第 6 节
作者:孤独半圆      更新:2021-02-24 22:24      字数:9310
  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;
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  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。
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  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  solider and more permanent part of Fairport was well withdrawn from the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
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  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。
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  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: