the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第6章
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〃If I was to make a guess I'd say she was one of them craft that sails
herself along when she wants to with one of these newfangled gasoline
engines。〃
〃She wasn't towed here then？〃 Cleggett gave up the attempt to learn
from the Captain just where the house boat was。
〃She lies in the canal；〃 said the Cap'n。 Having established the point
that he could not be FORCED to tell where she lay； he volunteered the
information as a personal favor from one gentleman to another。 〃She lies
ahead of us in the canal； a p'int or so off our port bow； I should say。 And if
you was to ask me I'd say she wasn't layin' there for any good purpose。〃
〃What do you think she's up to？ What makes you suspicious of her？〃
〃No； sir； she wasn't towed in；〃 said Cap'n Abernethy； 〃or I'd 'a' heard a tug
towin' her。 Comin' of a seafarin' fambly I'm a light sleeper by nature。〃
Cleggett finished dressing and went on deck。 Sure enough； towards the
south end of the canal； three or four hundred yards south of the Jasper B。；
and about the same distance east of Morris's； was anchored a house boat。
She was painted a slaty gray color。 As Cleggett looked at her a man
stepped up on the deck； and； putting a binocular glass to his eye； began to
study the Jasper B。 After a few minutes of steady scrutiny this person
turned his attention to Morris's。
Looking towards Morris's himself Cleggett saw a man standing on the
east verandah of that resort intently scanning the house boat through a
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
glass。 Cleggett went into the cabin and got his own glass。
Presently the man on Morris's verandah and the man of the house boat
ceased to scrutinize each other and both turned their glasses upon the
Jasper B。 But the moment they perceived that Cleggett was provided
with a glass each turned hastily and entered； the one Morris's place； and
the other the cabin of the house boat。 But Cleggett had already
recognized the man at Morris's as the stoop…shouldered man of tall stature
and fanciful dress who had tried to stare him down some days before。
As for the man on the house boat （which； as Cleggett had made out；
was named the Annabel Lee）； there was something vaguely familiar about
his general appearance which puzzled and tantalized our hero。
As the morning wore on Cleggett became certain that the Jasper B。
was closely watched by both the Annabel Lee and Morris's； although the
watchers avoided showing themselves plainly。 A slightly agitated blind
at a second story window over the verandah showed him where the tall
man or one of his associates gazed out from Morris's； and from a porthole
of the Annabel Lee he could see a glass thrust forth from time to time。 It
was evident to him that the Annabel Lee and Morris's were suspicious of
each other； and that both suspected the Jasper B。 But of what did they
suspect Cleggett？ What intention did they impute to him？ He could
only wonder。
Through the entire morning he was conscious of the continuance of
this watch。 He thought it ceased about luncheon time； but at two in the
afternoon he was certain that； if so； it had been resumed。
Cleggett； innocent and honorable； began to get impatient of this
persistent scrutiny。 And in spite of his courage a vague uneasiness began
to possess him。 Towards the end of the afternoon he called his little
company aft and spoke to them。
〃My men；〃 he said； 〃I do not like the attitude of our neighbors。 To
put it briefly； there may be squalls ahead of the Jasper B。 This is a wild
and desolate coast； comparatively speaking。 Strange things have
happened to innocent people before this along the shores of Long Island。
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
It is well to be prepared。 I intend to serve out to each of you two hundred
cartridges and a 。44 caliber Colt's。 In case of an attempt to board； you may
find these cutlasses handy。
〃Cap'n Abernethy； in all nautical matters you will still be in command
of the ship； but in case of a military demonstration； all of you will look to
me for leadership。 You may go now and rig up a jury mast and bend the
American colors to the peakand in case of blows； may God defend the
right！ I know I do not need to exhort you to do your duty！〃
As Cleggett spoke the spirit which animated him seemed to
communicate itself to his listeners。 Their eyes kindled and the keen joy
that gallant men always feel in the anticipation of conflict flushed their
faces。
〃I am a son of Leonidas；〃 said George Stefanopolous； proudly。 And
he secreted not merely one； but two； of Cleggett's daggers about his body；
in addition to the revolver given him。 As George had already possessed a
dagger or two and an automatic pistol； it was now almost impossible for
him to lay his hand casually on any part of his person without its coming
into contact with a deadly weapon ready for instant use。 Cap'n
Abernethy picked up a cutlass； 〃hefted〃 it thoughtfully； rolled his sleeve
back upon a lean and sinewy old arm that was tanned until it looked like a
piece of weathered oak； spat upon his hand and whirled the weapon till it
whistled in the air。 〃I come of a seafarin' fambly；〃 said the Cap'n；
sententiously。
As for Kuroki； he said nothing。 He was not given to speech at any
time。 But he picked up a Malay kris and ran his thumb along the edge of
it critically like a man to whom such a weapon is not altogether unfamiliar。
A pleased smile stole over his face； he handled the wicked knife almost
affectionately； he put it down with a little loving pat。
〃Brave boys；〃 murmured Cleggett； as he watched them。 He smiled；
but at the same time something like a tear blurred his eloquent and
magnetic eye for a moment。 〃Brave boys；〃 he murmured； 〃we were
made for each other！〃
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
The display of the American flag by the Jasper B。 had an effect that
could not have been foreseen。
Almost immediately the Annabel Lee herself flung an exactly similar
American flag to the breeze。 But a strange thing happened at Morris's。
An American flag was first hung from an upper window over the east
verandah。 Then； after a moment； it was withdrawn。 Then a red flag
was put out。 But almost immediately Cleggett saw a man rip the red flag
from its fastenings and fling it to the ground。
Cleggett； resorting to his glass； perceived that it was the tall man with
the stoop shoulders and incongruous clothing who had torn down the red
flag。 He was now in violent altercation with the man who had hung it
outthe fellow whom he had called Heinrich some days before。
As Cleggett watched； the two men came to blows； then they clinched
and struggled； swaying back and forth within the open window； like a
moving picture in a frame。 Suddenly the tall fellow seemed to get the
upper hand； exerting all his strength； he bent the other backward over the
window sill。 The two contending figures writhed desperately a moment
and then the tall man shifted one powerful； sinewy hand to Heinrich's
throat。
The binoculars brought the thing so near to Cleggett that it seemed as
if he could touch the contorted faces； he could see the tall man's neck
muscles work as if that person were panting； he could see the signs of
suffocation in Heinrich's countenance。 The fact that he saw so plainly
and yet could hear no sound of the struggle somehow added to its horror。
All at once the tall man put his knee upon the other's chest； and flung
his weight upon Heinrich with a vehement spring。 Then he tumbled
Heinrich out of the window onto the roof of the verandah。
He stepped out of the window himself； picked Heinrich up with an
ease that testified to his immense strength； and flung him over the edge of
the verandah onto the ground。 A few moments later a couple of men ran
out from Morris's； busied themselves about reviving the fellow； and helped
him into the house。 If Heinrich was not badly injured； certainly all the
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
fight had been taken out of him for one day。
With Heinrich thus disposed of； the tall man turned composedly to the
task of putting out the American flag again。 Through the glass Cleggett
perceived that his face was twisted by a peculiar smile； a smile of joyous
malevolence。
〃A bad man to cross； that tall man；〃 said Cleggett； musingly。 And
indeed； his violence with Heinrich had seemed out of all proportion to the
apparent grounds of the quarrel； for it was evident to Cleggett that
Heinrich and the tall man had differed merely about the policy of
displaying the red flag。 〃A man determined to have his way；〃 mused
Cleggett。 〃If he and I should meet〃 Cleggett did not finish the
sentence in words； but his hand closed over the butt of his revolver。
His musing was interrupted by the noise of an approaching automobile。
Turning； he saw a vehicle； the rather long body of which was covered so
that it resembled a merchant's delivery wagon； coming along the road
from Fairport。
It stopped opposite the Jasper B。； and from the seat beside the driver
leaped lightly the most beautiful woman Cleggett had ever seen； and
walked hesitatingly but gracefully towards him。
