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diff --git a/old/cpyrk10.txt b/old/cpyrk10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c919652 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/cpyrk10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11378 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Cappy Ricks, by Peter B. Kyne + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Cappy Ricks + +Author: Peter B. Kyne + +Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5738] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on August 19, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, CAPPY RICKS *** + + + + +This etext was scanned by Paul J. Hollander. + + + + +CAPPY RICKS + +or The Subjugation of Matt Peasley + +by Peter B. Kyne + + + + +TO THE IDEAL AMERICAN SAILOR + +As exemplified in the persons of my good friends, + +Captain Ralph E. Peasley, +of Jonesport, Maine, + +Who skippered the first five-masted schooner ever built, brought her, +on that first voyage, through the worst typhoon that ever blew, and +upon arriving at the Yang Tse Kiang River for the first time in his +adventurous career, decided he could not trust a Chinese pilot and +established a record by sailing her up himself! + + +Captain I. N. Hibberd, +of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, + +Sometime master of the American clipper ship, Cyrus Wakefield, who, at +the age of twenty-five, broke three world's records in one voyage: San +Francisco to Liverpool and back, eight months and two days; Liverpool +to San Francisco, one hundred days; from the equator to San Francisco, +eleven days. The clipper ship is gone but the skipper remains, an +undefeated champion. + + +Captain William P. Cantey, +of San Francisco, California, + +Sometime mate of the brig Galilee, who, with his naked hands, +convinced in thirty-five minutes nine larger men than himself of the +incontrovertible fact that you cannot keep a good man down. + + + +TO THE AMERICAN SHIPOWNER + +As exemplified in the persons of my good friends, + +John H. Rossiter, +Manager of W. R. Grace & Co., +of San Francisco. + +Edwin A. Christenson, +President of the Sudden & Christenson S.S. Line, +of San Francisco. + +John R. Hanify, +President of the John R. Hanify Company, +of San Francisco. + + + +TO THE PACIFIC COAST LUMBERMAN + +As exemplified in the person of my good friend, + +Augustus J. ("Gus") Russell, +California Manager for the Portland Lumber Company, and my personal +representative, without salary, in the wholesale lumber trade, ever +since I abandoned lumber for literature. + + + +TO FREIGHT, SHIP, AND MARINE INSURANCE BROKERS + +As exemplified in the persons of my good friends, + +Messrs. E. B. Smith, Oscar J. Beyfuss, and Allan Hayes. + + +This volume is dedicated, without charge for the advertising but with +profound appreciation of the part they have made in making this book +possible. With the author they must bear an equal burden of whatever +of praise or censure shall entail. + + + + +CONTENTS + +I. Master of Many Ships and Skipper of None +II. The Man from Blue Water +III. Under the Blue Star Flag +IV. Bad News from Cape Town +V. Matt Peasley Assumes Office +VI. Wordy War at a Dollar a Word +VII. Cappy Ricks Makes Bad Medicine +VIII. All Hands and Feet to the Rescue +IX. Mr. Murphy Advises Preparedness +X. The Battle of Table Bay +XI. Mr. Skinner Receives a Telegram +XII. The Campaign Opens +XIII. An Old Friend Returns and Cappy Leads Another Ace +XIV. Insult Added to Injury +XV. Rumors of War +XVI. War! +XVII. Cappy Forces an Armistice +XVIII. The War is Renewed +XIX. Capp Seeks Peace +XX. Peace at Last! +XXI. Matt Peasley Meets a Talkative Stranger +XXII. Face to Face +XXIII. Business and-- +XXIV. The Clean Up +XXV. Cappy Proves Himself a Despot +XXVI. Matt Peasley in Exile +XXVII. Promotion +XXVIII. Cappy Has a Heart +XXIX. Nature Takes Her Course +XXX. Mr. Skinner Hears a Lecture +XXXI. Internal Combustion +XXXII. Skinner Proposes--and Cappy Ricks Disposes +XXXIII. Cappy's Plans Demolished +XXXIV. A Gift From the Gods +XXXV. A Dirty Yankee Trick +XXXVI. Cappy Forbids the Bans--Yet +XXXVII. Matt Peasley Becomes a Shipowner +XXXVIII. Working Capital +XXXIX. Easy Money +XL. The Cataclysm +XLI. When Pain and Anguish Wring the Brow +XLII. Unexpected Developments +XLIII. Cappy Plans a Knock-out +XLIV. Skinner Develops into a Human Being +XLV. Cappy Pulls Off a Wedding +XLVI. A Ship Forgotten +XLVII. The Tail Goes with the Hide +XLVIII. Victory + + + + +CHAPTER I + +MASTER OF MANY SHIPS AND SKIPPER OF NONE + + +A psychologist would have termed Alden P. Ricks an individualist, but +his associates in the wholesale lumber and shipping trade of the +Pacific Coast proclaimed him a character. + +In his youth he had made one voyage round Cape Horn as a cabin boy, +his subsequent nautical experience having been confined to the +presidency of the Blue Star Navigation Company and occasional voyages +as a first-cabin passenger. Notwithstanding this apparent lack of +salt-water wisdom, however, his intimate knowledge of ships and the +men who go down to the sea in them, together with his very distinct +personality, had conduced to provide him with a courtesy title in his +old age. + +It is more than probable that, had Alden P. Ricks been a large, +commanding person possessed of the dignity the average citizen +associates with men of equal financial rating, the Street would have +called him Captain Ricks. Had he lacked these characteristics, but +borne nevertheless even a remote resemblance to a retired mariner, his +world would have hailed him as Old Cap Ricks; but since he was what he +was--a dapper, precise, shrewd, lovable little old man with mild, +paternal blue eyes, a keen sense of humor and a Henry Clay collar, +which latter, together with a silk top hat, had distinguished him on +'Change for forty years--it was inevitable that along the Embarcadero +and up California Street he should bear the distinguishing appellation +of Cappy. In any other line of human endeavor he would have been +called Pappy--he was that type of man. + +Cappy Ricks had so much money, amassed in the wholesale lumber and +shipping business, that he had to engage some very expensive men to +take care of it for him. He owned the majority of the stock of the +Ricks Lumber and Logging Company, with sawmills and timberlands in +California, Oregon and Washington; his young men had to sell a million +feet of lumber daily in order to keep pace with the output, while the +vessels of the Blue Star Navigation Company, also controlled by Cappy, +freighted it. There were thirty-odd vessels in the Blue Star +fleet--windjammers and steam schooners; and Cappy was registered as +managing owner of every one. + +Following that point in his career when the young fellows on the +Street, discovering that he was a true-blue sport, had commenced to +fraternize with him and call him Cappy, the old gentleman ceased to +devote his attention to the details of his business. He was just +beginning to enjoy life; so he shifted the real work of his +multifarious interests to the capable shoulders of a Mr. John P. +Skinner, who fitted into his niche in the business as naturally as the +kernel of a healthy walnut fits its shell. Mr. Skinner was a man +still on the sunny side of middle life, smart, capable, cold-blooded, +a little bumptious, and, like the late Julius Caesar, ambitious. + +No sooner had Cappy commenced to take life easy than Skinner commenced +to dominate the business. He attended an efficiency congress and came +home with a collection of newfangled ideas that eliminated from the +office all the joy and contentment old Cappy Ricks had been a +life-time installing. He inaugurated card systems and short cuts in +bookkeeping that drove Cappy to the verge of insanity, because he +could never go to the books himself and find out anything about his +own business. He had to ask Mr. Skinner--which made Skinner an +important individual. + +With the passage of five years the general manager was high and low +justice in Cappy's offices, and had mastered the not-too-difficult art +of dominating his employer, for Cappy seldom seriously disagreed with +those he trusted. He saved all his fighting force for his +competitors. + +However, Cappy's interest in the Blue Star Navigation Company did not +wane with the cessation of his activities as chief kicker. +Ordinarily, Mr. Skinner bossed the navigation company as he bossed the +lumber business, for Cappy's private office was merely headquarters +for receiving mail, reading the newspapers, receiving visitors, +smoking an after-luncheon cigar, and having a little nap from three +o'clock until four, at which hour Cappy laid aside the cares of +business and put in two hours at bridge in his club. + +Despite this apparent indifference to business, however, Mr. Skinner +handled the navigation company with gloves; for, if Cappy dozed in his +office, he had a habit of keeping one eye open, so to speak, and every +little while he would wake up and veto an order of Skinner's, of which +the latter would have been willing to take an oath Cappy had never +heard. In the matter of engaging new skippers or discharging old ones +Mr. Skinner had to be very careful. Cappy always declared that any +clerk can negotiate successfully a charter at the going rates in a +stiff market, but skippers are, in the final analysis, the Genii of +the Dividends. And Cappy knew skippers. He could get more loyalty +out of them with a mere pat on the back and a kindly word than could +Mr. Skinner, with all his threats, nagging and driving, yet he was an +employer who demanded a full measure of service, and never permitted +sentiment to plead for an incompetent. And his ships were his pets; +in his affections they occupied a position but one degree removed from +that occupied by his only child, in consequence of which he was mighty +particular who hung up his master's ticket in the cabin of a Blue Star +ship. Some idea of the scrupulous care with which he examined all +applicants for a skipper's berth may be gleaned from the fact that any +man discharged from a Blue Star ship stood as much chance of obtaining +a berth with one of Cappy Ricks' competitors as a celluloid dog +chasing an asbestos cat through Hades. + +The reader will readily appreciate, therefore, the apprehensions which +assailed Cappy Ricks when the Blue Star Navigation Company discovered +it had on its payroll one Matthew Peasley, a Nobody from Nowhere, who +not only had the insufferable impudence to apply for a job skippering +the finest windjammer in the fleet, but when rebuffed in no uncertain +terms, refused to withdraw his application, and defied his owners to +fire him. Such a preposterous state of affairs borders so closely on +the realm of fancy as to require explanation; hence, for the nonce let +us leave Cappy Ricks and Mr. Skinner to their sordid task of squeezing +dividends out of the Blue Star Navigation Company and turn the +searchlight of inquiry upon the amazing Matthew. + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE MAN FROM BLUE WATER + + +If, instead of advancing the theory that man sprang from a monkey, +Darwin had elected to nominate the duck for that dubious honor, there +is no doubt but that he would have pointed to the Peasley family, of +Thomaston, Maine, as evidence of the correctness of his theory of +evolution. The most casual student of natural history knows that the +instant a duckling chips its shell it toddles straightway to the +nearest water. The instant a male Peasley could cut his mother's +apron strings, he, also, made for the nearest water, for the Peasleys +had always been sailors, a statement which a perusal of the tombstones +in Thomaston cemetery will amply justify. Indeed, a Peasley who had +not acquired his master's ticket prior to his twenty-fifth birthday +was one of two things--a disgrace to the family or a corpse. +Consequently, since the traditions of his tribe were very strong in +Matthew Peasley VI, it occasioned no comment in Thomaston when, having +acquired a grammar school education, he answered the call of his +destiny and fared forth to blue water and his first taste of dog's +body and salt horse. + +When he was fourteen years old and very large for his age, Matt +commenced his apprenticeship in a codfisher on the Grand Banks, which, +when all is said and done, constitutes the finest training school in +the world for sailors. By the time he was seventeen he had made one +voyage to Rio de Janeiro in a big square-rigger out of Portland; and +so smart and capable an A.B. was he for his years that the Old Man +took a shine to him. Confidentially he informed young Matt that if +the latter would stay by the ship, in due course a billet as third +mate should be the reward of his fealty. The Old Man didn't need a +third mate any more than he needed a tail, but Matt Peasley looked +like a comer to him and he wanted an excuse to encourage the boy by +berthing him aft; also it sounds far better to be known as a third +mate instead of a mate's bosun, which was, in reality, the position +the Old Man had promised Matt. The latter promptly agreed to this +program and the skipper loaned him his copy of Bowditch. + +Upon his return from his first voyage as third mate Matt went up for +his second mate's certificate and passed very handily. Naturally he +expected prompt promotion, but the Old Man knew the value of +experience in a second mate--also the value of years and physical +weight; so he informed young Matt he was entirely too precocious and +that to sail as second mate before he was nineteen might tend to swell +his ego. Consequently Matt made a voyage to Liverpool and back as +third mate before the Old Man promoted him. + +For a year, Matt Peasley did nicely; then, in a gale off the Orinoco +River, with the captain too ill to appear on deck, the first mate went +by the board, leaving the command of the ship to young Matt. She was +dismasted at the time, but the lad brought her into Rio on the stumps, +thus attracting some little attention to himself from his owners, who +paid his passage back to Portland by steamer and found a second mate's +berth for him in one of their clipper ships bound round the Horn. + +Of course Matt was too young to know they had their eyes on him for +future skipper material and were sending him around Cape Horn for the +invaluable experience he would encounter on such a voyage. All he +realized was that he was going round the Horn, as became one of the +House of Peasley, no member of which would ever regard him as a real +sailor until he could point to a Cape Horn diploma as evidence that he +had graduated from the school for amateurs. + +Matt Peasley lacked two months of his twentieth birthday when he +stepped onto a San Francisco dock, in his pocket a highly +complimentary discharge as second mate from the master of the clipper +ship--for Matt had elected to quit. In fact, he had to, for on the +way round the mate had picked on him and called him Sonny and Mother's +Darling Boy; and Matt, having, in the terminology of the forecastle, +come aboard through the hawse pipes, knew himself for a man and a +sailor, despite the paucity of whiskers on his big, square boyish +chin. + +Accordingly he had advised the mate to address him only in the line of +duty, on which occasions he desired to be referred to as Mr. Peasley, +and, the mate demurring from this program, the customary maritime +fracas had ensued. Consequently, somebody had to quit on arrival at +San Francisco; and since, Matt was the last to come, he was the first +to go. On the strength of his two previous discharges he shipped as +second mate on the bark Andrew Welch, for a voyage to Honolulu and +back; then, his services as second mate being all in, he went before +the inspectors for his first mate's ticket and was awarded an +unlimited license. + +Matt was now past twenty; and, though not fully filled out, he was big +enough to be a chief kicker anywhere. Six feet three in his bare +feet; two hundred pounds in the buff; lean, lithe and supple as a +panther, the mere sight of his big lumpy shoulders would have been +sufficient to have quelled an incipient mutiny. Nevertheless, +graduate that he was of a hard, hard school, his face was that of an +innocent, trusting, good-natured, immature boy, proclaiming him +exactly what he knew his men called him--a big, over-grown kid. He +hated himself for his glorious youth. + +"You're pretty much of a child to have an unlimited ticket, my son," +the supervising inspector informed him. "However, you've had the +experience and your record is far above the average, so we're going to +issue the license; but if you'll take a bit of advice from an old +sailor you'll be content to go as second mate for a year or two more, +until your jowls blacken up a bit and you get a trifle thicker in the +middle." + +With the impudence and irreverence of his tender years, however, Matt +Peasley scorned this well-meant advice, notwithstanding the fact that +he knew it to be sound, for by shipping as second mate and remaining +in the same ship, sooner or later his chance would come. The first +mate would quit, or be promoted or drowned, or get drunk; and then his +shoes would be waiting for Matt tried and true, and the holder of a +first mate's ticket. + +However, there is an old saw to the effect that youth must be served, +and young Matt desired a helping totally disproportionate to his +years, if not to his experience; hence he elected to ignore the fact +that shipmasters are wary of chief mates until they have first tried +them out as second mates and learned their strength and their +weaknesses. Being very human, Matt thought he should prove the +exception to a fairly hard-and-fast rule. + +He had slept one night on a covered dock and skipped three meals +before it occurred to him that he had pursued the wrong tactics. He +was too far from Thomaston, Maine, where the majority of sailors have +gone to school with their captains. Back home there were a dozen +masters who knew his people, who knew him and his proved ability; but +out here on the Pacific Coast the skippers were nearly all +Scandinavians, and Matt had to show them something besides his +documents. + +He had failed signally to procure a single opportunity to demonstrate +his fitness for an executive position. After abandoning his plan to +ship as chief mate he had sought a second mate's berth, but failing to +find one, and with each idle day making deeper inroads into his scant +savings, he had at length descended to the ignominy of considering a +job as bosun. Even that was not forthcoming, and now his money was +entirely dissipated. + +Now, when a big overgrown kid finds himself penniless three thousand +miles from a friend and minus three meals in succession, the fourth +omission of the daily bread is not likely to pass without violent +protest. Matt was still a growing boy, with a growing boy's appetite; +consequently on the morning of his second day of fasting he came to +the conclusion that, with so much of his life before him, a few months +wasted would, after all, have no material bearing on his future; so he +accepted a two months advance from a crimp and shipped aboard the +American barkentine Retriever as a common A.B.--a most disgraceful +action on the part of a boy, who, since eighteenth birthday, had been +used to having old sailors touch their foretop to him and address him +as "Mr. Peasley, sir." + + + +CHAPTER III + +UNDER THE BLUE STAR FLAG + + +Matt had been attracted to the barkentine Retriever for two very +potent reasons--the first was a delicious odor of stew emanating from +her galley; the second was her house flag, a single large, +five-pointed blue star on a field of white with scarlet trimming. +Garnished left and right with a golden wreath and below with the word +Captain, Matt Peasley knew that house flag, in miniature, would look +exceedingly well on the front of a uniform cap; for he now made up his +mind to enter one service and stick to it until his abilities should +receive their inevitable reward. To ship as a foremast hand and rise +to captain would be a proud record; so Matt throttled his pride and +faced the future with confidence, and a stomach quite filled with very +good beef stew. + +From the cook he learned that the Retriever carried a million feet of +lumber; that she was owned by Cappy Ricks; that Cappy Ricks was the +president of the Blue Star Navigation Company, and the most +contemptible old scoundrel in all the world; that the skipper was a +blue-nose and a devil and a fine man rolled into one; that the +barkentine could sail like a yacht; and that presently they would +up-hook and off to Grays Harbor, Washington, there to load a cargo of +fir lumber for Cape Town. And would Matt mind slipping ashore and +buying the cook a bottle of whiskey, for which the latter would settle +very minute he could get an advance out of the Old Man. No? +Disgusted, the cook rattled his pans and dismissed Matt as one +unworthy of further confidence. + +Just before the tug came alongside to snake her outside the Heads, the +mate came aboard with his leerail pretty well under and was indiscreet +enough to toss a piece of his lip at the Old Man. Five minutes later +he was paid and off and kicked out on the dock, while the cook packed +his sea bag and tossed it overside after him. The captain, thereupon, +bawled for the second mate, who came running. Matt noticed this and +decided that should the Old Man ever bawl for him he would come +running too. + +"Mr.Swenson, you have a chief mate's license, have you not?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Very well. You're the first mate. Mr. Lindstrom"--turning to the +bosun--"you've waited a year for your chance, and here it is. You're +the second mate. Bosun!" He was looking straight at Matt Peasley as +he spoke. Matt did not stir. "Hey, there," the skipper roared, "you +big mountain of meat, step lively!" + +Matt stepped lively. + +"I am not the bosun, sir," he explained. "I'm just A.B." + +"How dare you contradict me?" the Old Man growled. "I tell you, you +don't know what you are yet, barring the fact that you're an American, +and the only one, with the exception of myself, in the whole damned +Scowegian crew. Do you think you could get away with a bosun's job?" + +"I could get away with your job if I had the chance, sir," Matt +declared, almost impudently. + +"There she blows!" the Old Man declared. "Bless me, if you're not a +Native Son! Nobody but a Native Son would be that fresh. I suppose +this is your second voyage, you puling baby?" + +Matt Peasley's dander was up instantly. + +"I'm sailor enough to know my way alow or aloft in any weather, sir," +he retorted. + +The captain saw his opening and struck. + +"What's the ring-tail?" he demanded. + +"It's a studdin'-s'l on the gaff of a fore-an'-aft, sail, sir. You +haven't got one on the Retriever, sir." + +"Huh! You've been reading W. Clark Russell's sea yarns," the skipper +charged. "He was quite a pen-an'-paper sailor when it came to +square-rigged ships, but he didn't have much to say about six-masted +schooners. You see, they didn't build them in his day. Now then, +son, name the sticks on a six-legged schooner, and be sure and name +'em right." + +"Fore, main, mizzen, spanker, jigger and driver, sir," Matt fired back +at him. + +"Bully for you, my son. You're the third mate. Cappy Ricks allows me +the luxury of a third mate whenever I run across a young fellow that +appears to be worth a whoop in hell, so grab your duds, and go aft, +and don't bring any cockroaches with you. I'll dig up a bosun among +the squareheads." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Name?" + +"Mr. Peasley, sir." + +Since he was no longer an A B., young Matt concluded he might as well +accord himself the respect due him as a ship's officer; so he tacked +on the Mister, just to show the Old Man he knew his place. The master +noted that; also, the slurring of the sir as only a sailor can slur +it. + +"I shouldn't wonder if you'd do," he remarked as Matt passed him on +his way to the forecastle for his dunnage. + +On his way back he carried his bag over his shoulder and his framed +license in his left hand. Two savages were following with his sea +chest. + +I do declare!" the skipper cried. "If that lubberly boy hasn't got +some sort of a ticket! Let me see it, Mr. Peasley." And he snatched +it out of his grasp. + +"So, you're a first mate of sail, for any ocean and any tonnage, eh?" +he said presently. "Are you sure this ticket doesn't belong to your +father?" + +"Sir," declared the exasperated Matt, "I never asked you for this job +of third mate; and if I've got to stomach your insults to hold it down +I don't want it. That's my ticket and I'm fully capable of living up +to it." + +"I'm glad to hear that, Mr. Peasley, because if you're not I'll be the +first one to find it out--and don't you forget it! I'll have no +marine impostors aboard my ship. Where do they ship little boys +before the mast, Mr. Peasley?" + +"On the Grand Banks, sir." + +"I beg your pardon," said the skipper; "but really I thought you were +a Native Son. My father was drowned there thirty years ago." + +"The Peasleys have all died on the Banks sir," Matt replied, much +mollified. + +"We'll go down into my cabin and drink a toast to their memory, Mr. +Peasley. It isn't often we skippers out here meet one of our own." + +It is hard for a Down-Easter, even though he may have lost the speech +of his people, not to be, partial to his own; and Captain Noah +Kendall, of the barkentine Retriever, was all the cook had declared +him to be. He scolded his Norsk mates so bitterly while the vessel +was taking on cargo at Grays Harbor that both came and asked for their +time an hour before the vessel sailed. However, the old man was aware +they would do this, for he had handled that breed too long not to know +that the Scandinavian sailor on the Pacific Coast quits his job on the +slightest pretext, but never dreams of leaving until he knows that by +so doing he can embarrass the master or owners. Even if the mates had +not quit, Kendall would have discharged them, for it had been in his +mind to try Matt Peasley out as chief mate, and acquire a second mate +with a sweeter disposition than that possessed by the late incumbent. + +No sooner had the Norsk mates departed than Captain Noah Kendall paid +a visit to Captain McBride in command of the schooner Nokomis (also a +Blue Star vessel), which had arrived that day and was waiting for the +Retriever's berth at the mill dock, in order to commence loading. + +"Mac," quoth Captain Noah, "what kind of a second mate have you got?" + +"A no-good Irish hound named Murphy," McBride replied promptly, for he +had heard rumors of war aboard the Retriever and something told him +Kendall had come to borrow his second mate, in order that the +Retriever might tow out immediately. A canny, cunning lad was +McBride, but for all his Scotch blood he was no match for Captain Noah +Kendall. + +"I heard he wasn't worth two squirts of bilge water," Captain Noah +lied glibly. "However, I'll take him off your hands and reimburse you +for the expense of bringing his successor down from Seattle or up from +San Francisco. My two mates have just asked to be paid off, and +despite the fact that they have signed articles, I've let them go. No +use going to sea with a pair of sulky mates, you know. Fortunately, I +had a young Down-Easter aboard and I've put him in as first mate--" + +"Noah," urged McBride. "I wouldn't advise you to take this man +Murphy." + +"Beggars can't be choosers," Captain Noah replied mournfully. "The +tide serves in half an hour and the tug is alongside the Retriever +now. If I have to wire to Seattle for a second mate I may not be able +to get one--and if I am forced to wire to San Francisco I may be stuck +here a week. I've shipped my crew and paid them all in advance, and +if I don't get to sea in an hour I'll lose every man Jack of them, and +have it all to do over again." + +"Well, I'll speak to the fellow for you, Noah," McBride suggested, and +darted out of the cabin to interview the said Murphy. Two minutes +later he was back. + +"Sorry, Noah, but Murphy says he wouldn't sign up for a trip to Cape +Town at chief mate's wages." + +"I'm sorry, too, Mac," Captain Noah answered resignedly. "I'm sorry +you're such a liar. My grief is only compensated by the knowledge +that Murphy is not aboard the Nokomis at this minute, and, if you did +any talking while you were out on deck a minute ago you must have +talked to yourself. Do I get this man, Murphy and thus save the Blue +Star Navigation Company five hundred dollars or must I wire Cappy +Ricks to wire you to do your duty by the company?" + +"You infernal thief," shouted McBride, "you're taking the best second +mate I've had in years." + +"Never mind that. Do I get Mike Murphy peaceably or--" + +"You've got him already" McBride charged. + +"You're better at telling the truth than you are at lying, Angus +McBride. You'll have plenty of time to get a second mate while the +Nokomis is loading, and you can send the bill for his railroad fare to +Cappy Ricks and tell him to charge it to the Retriever." + +McBride tried to appear aggrieved, but failed. He burst out laughing, +and reached for the locker in which he kept the schooner's supply of +grog. + +"Would it was prussic acid," he growled. + +"Don't say I went behind your back and stole your mate," Kendall +retorted. "And if your second mate is as poor as your whiskey," he +added, piling insult on to injury, "you can have him back when I +return from Cape Town." + +Matt Peasley felt that he was going to like Michael J. Murphy. The +latter was Irish, but