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fellow； to give the situation a casual turn。 What he did was to
stand and stare at Cleggett； candidly； and with more than a touch
of insolence； as if trying to beat down Cleggett's gaze。
Cleggett； staring in his turn； perceived that the tall man；
ungainly as he was； affected a bizarre individualism in the
matter of dress。 His clothing cried out； rather than suggested；
that it was expensive。 His feet were cased in button shoes with
fancy tops； his waistcoat； cut in the extreme of style； revealed
that little strip of white which falsely advertises a second
waistcoat beneath； but in his case the strip was too broad。
There were diamonds on the fingers of both powerful hands。 But
the thing that grated particularly upon Cleggett was the
character of the man's scarfpin。 It was by far the largest
ornament of the sort that Cleggett had ever seen； he was near
enough to the fellow to make out that it had been carved from a
piece of solid ivory in the likeness of a skull。 In the eyeholes
of the skull two opals flamed with an evil levin。 The man
suggested to Cleggett； at first glance； a bartender who had come
into money； or a drayman who had been promoted to an important
office in a labor union and was spending the most of a
considerable salary on his person。 And yet his face； more
closely observed； somehow gave the lie to his clothes； for it was
not lacking in the signs of intelligence。 In spite of his taste；
or rather lack of taste； there was no hint of weakness in his
physiognomy。 His features were harsh； bold； predatory； a
slightly yellowish tinge about the temples and cheek bones；
suggestive of the ivory ornament； proclaimed a bilious
temperament。
Cleggett； both puzzled and nettled by the man's persistent gaze；
advanced towards him across the deck of the Jasper B。 and down
the 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； 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。
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 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