the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第7章
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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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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：
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
〃Strange craft lookin' us over mighty close； sir。〃
〃A strange craft？ Where is she？〃 Cleggett was instantly alert。
〃She's a house boat； if you was to ask me；〃 said the brown old manin
a new brown suit and with his whiskers newly trimmed he gave the
impression of having been overhauled and freshly painted。
〃Where is she？〃 repeated Cleggett； beginning to get into his clothes。
〃She must 'a' sneaked up an' anchored mighty early this mornin'；〃
pursued Cap'n Abernethy； true to his conversational principles。
〃Is she in the bay or in the canal？〃
〃She looks like a mighty toney kind o' vessel；〃 said Cap'n Abernethy。
〃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
sou
