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came back to claim the weapons that had been theirsand Cleggett fought
them。 There was not an unscarred piece of furniture in the place。 He
bent the flexible blade in his hands； tried the point of it； formally saluted；
brought the weapon to parade； dallied with his imaginary opponent's
sword for an instant。 。 。 。
It seemed as if one of those terrible； but brilliant； duels； with which
that room was so familiar； was about to be enacted。 。 。 。 But he laid the
rapier down。 After all； the rapier is scarcely a thing of this century。
Cleggett； for the first time； felt a little impatient with the rapier。 It is all
very well to DREAM with a rapier。 But now； he was free； reality was
before him； the world of actual adventure called。 He had but to choose！
He considered。 He tried to look into that bright； adventurous future。
Presently he went to the window； and gazed out。 Tides of night and
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
mystery； flooding in from the farther； dark； mysterious ocean； all but
submerged lower Manhattan； high and beautiful above these waves of
shadow； triumphing over them and accentuating them； shone a star from
the top of the Woolworth building； flecks of light indicated the noble
curve of that great bridge which soars like a song in stone and steel above
the shifting waters； the river itself was dotted here and there with moving
lights； it was a nocturne waiting for its Whistler； here sea and city met in
glamour and beauty and illusion。
But it was not the city which called to Cleggett。 It was the sea。
A breeze blew in from the bay and stirred his window curtains； it was
salt in his nostrils。 。 。 。And； staring out into the breathing night； he saw a
succession of pictures。 。 。 。
Stripped to a pair of cotton trousers； with a dripping cutlass in one
hand and a Colt's revolver in the other； an adventurer at the head of a
bunch of dogs as desperate as himself fought his way across the reeking
decks of a Chinese junk； to close in single combat with a gigantic one…
eyed pirate who stood by the helm with a ring of dead men about him and
a great two…handed sword upheaved。 。 。 。 This adventurer wasClement J。
Cleggett！ 。 。 。
Through the phosphorescent waters of a summer sea； reckless of
cruising sharks； a sailor's clasp knife in his teeth； glided noiselessly a
strong swimmer； he reached the side of a schooner yacht from which rose
the wild cries of beauty in distress； swarmed aboard with a muttered
prayer that was half a curse； swept the water from his eyes； and with pale；
stern face went about the bloody business of a hero。 。 。 。 Again； this
adventurer was Clement J。 Cleggett！
Cleggett turned from the window。
〃I'll do it；〃 he cried。 〃I'll do it！〃
He grasped a cutlass。
〃Pirates！〃 he cried； swinging it about his head。 〃That's the thing
pirates and the China Seas！〃
And with one frightful sweep of his blade he disemboweled a sofa
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
cushion； the second blow clove his typewriting machine clean to the tattoo
marks upon its breast； the third decapitated a sectional bookcase。
But what is a sectional bookcase to a man with 500；000 in his pocket
and the Seven Seas before him？
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
CHAPTER III
A SCHOONER； A SKIPPER； AND
A SKULL
It was a few days later； when a goodly number of the late Uncle Tom's
easily negotiable securities had been converted into cash； and the cash
deposited in the bank； that Cleggett bought the Jasper B。
He discovered her near the town of Fairport； Long Island； one
afternoon。 The vessel lay in one of the canals which reach inward from
the Great South Bay。 She looked as if she might have been there for
some time。 Evidently； at one period； the Jasper 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
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THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
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 trouser