he had left Ireland at a very tender age and +was, to all intents and purposes, a breezy American citizen, and while +he wore a slight cauliflower in one ear, his broad, kindly humorous +face and alert, bustling manner was assurance that he would be an easy +man to get along with. When the Old Man introduced him to Matt, he +extended a horny right hand that closed on Matt's like the jaws of a +dredger, the while he ran an equally horny left hand up and down the +chief mate's arm. + +"I'm sure we'll get along famously together, Mr. Murphy," Matt +suggested. + +Again Mr. Murphy ran his hand over that great arm. + +"You know it!" he declared with conviction. + +Captain Noah laughed aloud, and as Matt scampered forward over the +deckload, herding his savages before him, to receive the tug's breast +line and make it fast on the bitts the skipper turned to Mr. Murphy. + +"There's a lad for you," he declared. + +"He has manners and muscle, and those are two things that seldom go +together," Mr. Murphy rejoined. "He's Down-Easter, I see. Did Cappy +Ricks send him to you, sir?" + +"No--not that he wouldn't, however, if he'd ever met the boy. The +crimp brought him aboard with the sweepings and scrapings of San +Francisco." + +"I hope he wasn't drunk--like the rest," Mr. Murphy answered +anxiously. "'Twould be a sin to desecrate that lovely body with +whiskey." + +"He was bung up and bilge free--and that's why he's chief kicker now. +The hawser's fast for'd, Mr. Murphy. Cast off your stern line." + +"All clear for'd, sir," Matt Peasley's shout came ranging down the +wind, and the tug snatched the big barkentine out from the mill dock +into the stream where she cast her off, put her big towing hawser +aboard, paid it out and started for Grays Harbor bar. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +BAD NEWS FROM CAPE TOWN + + +On a certain day in February Mr. Skinner, coming into Cappy Ricks' +office with a cablegram in his hand, found his employer doubled up at +his desk and laughing in senile glee. + +"I have a cablegram--" Mr. Skinner began. + +"I have a good story," Cappy interrupted. "Let me tell it to you, +Skinner. Oh, dear! I believe this is about going to kill the boys up +on 'Change when I tell them." He wiped his eyes, controlled his mirth +and turned to the general manager. "Skinner," he said, "did you know +I had gotten back into the harness while you were up at the Astoria +mill? Well I did, Skinner. I had to, you know. If it was the last +act of my life I had to square accounts with that man Hudner, of the +Black Butte Lumber Company." + +Mr. Skinner nodded. He was aware of the feud that existed between +Cappy and Hudner, and the reasons therefor. The latter had stolen +from Cappy a stenographer, who had grown to spinsterhood in his +employ--one of those rare stenographers who do half a man's thinking +for him. Cappy always paid a little more than the top of the market +for clever service; and whenever, a competitor stole one of his +favorite employees, sooner or later that competitor paid for his sins, +"through the nose." + +"While you were away," Cappy went on, "I met Hudner a luncheon. +'Hudner,' I said, 'It's been my experience that nobody gets anything +good in this world without paying for it--and you stole the finest +stenographer I ever had. So I'm going to make you pay for her. See +if I don't.' Well, sir, Skinner, he laughed at me and told me to go +as far as I liked; and, a number of my youthful friends being present, +they each bet Hudner a five-dollar hat I'd hang his hide on my fence +within sixty days. + +"We11, Skinner, you know me. Any time it's raining duck soup you'll +never catch me out with a fork; and, of course, when the boys showed +such faith in my ability to trim Hudner I had to make good. I have a +letter from Hudner to prove it; and to-day at luncheon, when we're all +gathered at the Round Table, I'm going to read that letter and my +reply to the same; and Hudner will have fifty dollars' worth of hat +bills to pay!" + +"How did you tan his pelt?" Skinner queried. + +"Easy! While you were away I chartered his steamer Chehalis for a +load of redwood lumber from Humboldt Bay to San Francisco at three +dollars and a half a thousand feet. Of course, you know a boat like +the Chehalis, with a big pay-roll, will break just even on such a low +freight rate; but inasmuch as he was going to lay the Chehalis up in +Oakland Creek, owing to lack of business, when I offered him a load of +redwood he concluded to take it, just to keep the vessel moving and +pay expenses. I stipulated discharge in San Francisco Bay. + +"Well, sir, when the Chehalis got to our mill, Skinner, I ordered them +to load her with sinkers--oh! oh, this will be the death of me yet, +Skinner. And we gave her poor dispatch in loading. Then she had to +lay behind the bar two days longer before she could cross out; and +when she got here I ordered her to discharge into the British bark +Glengarry--and discharging from one vessel in to another is the +slowest work in the world. And Hudner--he's--written--me, Skinner, +declaring he'll never charter a boat to me again; says the Chehalis +lost two thousand dollars on the voyage." And Cappy went off into a +gale of laughter, and handed Skinner the letter to read. + +For the benefit of the reader, who may desire a closer insight into +Cappy's Machiavellian nature, be it known that a sinker is a heavy, +close-grained clear redwood butt-log, which, if cut in the spring, +when the tree is alive with sap, is so heavy it will not float in the +millpond; hence the term sinker. A vessel laden with lumber sawed +from sinkers, therefore, will carry just fifty per cent. of her +customary cargo; and unless the freight rate be extremely high, she +cannot make money. + +"Do you know, Skinner," Cappy announced presently, "I think you'd +better hunt up a steady job for me! Dadding it, boy, I never knew +there was so much fun in business until I had practically retired! +Really, Skinner, I must take more interest in my affairs." + +"Here's something to sharpen your teeth on, Mr. Ricks," the general +manager replied, and presented the cablegram he had been holding for +five minutes. + +Cappy took it and read, thereby becoming aware for the first time, +that he had in his employ an individual by the name of Matthew +Peasley. + + Cape Town, February 15, --. + + Bluestar, San Francisco: + + Captain knifed Kru boy argument boat fare. Instruct consignees + honor my drafts as captain. + + Matthew Peasley, Mate. + +"The murdering black hound!" Cappy murmured in an awed voice. "If he +hasn't gone and killed the best skipper I ever had! Poor Kendall! +Why, Noah and I were good friends, Skinner. Every time the Retriever +touched in at her home port I always had Noah Kendall up to the house +for dinner, and we went to the theatre together afterward. Thank God! +It isn't a week since his life insurance premium fell due and I had +the cashier pay it." + +Cappy sat gazing dejectedly at the carpet. + +"Poor old Cap'n Noah!" he soliloquized aloud. "Twenty-five years you +sailed under the Blue Star, and in all that time there was never once +when I had to jack up and tell you to 'tend to business. And, Noah, +you could make a suit of sails last longer than any man I ever knew; +but you did have a hell of a temper." And having delivered this +touching eulogy on the late Captain Kendall, Cappy roused himself and +faced Skinner. + +"I should say I have a job on my hands," he announced, "with the +finest sailing ship in the fleet down in South Africa without a +skipper! Skinner, I'll tell you what you do, my boy: You dictate the +nicest letter you know how to dictate to Noah's widow, up in Port +Townsend. Tell her how much we thought of Noah and extend our +sympathy, and a check for his next three months' salary. Put her on +my private pension list, Skinner, and send her Cap'n Noah's salary +every quarter-day as long as she lives. Tell her we'll attend to the +collection of the life insurance and will bring Noah's body home to +Port Townsend at our own expense. It's the least we can do, Skinner. +He was the only skipper I ever had who did not, at one time or +another, manage to embroil me in a lawsuit. Who are our consignees at +Cape Town?" + +"The Harlow & Benton Company, Limited." + +"Cable them for confirmation of the mate's message, and request them +to have Cap'n Noah's body embalmed and shipped to Port Townsend, +Washington, prepaid, deducting charges from our invoice." + + + +CHAPTER V + +MATT PEASLEY ASSUMES OFFICE + + +The death of Captain Noah Kendall, while profoundly deplored by his +next in command, first mate Matthew Peasley, had not been permitted by +that brisk young man to interfere in the least with the task of +getting the cargo out of the Retriever, for sailoring, like +soldiering, is a profession in which sentiment is a secondary +consideration. Each day of demurrage to a ship like the Retriever, +even at the prevailing low freight rate, meant a loss of at least a +hundred dollars to the owners, and since navigating a ship safely and +expeditiously is the least of a good skipper's duties, and since, +further, Matt Peasley was determined to be a skipper in the not very +distant future, he concluded to give his owners evidence of the fact +that he was, in addition to being a navigator, also a first-class +"hustler." If the Retriever made a loss on that voyage he was +resolved that no blame should attach to him. + +"Skipper's dead, Mike," he announced to Mr. Murphy, the second mate. +"Policeman in a small boat alongside says the old man got into a row +with the Kru boy that rowed him ashore and the black scoundrel +skewered him. I'm going ashore to look after his body and order a tug +to kick us into our berth. I guess the old man didn't get time to +attend to the business that brought him ashore, poor fellow." + +"Very well, Sir," Mr. Murphy replied, and murmured some commonplace +expression of regret. He was not particularly shocked for he had lost +shipmates in a hurry before now. + +Matt Peasley proceeded to the beach, attended to the necessary details +incident to the skipper's untimely removal, was informed by the Harlow +& Benton Company, Limited, of the location of the berth he was to +discharge, ordered a tug for that afternoon, went to the cable office, +registered his cable address, sent a cablegram to the owners and +returned to the ship. + +"Well, Mike," he announced to the second mate, "I guess I'm the +skipper; following the same line of deduction, I guess you're the +chief mate, so I'll move my dunnage into the old man's cabin and you +move into mine. I'll pick up a second mate in Cape Town before we +leave." + +Mr. Murphy eyed his youthful superior with mild curiosity, not +untempered with amusement. "Thank you for the promotion, Captain +Matt," he replied. "However, if you'll excuse my apparent impudence +on the grounds that I'm about fifteen years older than you and have +been longer in the Blue Star employ, I'd like to make a suggestion." + +"Fire away, Mike." + +Mr. Murphy hitched his belt, walked to the rail, spat tobacco juice +from between his fingers and came back. "You're the youngest chief +mate I've ever seen, and this is your first berth in that capacity," +he began. "Suppose you hang on to it and don't be so infernally +generous." + +"But you have a first mate's license, haven't you?" + +"Certainly. But--" + +"No ifs or buts, Mike. The skipper's dead; I was first mate; +consequently I take command of the ship, and by virtue of my authority +I appoint you first mate. That goes. You'll do one of two things, +Mike. You'll be first mate or get out of the ship." + +Michael J. Murphy grinned. "You mean that?" + +"Naturally." + +"If you stick by that determination you'll find yourself on the beach +in Cape Town, unless you conclude to take my recently vacated berth as +second mate. And I'd hate like the devil to have you do that. +There's neither sense nor profit for you in swapping jobs with me." + +"But I tell you I'm going to be skipper." + +"I know--until old Cappy Ricks sends down a relief captain. If you +promote me now, the relief captain may conclude to retain me as first +mate and then you'd have to take my job or quit the ship; and of +course I wouldn't care to have that happen. I'd have to quit the +ship, too. I wouldn't care to do that. I've made up my mind to sail +under the Blue Star flag for the rest of my natural life and I'd hate +to have to change my mind." + +"I've made up my mind to the same thing, Mike, and I know I'm not +going to change my mind." + +"Well, then, Matt, you stick in your first mate's berth and I'll be +satisfied with my second mate's berth." + +"I suppose you'll say next that the relief skipper will be happy in +poor old Captain Noah's berth, eh?" Matt interrupted. He grinned at +Mr. Murphy. + +"Mike, listen to me. There isn't going to be any relief skipper. +You're going back to Hoquiam, Grays Harbor, Washington, U. S. A., as +chief kicker of the barkentine Retriever, and you're going to take +orders from me all the way. In fact, you might as well begin right +now. Take your duds and move into my cabin." + +"Matt," Mr. Murphy pleaded earnestly, "you don't know Cappy Ricks, do +you?" + +"No, but I'll get acquainted with him in due course. Don't let that +worry you Mike." + +"All right, I won't. But what does worry me is the fact that Cappy +Ricks doesn't know you. + +"Does he know you?" + +"No." + +"Do you know him?" + +"Yes, by proxy. I've heard a lot about him, and that's why I'm in his +employ and resolved to stay there. If a man sails under the Blue Star +flag long enough and behaves himself and displays a little human +intelligence from time to time sooner or later he gets his chance. +Cappy Ricks does all the hiring and firing for the fleet, and whenever +he has a good job to fill, he never goes outside his own employ to +fill it. He always promotes the deserving. You cabled him, of +course, that Captain Kendall has been killed." + +"Yes, I did. And I cabled him also to cable me authority to draw +drafts, as skipper, in order to disburse the vessel." + +"Just like a kid! Just like a kid!" Mr. Murphy groaned. "That +finishes you, Matt. Cappy'll think you're fresh and you'll be ten +years proving to him you are not." + +"It proves I'm on the job," Matt protested doggedly. + +"No matter, Matt. Cappy Ricks will go over the list of his skippers +due for promotion into a larger ship and more pay, and right away +he'll start Captain Noah's successor for Cape Town to bring the ship +home." + +"If he does, Mike, he's crazy." + +"Oh, he's crazy enough, Matt, like a fox--so blamed crazy he will not +consider handing over this Retriever to an untried and unknown man who +has been in his employ for less than a voyage. Why, I wouldn't +myself." + +"Maybe you think he'll hand her over to you?" Matt asked, with the +suspicion and impetuosity of youth. + +"Boy," said Mr. Murphy patiently, "you're getting into deep water +close to the shore. Starboard your helm and put her on the other +tack. If he gives her to me--which he will not--I'll take her. I've +been three years in his employ. I'm capable--" + +"Mike," Matt interrupted. "I like you fine, but I want to tell you +that if Cappy Ricks cabled you to take charge, I wouldn't let you. +I'm next in command, and it's only etiquette that I should have my +chance." + +"Then," Mr. Murphy murmured sententiously, "there'd be a fight with +skin gloves and I'm afraid you'd get licked, son. I wasted a good +many years in the navy, Matt, and there I learned two things--how to +obey and how to fight with my fists. I was the champion amateur +light-heavy-weight of the Atlantic fleet, and every once in a while +something happens to prove to me that I'm far from being a slouch even +at this late date." + +"No offense, Mike. We're crossing our bridges before we come to them, +and besides, I didn't intend to be offensive." + +"I understand. Our conversation was entirely academic," Murphy +admitted graciously. + +"You said you learned to obey in the navy," Matt suggested. "What's +the matter with obeying my last order?" + +"All right, Matt. I'll obey. But remember, I have given you fair +warning. If I move into your cabin to-day, I'll not move out when the +relief skipper comes." + +"I'll take a chance," said Matt Peasley. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +WORDY WAR AT A DOLLAR A WORD + + +While the capable Mr. Skinner was preparing the reply to Matt +Peasley's cablegram, and dictating for Cappy Ricks' signature a letter +to Noah Kendall's widow, Cappy was busy at the telephone. First he +retailed the news to the Merchants' Exchange, to be bulletined on the +blackboard and read by Captain Noah's friends; next he called up the +secretary of the American Shipmasters' Association, of which the +deceased had been a member, and lastly he communicated the sad tidings +to the water-front reporters of all the daily papers. This detail +attended to, Cappy's active mind returned to more practical and +profitable affairs, and he took up Matt Peasley's cablegram. He was +deep in a study of it when Mr. Skinner entered with the letter to Mrs. +Kendall. + +"'Captain knifed, killed, Kru boy argument boat fare,'" Cappy read +aloud. "Skinner, my dear boy, what is the cable rate per word to Cape +Town?" + +"Ninety-eight cents per word," replied Mr. Skinner, who had just +looked it up. + +"We will if you please, Skinner, confine ourselves to round numbers. +There is such a thing as being too exact. Call it a dollar. Figuring +on that basis, I see this garrulous mate has squandered five dollars +of our money to no purpose--yes, by jingo, more than that. He might +have used the code book! Hum-m-m! Ahem! Harump-h-h-h! Skinner, this +fellow will not do. He is too windy. Skinner, he tells the story in +eight words, and forgets to use his code book. Give me a skipper, +Skinner, my boy, who always has his owner's interest at heart and +displays a commendable discretion in limiting the depredations +practiced by the cable company. For instance, the man Peasley might +have omitted the word knifed; also the explanatory words, argument +boat fare, and the word mate. Though regretting Noah's demise most +keenly, as business men we are not cable-gramically interested in the +means employed to accomplish his removal. Neither do the causes +leading up to the tragedy interest us. The man Peasley should merely +have said "Captain murdered." Also, he might have trusted to us to +realize that when the captain dies the first mate takes charge. He +need not have identified himself--the infernal chatter-box!" + +Cappy read the next sentence. "Instruct consignees honor my drafts as +captain." + +"H'm! Harum-ph! He might have said 'please,' Skinner! Sounds +devilishly like an order, the way he puts it. Though he is +temporarily in command I challenge his right to handle our money until +I know more about him. Harum-ph! Reading between the lines, Skinner, +I see he says: 'If you send a skipper to Cape Town to bring the +Retriever home while I'm on the job, you're crazy.' Look over the +vouchers in Cap'n Noah's last report and let us ascertain how long +this forceful mate has been in our employ." + +Now, the ordinary form of receipt to which a seaman puts his signature +when signing clear bears upon its reverse side a series of blank +spaces, which the captain must fill in. These blanks provide for +mention of the date of signing on, date of discharge, station held on +vessel and remarks. On none of the vouchers of the Retriever's last +voyage, however, did the name of Matthew Peasley appear. + +"Must have shipped in San Francisco just before the vessel sailed for +her loading port," Cappy announced. "Send in a boy." + +One of Cappy's young men was summoned. + +"Son," said Cappy, "you run down, like a good boy, to the office of +the Deputy United States Shipping Commissioner and tell him Mr. Ricks +would like to see the duplicate copy of the crew list of the +barkentine Retriever." + +When an American vessel clears for a foreign port the law required +that her crew shall be signed on before a Deputy United States +Shipping Commissioner, who furnishes a certified copy of the crew list +to the captain and retains a duplicate for his own files. + +The Blue Star youth returned presently with his duplicate list, on +consulting which, to his unspeakable amazement, Cappy Ricks discovered +that Matthew Peasley had shipped aboard the Retriever as an able +seaman, and that the first mate was one William Olson--which goes to +prove that in the heat of passion a skipper will often discharge a +mate on the eve of sailing for a foreign port and forget to tell the +Deputy Shipping Commissioner anything about it. + +"Remarkable," Cappy declared. "Ree-markable!" + +"Dirty work here," Mr. Skinner announced. "Captain dead and a common +A.B. cabling us for authority to draw drafts as captain, while posing +as first mate. Nigger in the woodpile somewhere, Mr. Ricks." + +"I'll smoke him out in five minutes, Skinner. Ring up the local +inspectors and inquire if, by any chance, they have ever issued a +captain's license to one Matthew Peasley." + +Skinner obeyed. After a brief wait he was informed that the said +Peasley had an unlimited license as first mate of sail, and was +entitled to act as second mate of steam vessels up to five hundred +tons net register. + +"Nothing doing!" Cappy piped. "Skinner, when a mate with an unlimited +license ships before the mast, THERE'S A REASON!" + +"Drunkard!" Mr. Skinner suggested without an instant's hesitation. + +"Eggs-actly, Skinner. Good seaman, I daresay, but worthless and +unreliable in an executive capacity, and I can't trust a ripping fine +barkentine like the Retriever with that kind of man. I suppose he +feels the hankering for a spree coming on right now. Skinner, if we +gave the man Peasley permission to draw drafts he'd paint Cape Town +red. I feel it in my bones." + +"So do I, sir." + +"What vessels have we in port at this moment, Skinner?" + +"McBride is discharging the Nokomis at Oakland Long Wharf." + +"The ideal man." Cappy smote his desk. "I've been wanting to promote +Mac into a larger vessel and pay him twenty-five dollars a month more +for the past two years. He's too good for a little hooker like the +Nokomis, and he's got a steady-going Norwegian mate that's been with +him in the Nokomis for three years. Time to take care of that mate. +Skinner, I have an idea. See that it is carried through. McBride's +mate shall buy out Mac's interest in the Nokomis. If he hasn't the +money, tell him I'll lend it to him, secured by the insurance, +provided he and McBride can come to terms. See that they do. Tell +Mac he's to have the Retriever, and I'll arrange to get Cap'n Noah's +interest for him from the estate at a fair figure. Give him expense +money and his credentials and tell him to start for Cape Town tomorrow +night; and cable the man Peasley to retain charge of the vessel at +captain's pay until McBride arrives to relieve him." + +Mr. Skinner retired to his office and got down his code book. The +general manager knew what he desired to say and hoped he might find +something in the code book to help him say it at cut rates, but +despairing after a diligent search he finally evolved and dispatched +this cablegram to Matt Peasley, addressing it to the cable address of +the Retriever. + + San Francisco, Feb. 16th, 19--. + + Rickstar, + Cape Town. + + Peasley, your meager maritime experience renders prohibitive + compliance request. Retain charge master's pay pending arrival + successor. + + Bluestar. + +Having dispatched his message to Matt Peasley, Mr. Skinner, as he +thought, had dismissed Peasley from his thoughts forever. It would +appear, however, that in this particular the general manager was +counting Mother Carey s chickens before they were hatched. He little +suspected, in his desire to be fair, even at considerable expense, to +inform Matt Peasley just why the Blue Star Navigation Company couldn't +possibly hand over its fine barkentine to a stranger, that he had only +reopened the controversy; that his unfortunate reference to "meager +maritime experience" had flicked Matt Peasley on a raw spot and been +provocative of this reply, received the same day: + + Cape Town, Feb. 16, 19--. + + Bluestar, + San Francisco. + + Skipper dying sea foreign port unwritten maritime law + stipulates mate succeeds. Yankee can sail anything afloat. + This my chance. Grant it or insure successor's life. Will + throw him overboard on arrival. + + Peasley. + +Mr. Skinner promptly carried this defi to Cappy Ricks. + +"He's a sea-lawyer," Cappy piped angrily. "The scoundrel! The +un-mi-ti-ga-ted--scoundrel! Cable him instantly, Skinner, that if he +spends another cent of our money in unnecessary cablegrams I'll fire +him." He snapped his fingers. "Attend to it, Skinner, attend to it." + +Mr. Skinner attended to it, and the following morning he found this +reply on his desk when he came down to work: + + Cape Town, Feb. 17, 19--. + + Bluestar, + San Francisco. + + Holler when you're hit. Paid for it myself. Am I to bring + Retriever home? + + Peasley. + +"I dare say the fellow did," Mr. Skinner informed Cappy. "He has four +months' wages coming to him at sixty dollars a month--and if he +didn't, why, I'll instruct McBride to deduct the cable charges from +his wages when he pays him off." + +"I think your reference to his meager maritime experience annoyed him, +Skinner," Cappy suggested thoughtfully. "It may be that he is a most +excellent sailor. At least, he spends his money like one." + +Cappy had no further comment to make, and the reply to this impudent +communication was accordingly left to Mr. Skinner, who cabled: + + San Francisco, Feb. 17th, 19--. + + Rickstar, + Cape Town. + + No! + + Bluestar. + +"I think that will settle the upstart," Mr. Skinner declared +confidently as he rang for a messenger boy. + +It did not. Four hours later he received this: + + Cape Town, Feb. 17, 19--. + + Bluestar, + San Francisco. + + Why? + + Peasley. + +Now it was a custom of Mr. Skinner's, when a subordinate laid claim to +an inalienable right which the general manager was not willing to +concede, to regard with very grave suspicion that subordinate's +loyalty to the company. If the subordinate protested Mr. Skinner +would warn him, kindly, quietly, but none the less forcefully; and if +he persisted Mr. Skinner would dispense with the services of that +subordinate so fast the offender, nine times out of ten, would be left +standing in a sort of fog and blinking at the suddenness with which +the metaphorical can had, metaphorically speaking, been tied to his +caudal appendage. Every large business office has its Skinner--a +queer combination of decency, honesty, brains and brutality, a +worshiper at the shrine of Mammon in the temple of the great god +Business, a reactionary Republican, treasurer of his church and +eventually a total loss from diabetes, brought on by lack of exercise +and worry over trifles. + +However, to return to our particular Mr. Skinner and Matt Peasley, the +rebellious. In all justice to Skinner it must be admitted that his +first impulse with reference to Matt Peasley was eminently fair. He +really desired to convey to this persistent person an intimation to +the effect that the latter was, colloquially speaking, monkeying with +the buzz-saw and in imminent danger of having his head lopped off; and +he would have given it, too, provided the delivery of the ultimatum +should not have cost the Blue Star Navigation Company ninety-eight +cents a word, including the address. Consequently, Skinner, always +efficient and realizing that McBride would doubtless be enabled to +pick up another mate in Cape Town, or in a pinch, could dispense with +a first mate altogether, made answer to Matt Peasley as follows: + + San Francisco, Feb. 17th, 19--. + + Rickstar, + Cape Town. + + Peasley, you are hereby discharged. Turn over command second + mate, call consignees your wages immediately. + + Bluestar. + +Having dispatched this cablegram and ended it all, as it were, Mr. +Skinner next cast his cold gray glance adown the duplicate crew list +borrowed from the deputy shipping commissioner, and discovered that +the second mate shipped at San Francisco was one Christian Swenson. + +"I do hope he's not a drinking man," Skinner sighed. "The Retriever +is quite a responsibility to entrust to a man we have never seen or +heard of before, but the man Swenson can scarcely be as vicious and +insubordinate as this fellow Peasley, and under the circumstances +we'll have to run the risk." + +And having wotted the which, Mr. Skinner cabled Christian Swenson to +take charge of the Retriever, at master's wages, until the arrival of +his successor. Next he cabled The Harlow and Benton Company, Limited, +requesting them to pay off Matt Peasley and, if necessary, invoke the +authorities to remove him from the vessel. + +"That fellow is a tough one to handle," he remarked to Cappy Ricks, to +whom he showed all the cablegrams, "but I guess this will about cut +off his wind." + +"A sea lawyer is the curse of the Seven Seas!" Cappy declared +waspishly. He was very bitter against Matt Peasley, whom he now +regarded as an ally of the piratical cable company. