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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
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 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 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 rail。
The man in t