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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 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。
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 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 selection of utterances into his mind；
rolled them over together； and replied in accordance with some
esoteric system of his own。
〃Where is Mr。 Goldberg's office？〃 asked Cleggett。
〃You've come to the proper party to get set right about ships；〃
said Mr。 Abernethy； complacently。 〃Either you was sent to me by
someone that knows I'm the proper party to set you right about
ships； or else you got an eye in your own head that can recognize
a man that comes of a seafarin' fambly。〃
〃You ARE an old sailor； then？ Maybe you are an old skipper？
Perhaps you're one of the retired Long Island sea captains we're
always hearing so much about？〃
〃So fur as sailin' her around the world is concerned；〃 said Mr。
Abernethy； glancing over the hulk； 〃if she was fixed up she could
be sailed anywheresanywheres！〃
〃What would you call hera schooner？〃
〃This here Goldberg；〃 said Mr。 Abernethy； 〃has his office over
town right accost from the railroad depot。〃
And with that he put his fishing pole over his shoulder and
prepared to leavea tall； strong…looking old man with long legs
and k