But the reason of their pause was an engrossing interest in the box of Reginald Maltravers, which stood, as has already been said, on the port side of the cabin, on one end, and so was visible from their boat.

They were looking at it with slack oars, dropped jaws and starting eyes; the thing seemed to have fascinated them and bereft them of motion; it was as if they were unable to get past it at all.

Elmer, worn out by his many long vigils, lay asleep on the deck at the foot of the box, with an arm flung over his face.
The stout man, after vainly endeavoring to start his oarsmen with words, took up an extra oar and began vigorously prodding them with it.
Cleggett had not seen this man look towards the Jasper B., but he nevertheless had the feeling that the man had missed little of what had been going on there.

He seemed to be that kind of man.
His crew responding to the stabs of the oar, the little vessel went perhaps fifty yards farther up the canal towards Parker's, and then swung daintily around and came back towards the Jasper B.at almost the speed of a racing shell, the men in chains bending doggedly to their work.

Cleggett saw that the boat must pass close to the Jasper B., and leaned over the port rail.
The man in the stern had picked up a magazine and was lolling back reading it.