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man with a kindling eye and a habit of boasting of his ancestors。
Among them； he declared； was Leonidas； the hero of Thermopylae。
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：
〃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 south end of the canal； three or four hundred yards south of
the Jasper B。； and about the same distance east of Morris's； was
anchored a house boat。 She was painted a slaty gray color。 As
Cleggett looked at her a man stepped up on the deck； and； putting
a binocular glass to his eye； began to study the Jasper B。 After
a few minutes of steady scrutiny this person turned his attention
to Morris's。
Looking towards Morris's himself Cleggett saw a man standing on
the east verandah of that resort intently scanning the house boat
through a glass。 Cleggett went into the cabin and got his own
glass。
Presently the man on Morris's verandah and the man of the house
boat ceased to scrutinize each other and both turned their
glasses upon the Jasper B。 But the moment they perceived that
Cleggett was provided with a glass each turned hastily and
entered； the one Morris's place； and the other the cabin of the
house boat。 But Cleggett had already recognized the man at
Morris's as the stoop…shouldered man of tall stature and fanciful
dress who had tried to stare him down some days before。
As for the man on the house boat （which； as Cleggett had made
out； was named the Annabel Lee）； there was something vaguely
familiar about his general appearance which puzzled and
tantalized our hero。
As the morning wore on Cleggett became certain that the Jasper B。
was closely watched by both the Annabel Lee and Morris's；
although the watchers avoided showing themselves plainly。 A
slightly agitated blind at a second story window over the
verandah showed him where the tall man or one of his associates
gazed out from Morris's； and from a porthole of the Annabel Lee
he could see a glass thrust forth from time to time。 It was
evident to him that the Annabel Lee and Morris's were suspicious
of each other； and that both suspected the Jasper B。 But of what
did they suspect Cleggett？ What intention did they impute to
him？ He could only wonder。
Through the entire morning he was conscious of the continuance of
this watch。 He thought it ceased about luncheon time； but at two
in the afternoon he was certain that； if so； it had been resumed。
Cleggett； innocent and honorable； began to get impatient of this
persistent scrutiny。 And in spite of his courage a vague
uneasiness began to possess him。 Towards the end of the
afternoon he called his little company aft and spoke to them。
〃My men；〃 he said； 〃I do not like the attitude of our neighbors。
To put it briefly； there may be squalls ahead of the Jasper B。
This is a wild and desolate coast； comparatively speaking。
Strange things have happened to innocent people before this along
the shores of Long Island。 It is well to be prepared。 I intend
to serve out to each of you two hundred cartridges and a 。44
caliber Colt's。 In case of an attempt to board； you may find
these cutlasses handy。
〃Cap'n Abernethy； in all nautical matters you will still be in
command of the ship； but in case of