
unfavorably impressed。 Finally he closed his knife with a click and
suddenly piped out in a high； shrill voice：
〃No！ Do you？〃
〃Ierdo I what？〃 It had taken the old man so long to answer that
Cleggett had forgotten his own question； and the shrill fierceness of the
voice was disconcerting。
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
He regarded Cleggett contemptuously； spat on the deck； and then
demanded truculently：
〃D'ye want to buy any seed potatoes？〃
〃Whyer； no；〃 said Cleggett。
〃Humph！〃 said the brown one； with the air of meaning that it was only
to be expected of an idiot like Cleggett that he would NOT want to buy
any seed potatoes。 But after a further embarrassing silence he relented
enough to give Cleggett another chance。
〃You want some seed corn！〃 he announced rather than asked。
〃No。 I〃
〃Tomato plants！〃 shrilled the brown one； as if daring him to deny it。
〃No。〃
He turned his back on Cleggett； as if he had lost interest； and began to
wind up his fishing line on a squeaky reel。
〃Who owns this boat？〃 Cleggett touched him on the elbow。
〃Thinkin' of buyin' her？〃
〃Perhaps。 Who owns her？〃
〃What would you do with her？〃
〃I might fix her up and sail her。 Who owns her？〃
〃She'll take a sight o' fixin'。〃
〃No doubt。 Who did you say owned her？〃
The old man； who had finished with the rusty reel； deigned to look at
Cleggett again。
〃Dunno as I said。〃
〃But who DOES own her？〃
〃She's stuck fast in the mud and her rudder's gone。〃
〃I see you know a lot about ships；〃 said Cleggett； deferentially； giving
up the attempt to find out who owned her。 〃I picked you out for an old
sailor the minute I saw you。〃 He thought he detected a kindlier gleam in
the old man's eye as that person listened to these words。
〃The' ain't a stick in her；〃 said the ancient fisherman。 〃She's got no
wheel and she's got no nothin'。 She used to be used as a kind of a
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
barroom and dancin' platform till the fellow that used her for such went
out o' business。〃
He paused； and then added：
〃What might your name be？〃
〃Cleggett。〃
He appeared to reflect on the name。 But he said：
〃If you was to ask me； I'd say her timbers is sound。〃
〃Tell me；〃 said Cleggett； 〃was she a deep…water ship？ Could a ship
like her sail around the world； for instance？ I can tell that you know all
about ships。〃
Something like a grin of gratified vanity began to show on the brown
one's features。 He leaned back against the rail and looked at Cleggett
with the dawn of approval in his eyes。
〃My name's Abernethy；〃 he suddenly volunteered。 〃Isaiah Abernethy。
The fellow that owns her is Goldberg。 Abraham Goldberg。 Real estate
man。〃
〃Cleggett began to get an insight into Mr。 Abernethy's peculiar ideas
concerning conversation。 A native spirit of independence prevented Mr。
Abernethy from dealing with an interlocutor's remarks in the sequence that
seemed to be desired by the interlocutor。 He took a selec