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CAPPY RICKS MAKES BAD MEDICINE + + +That afternoon Mr. Skinner herded Captain McBride of the Nokomis and +his Norwegian mate into Cappy Ricks' office. Cappy brought them to +terms very promptly, and the captain started for New York on the +Overland the same night. From New York he was to take passage to +Liverpool, thence via the A. D. line to Cape Town. Cappy almost had a +bloody sweat when he reflected on the expense for provisions and wages +for the crew during the weeks of idleness while McBride was on the way +to join the Retriever. Both he and Mr. Skinner had decided that +nothing could be gained by informing McBride, who was a little, +mild-mannered gentleman with gold eyeglasses, of the potential ducking +that awaited him at the hands of Matt Peasley; for just before McBride +said good-bye and started for the train Cappy and Mr. Skinner +discovered that their apple cart again had been upset. The following +cablegram received from Matt Peasley knocked into a cocked hat all +their high hopes of ridding themselves of the incubus. + + Cape Town, Feb. 17, 19--. + + Bluestar, + San Francisco. + + Swenson fired before leaving San Francisco. Second mate Murphy + declines take your orders, claiming me superior officer; I + decline also, claiming captain en route my superior officer. + Owner can fire captain but only captain can fire or disrate + ship's officers. Besides I shipped for the round trip. + + Peasley. + +"Well," said Cappy, "what do you know about that? He clings to us +like a barnacle or a poor relation--and the worst of it is the damned +sea lawyer is absolutely right. We have no authority to fire him, +Skinner. Just think of a government that will permit such a +ridiculous state of affairs as that to exist! Think of it, Skinner! +We hire the man Peasley but we can't fire him--and in the meantime +he'll roost in Cap'n Noah's cabin and run up bills on us and consume +our groceries and draw master's pay until McBride arrives and +discharges him." + +For geographical and financial reasons Cappy Ricks was barred from +quarreling with Matt Peasley. However, he was as cross as a setting +hen and just naturally had to vent his displeasure on somebody, and as +he paid Mr. Skinner a very large salary to be his general manager, he +figured he could afford to quarrel with Skinner. So he said: + +"Well, Skinner, if you hadn't butted in on the shipping end of the +business the man Peasley would not have been given this opening to +swat us. It's nuts for a sailor any time he can trip up a landsman, +and particularly his owners--" + +"You 0. K.'d the cablegrams, Mr. Ricks," Skinner reminded him coldly. + +"Don't talk back to me!" Cappy piped. "Not another peep out of you, +sir! Not another word of discussion about this matter under any +circumstances! I don't want to talk about it further--understand? +It's driving me insane. Now, then, Skinner, tell me: If the man +Peasley should decline to recognize McBride's authority, what course +would you advise pursuing?" + +"I do not think he will be that arbitrary, Mr. Ricks. In the first +place--" + +"Skinner, please do not argue with me. The man Peasley would do +anything--" + +"Well, in that event, McBride can call in the civil authorities of +Cape Town, to remove Peasley by force from the ship." + +"Skinner, you'll drive me to drink! I ask you, has a British official +any authority over an American vessel lying in the roadstead? Will a +foreign official dare to set foot on an American deck when an American +skipper orders him not to do so?" + +"I am not a sea lawyer," Mr. Skinner retorted, "I do not know." + +"The Retriever will have discharged her cargo weeks before McBride +arrives. Then suppose Peasley takes a notion to warp his vessel +outside the three-mile limit. What authority has McBride got then?" + +"I repeat, I am not a sea lawyer, Mr. Ricks." + +"Don't equivocate with me, Skinner! Let's argue this question calmly, +coolly and deliberately. Don't lose your temper. Now then. Peasley +said he'd throw his successor overboard, didn't he?" + +"Oh, merely a threat, Mr. Ricks." + +"Skinner, you're a fine, wise manager! A threat, eh?" Cappy +laughed--a short, scornful laugh. "Huh! Threat! Joke!" + +"You do not think it is a threat?" + +"No, sir. It's a promise. McBride is a splendid little man and game +to the core; but no good, game little man will ever stay on a deck if +a good, game big man takes a notion to throw him overboard, and the +man Peasley is both big and game, otherwise he would not defy us. +Why, Skinner, that fellow wouldn't pause at anything. Hasn't he spent +over a hundred dollars arguing with us by cable? Why, he's a +desperate character! Also, he would not threaten to throw his +successor overboard if he didn't know that he was fully capable of so +doing. Paste that in your hat, Skinner. It isn't done." Skinner +inclined his head respectfully. Cappy continued: "What I should have +done was to have sent a good, game, big man--" + +He paused, and his glance met Skinner's wonderingly as a bright idea +leaped into his cunning brain and crystallized into definite purpose. +He sprang up, waved his skinny old arms, and kicked the waste-basket +into a corner of the room. + +"I have it, Skinner! I've solved the problem. Go back and 'tend to +your lumber business and leave the man Peasley to me. I'll tan that +fellow's hide and hang it on my fence, just as sure as George +Washington crossed the Delaware River." + +Mr. Skinner, glad to be excused, promptly made his escape. When Cappy +Ricks stripped for action, Mr. Skinner knew from long experience that +there was going to be a fight or a foot race; that whenever the old +gentleman set out to confound an enemy, the inevitable result was +wailing and weeping and gnashing of teeth, in which doleful form of +exercise Cappy Ricks had never been known to participate. + +"Send in a boy!" Cappy ordered as the general manager withdrew. + +The boy appeared. "Sonny," said Cappy Ricks, "do you know All Hands +And Feet?" The boy nodded and Cappy continued: "Well, you go down on +the Embarcadero, like a good boy, and cruise from Folsom Street to +Broadway Wharf Number Two until you find All Hands and Feet. Look in +front of cigar stands and in the shipchandlery stores; and if you +don't find him in those places run over to the assembly rooms of +Harbor Fifteen, Masters' and Pilots' Association, and see if he's +there, playing checkers. When you find him tell him Mr. Ricks wants +to see him at once." + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +ALL HANDS AND FEET TO THE RESCUE + + +Captain Ole Peterson was known to the coastwise trade as All Hands And +Feet. He was a giant Swede whose feet resembled twin scow models and +whose clenched fists, properly smoked and cured, might have passed +anywhere for picnic hams. He was intelligent, competent and +belligerent, with a broad face, slightly dished and plentifully +scarred, while his wide flat nose had been stove in and shifted hard +a-starboard. Cappy Ricks liked him, respected his ability and found +him amusing as one finds an educated bear amusing. He had a +reputation for being the undefeated rough and tumble champion of +Sweden and the United States. + +"You ban vant to see me, sir?" he rumbled as, hat in hand, he stood +beside Cappy Ricks' desk half an hour later. Compared with the huge +Swede, Cappy looked like a watch charm. + +"Sit down, captain," Cappy replied amiably. "I hear you're out of a +job. Why?" + +Briefly All Hands And Feet explained what Cappy already knew; that his +last command, being old and rotten and over-loaded, had worked apart +in a seaway and fallen to pieces under him. The inspectors had held +him blameless. + +"I have a job for you, Ole," Cappy announced. "But there's a string +attached to it." + +"Aye ban able to pull strings, sir," Ole reminded him. + +Cappy smiled, and outlined to the Swede the conditions surrounding the +barkentine Retriever. "I'm going to give you command of the +Retriever," he continued confidentially. "You are to bring her home +from Cape Town, and when you get back I'll have a staunch four-masted +schooner waiting for you. I was going to send McBride of the Nokomis +on this job, but thought better of it, for the reason that Mac may not +be physically equipped to perform the additional task I have in mind +and I believe you are. Peterson, if you want a steady job skippering +for the Blue Star Navigation Company you've got to earn it, and to +earn it you've got to give this fellow Peasley a good sound thrashing +for the good of his immortal soul. The very moment you step aboard +the Retriever let him know you're the master." + +"Do you tank he ban villin' to fight?" Ole demanded. + +"Something tells me he will. However, in case he doesn't, don't let +that embarrass you. Man-handle him until he does. Let me impress +upon you, captain, the fact that I want the man Peasley summarily +chastised for impudence and insubordination." + +"All right, sir," said Ole. "Aye ban work him over." To be asked to +fight for a job was to this descendant of the Vikings the ne plus +ultra of sportsmanship. "Aye never ban licked yet," he added +reminiscently. + +"When we cabled we were sending a man to relieve him," Cappy +complained, "he replied, telling us to insure his successor's life, +because he was going to throw him overboard the minute he arrived." + +All Hands And Feet swept away any lingering fears Cappy might chance +to be entertaining. "Aye ban weigh two hundret an' saxty pounds," he +announced. + +"Which being the case," Cappy warned him, "should he succeed in +throwing YOU overboard I should consider you unfit for a job in my +employ." (The old fox had not the slightest idea such a contretemps +was possible, but in order to play safe he considered it good policy +to hearten Ole for the fray.) "Should he defeat you, captain, I have +no hesitancy in saying to you now that such a misfortune would have a +most disastrous effect on your future in my employ. You know me. +When I order a job done, I want it done, and I want it done well. +Understand! I don't want you to maim or kill the man, but just give +him a good sound--er--commercial thrashing; and after you've tamed him +I want you to--" + +All Hands And Feet nodded his comprehension. + +"An'," he interrupted, "after aye ban slap him once or twice aye ban +give good kick under de coattail