"Uncle Jimmy" Redwood has boats to let in Nyack. He has a boat-house on the river bank from which a flight of steps leads down to a long "float" extending into the river.
His boats are moored to that float, or anchored near the end of it. He has several fine, fast cat-boats, of which he is very proud.
Uncle Jimmy was overhauling his boats about six o'clock on the morning after the events just described, when a man, whom he had never seen before, came somewhat hurriedly down the steps, and said he wished to hire a cat-boat.
"I want the fastest boat in the fleet," he said.
Uncle Jimmy looked the stranger over carefully. There was a bandage around his head. Uncle Jimmy suspected that something was wrong, but that, after all, might not be any of his business.
"Get the Clio ready for this man," Uncle Jimmy shouted to an assistant at the far end of the float.
"Ay, ay, sir," said the man.
The Clio was lying with her nose against the float, and there was nothing to do but hoist her sail.
However, the stranger seemed impatient of even this delay.
When the sail was up, he jumped into the boat, and prepared to get under way.