按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
had； we must suppose； escaped from Morris's through the carelessness of
one of Logan Black's subordinates； crawled up the bank of the canal；
which he had swum； and made for the two gunmen； with the water
dripping from his eyeglass。 He had recognized them as the men who had
dogged and assaulted him； and every other idea was obliterated in his
desire for vengeance。
〃They fled。 He pursued。 He caught them； and they fought。 They
succeeded in dropping one of the iron balls on his footon his bunion foot；
Mr。 Cleggettcrippling him。〃
As this mention of the bunion； Miss Genevive Pringle arose with
dignity； and； flinging a shawl about her shoulders； left the cabin； chin in
air。 She did not vouchsafe so much as one backward glance at Cleggett
or the three detectives or lady Agatha as she left； but outraged propriety
was expressed in every line of her figure。
〃H'm；〃 mused the detective； flushing slightly； and Watson Bard and
Barton Ward also colored a little； and looked hacked。 They glanced
furtively at Lady Agatha； to see if she too might be offended。
〃Proceed； Mr。 Barnstable；〃 she said a little impatiently。 〃Bunions
don't bother me； either mentally or physically。 I am familiar with the
idea of bunions。 There are many bunions in the Claiborne family。〃
〃On his bunion foot； crippling him；〃 resumed the detective； reassured。
〃The storm came up； and still the gunmen fled； and still Reginald
Maltravers pursued。 I suppose； since you saw them on the west side of
the canal； Mr。 Cleggett； that they had run around the north end of it。
Probably； while you and Logan Black were fighting； they were running up
and down in the neighborhood； in the storm； intent only upon their own
feud。〃
〃They certainly seemed exhausted when I saw them；〃 said Cleggett；
145
… Page 146…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
〃all three of them。 But if you will permit me to say so； the astuteness
with which you are reconstructing this case compels my admiration。〃
Wilton Barnstable bowed； and Barton Ward and Watson Bard slightly
inclined their heads。
〃Your skill；〃 said Lady Agatha； 〃is equal to that of Sherlock Holmes。〃
At the name of Sherlock Holmes a shade passed over the face of
Wilton Barnstable。 He slightly compressed his lips； and his eyebrows
went up a fraction of an inch。 This shade was reflected on the faces of
Barton Ward and Watson Bard。 There was a moment of silence； but
presently Wilton Barnstable continued； repressing a sigh：
〃I thought at first； Mr。 Cleggett； that you were an ally of Logan Black's；
just as you believed me to be his ally； and as he believed you and me to be
working together。 It may interest you to know that smuggling has been
one of his side lines。 There is； somewhere hereabouts； a cave in which
smuggled goods are stored。 These coasts have a sinister history； Mr。
Cleggett。 It is possible that your canal boatI beg your pardon； your
schooner； Mr。 Cleggettplayed some part in their smuggling operations。
At any rate it is evident that Logan Black transferred to the hold of this
vessel the incriminating evidence against him； contained in that oblong
box； when he learned that my agents were watching Morris's。 The Jasper
B。 has been lying in her present position for a long time。 In the event that
a sudden get…away from Morris's became necessary； it was an advantage to
Logan Black to be able to leave without being hampered with this matter。
No one； for many years； had paid any attention to the Jasper B。； with the
exception of the old truck farmer； Abernethy； who used sometimes to fish
from her deck； and〃
〃Truck farmer！〃 cried Cleggett。 〃Abernethy？〃
〃Truck farmer；〃 repeated Wilton Barnstable。
〃Is not Abernethy an old sea captain？〃 asked Cleggett。
〃Why； no； I believe not；〃 said Barnstable。 〃At least I never heard so。
He is well known as a small truck gardener in this neighborhood。 It is
true that he comes of a seafaring familyindeed； it is his boast。 But； in a
146
… Page 147…
THE CRUISE OF THE JASPER B。
community where nearly everyone knows a little about boats； I believe
that Abernethy is remarkable for an indisposition to venture far from
shore。〃
〃I can scarcely believe it；〃 breathed Cleggett。
〃He does not understand boats；〃 said Barnstable。 〃That is the reason； I
take it； why he has always fished in the canal from the deck of the Jasper
B。 〃
〃Abernethy is a gallant man；〃 said Cleggett； rather sternly。 〃And
even although he may have had little actual seafaring experience； the
instinct is in him！ The inherited love of a nautical life has been latent in
him all along。 And at the first opportunity it has come out。 He has
shown his mettle aboard the Jasper B。 〃
〃I do not doubt it； if you insist upon it；〃 said Wilton Barnstable；
politely。 And from revolving his thumbs benignly towards himself he
began to revolve them urbanely from himself。 The reversal was imitated
at once by Barton Ward； but Watson Bard was slower in putting this new
coup into execution。
〃The resemblance between the two oblong boxes evidently fooled
Logan Black；〃 continued Barnstable； 〃and his men stole the wrong one。
but he knows by this time that his plan to get the box has failed。〃
〃He knows it？〃 said Cleggett。
〃From the bank of the canal he witnessed our capture of the box； and
of the two men who were making off with it。 After you had beaten off
his assault upon the ship； he turned his attention to the canal； to see if the
men whom he had assigned to the job of creeping over the stern of the
Jasper B。 had by any chance succeeded in purloining the box。 He was
alone； but he attempted to come to the assistance of his two followers even
as we made them prisoners。 In fact； we exchanged shots。〃
The great detective made little of the danger he had encountered。
Indeed； his smile be