It stopped within twenty yards of the vessel, and two men got out, one of them evidently a person who imposed some sort of leadership on the rest of the party.

This was a tall fellow, with a slouching gait and round shoulders.

And yet, to judge from his movements, he was both quick and powerful.

The other was a short, stout man with a commonplace, broad red face and flaxen hair.

The two stood for a moment in colloquy in the road that led from Fairport proper to the bayside, passing near the Jasper B., and Cleggett heard the shorter of the two men say: "I'm sure I saw somebody aboard of her." "How long ago, Heinrich ?" asked the tall man.
"An hour or so," said Heinrich.
"It was old man Abernethy; he's harmless," said the tall fellow.