an' fire dis fresh guy--eh?" he +suggested. + +"Fire nothing!" shrilled Cappy. "You follow instructions, Ole, or +I'll fire you! No, sir. After you've thrashed him I want you to bend +a rope round him amidships and souse him overside to bring him to! +Remember, we fired him once and he would not be fired. The damned sea +lawyer quoted the salt-water code to us and said he'd shipped for the +round trip; so we'll take him at his word. He's your first mate, +captain. Bring him back to Grays Harbor with you; and then, if you +feel so inclined, you may apply the tip of your number twenty-four sea +boot where it will do the most good; in fact, I should prefer it. But +by all means see to it that he completes his contract with the +barkentine Retriever." + +"Aye skoll see to it," Ole promised fervently. + +"I thank you, captain. Come out in the general office now and I'll +introduce you to the cashier, who will furnish you with expense money. +Meantime, I'll have Skinner fill out a certificate of change of +masters and have it registered at the custom-house. Can't send you +down there without your credentials, you know." + +All Hands And Feet mumbled his thanks; for, indeed, he was grateful +for this chance to prove his metal. Calm in the knowledge of his past +performances, he took no thought of the personal issue with Matt +Peasley, for never had he met a mate he could not thrash. He followed +Cappy out to the cashier's desk; and while the latter equipped All +Hands And Feet for his journey to South Africa, and Mr. Skinner +departed for the custom-house to have the certificate registered, +Cappy wired McBride, aboard the Overland speeding east, instructing +him to come back to San Francisco. + +When Skinner returned to the office he found Cappy clawing nervously +at his whiskers. + +"The man Peasley has completely disrupted our organization," he +complained bitterly. "Here I go to work and promote McBride to the +Retriever to make room for his mate in the Nokomis, and now I have to +recall Mac and give the Retriever to All Hands And Feet until she gets +back to Grays Harbor; in consequence of which Mac hasn't a thing to do +for four months and draws full pay for doing it, and later I've got to +provide a permanent place for All Hands And Feet! Skinner, if this +continues, I shall yet fill a pauper's grave." He was silent for +several seconds; then: "By the way, Skinner, have you replied to that +last cablegram from the man Peasley?" + +"No, sir. I didn't think it required an answer." + +"You mean you didn't know what answer to give him," Cappy snarled. +"Well, neither do I; but since the cuss has got us into the spending +habit, I'm going to be reckless for once and send him a cable myself, +just to let him know I'm calling his bluff." + +And, with that remark, Cappy squared round to his desk and wrote, in a +trembling hand: "Special messenger big as horse carries reply your +last cablegram." + +"There," he said, turning to his general manager; "send that to the +man Peasley, and sign my name to it." + + + +CHAPTER IX + +MR. MURPHY ADVISES PREPAREDNESS + + +Matt Peasley said nothing to Mr. Murphy when Cappy Ricks' cryptic +cablegram was received. Insofar as Matt was concerned, that cablegram +closed the argument, for even had it seemed to demand a reply the +master of the Retriever would not--nay could not, have answered, for +the controversy had already ruined him financially. So he went on +briskly with his task of discharging the Retriever and when the A. D. +liner pulled out for Liverpool with Captain Noah's body on board, he +laid off work merely long enough to dip the ensign and run it to half +mast again until the steamer was out of sight; then he furled the +flag, stored it in the locker in Captain Noah's stateroom, into which +he had now moved, and went on superintending the discharging. When +the vessel was empty he had a tug tow him out into the roadstead, +where he cast anchor and set himself patiently to await the arrival of +the special messenger "as big as a horse." + +Somehow Matt didn't relish that little dash of descriptive writing. +In conjunction with the noun horse Cappy Ricks had employed the +indefinite article a, and while a horse was a horse and Cappy might +have had a Shetland pony in mind when he coined the simile, +nevertheless, a still small voice whispered to Matt Peasley that at +the time Cappy was really thinking of a Percheron. The longer Matt +chewed the cud of anticipation the more acute grew his regret that he +had threatened to throw his successor overboard. He traced a certain +analogy between that threat and Cappy Ricks' simple declarative +sentence, and finally he decided to take Mr. Murphy into his +confidence. + +"Mike," he said, "did you ever hear any gossip to the effect that +Cappy Ricks will swallow a bluff?" + +"No, I never have," Mr. Murphy replied. "Why do you ask? You been +trying to bluff him, Matt?" + +"No, I really meant it when I said it, and if I'm crowded I'll make +good, but somehow I wish I hadn't said it. It wasn't dignified." + +"What did you say, Matt?" + +"I cabled the owners that if they sent a skipper down here to relieve +me they had better insure his life, because I'd throw him overboard +upon arrival." + +"Why, that's war talk," Mr. Murphy declared, highly scandalized. "I +don't think Cappy Ricks will stand for that. I know blame well I +wouldn't." + +"What would you do, Mike, if you stood in Cappy's shoes and I sent you +that cablegram?" + +"Well," Mr. Murphy mused, "of course I'd be a little old man weighing +about a hundred and thirty pounds ring-side, and I wouldn't be able to +thrash you myself, but if it took my last dollar I'd send somebody +down here to do the job for me. + +"Well, I guess that's just about what Cappy has done," Matt admitted, +and handed his mate Cappy's cablegram. + +"Hah-hah!" Mr. Murphy commented. "That threat got past the general +manager, right up to headquarters. Why, the old man signed this +cablegram and they do say that when Cappy takes personal charge the +fur begins to fly. Matt, if I was a drinking man I'd offer to bet you +a scuttle of grog it's a case of die dog, or eat the meat-axe. Your +bluff has been called, my son." + +"Then," Matt averred impudently, "the only thing for me to do is to +call Cappy's." + +"How?" + +"Why, give his messenger a good trouncing, of course. You don't +suppose I'm going to stand by and take a thrashing or let the other +fellow heave me overboard, do you? I should say not!" + +Mr. Murphy puffed at his pipe, in silence for several minutes, the +while he pondered the situation. Presently he arrived at a solution. + +"He wouldn't send a prize-fighter down here, just to lick you," he +announced. "The old man is the wildest spendthrift on earth when you +get him started, but as a general rule his middle name is Tight Wad. +He would select a combination of scrapper and skipper, and there are +any number of such combinations on the beach of 'Frisco town. I could +name you a dozen off-hand, and any one of the dozen would make you +mind your P's and Q's, big as you are. Still, they all fight +alike--rough and tumble, catch-as-catch-can. They come wading in, +swinging both arms and you could sail the Retriever through the +openings they leave. Know anything about boxing, Matt?" + +"Not a thing, Mike. I've always had to climb the big fellows." + +"Then I'll teach you," Mr. Murphy announced with conviction. "You're +in fine shape now--as right as a fox and fit to tackle the finest, but +there isn't any sense in getting mauled up when you don't have to. +I'll go ashore and buy a set of six-ounce gloves, a set of two-ounce +gloves and a punching bag. For the next three weeks you won't have +anything to do except prepare for the battle, and I can teach you a +lot of good stuff in three weeks. To be fore-warned is to be +fore-armed, Matt, and if Cappy has sent a Holy Terror to clean you, +give him a regular fight, even if he licks you." + +Matt Peasley nodded. He entertained a profound respect for Mr. +Murphy's judgment. + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE BATTLE OF TABLE BAY + + +In due course Captain Ole Peterson arrived at Cape Town. As the +steamer which bore him slipped up Table Bay to her pier All Hands And +Feet saw a big barkentine, flying the American flag, at anchor just +inside the breakwater and rightly conjectured she was his future +command. Three hours ashore proved ample time to consummate all of +the Retriever's neglected business. He discovered that the man to +whom he was to administer a good, sound, commercial thrashing, as per +Cappy Ricks' instructions, had already purchased and gotten aboard +stores and water for the voyage back to Grays Harbor, so All Hands And +Feet drew some money from the consignees, to be deducted from the +freight money, paid off all the vessel's bills, 0.K.'d the consignees' +statement of account to be forwarded to the owners, received a +ninety-day draft on London, in payment of the freight, mailed it to +his owners, cleared his vessel, procured a reliable man to witness the +formal transfer of authority from Matt Peasley to himself, engaged a +launch and set out for the Retriever. All Hands And Feet had had ample +time to plan his campaign, and he had planned it well. Immediately +upon setting foot on the deck of the Retriever he planned to attack; +then, this duty accomplished, he would send his witness ashore, up +hook and away. The attack having taken place in British waters All +Hands And Feet hoped Matt Peasley would have no redress in American +waters; and if he took the complainant to sea with him the man Peasley +would, of a certainty, have no legal redress in British waters! + +Mr. Murphy was the first to sight All Hands And Feet. The worthy +fellow had observed the arrival of the steamer and it had occurred to +him that possibly Cappy Ricks' messenger might be aboard her. He had +been on the lookout for two hours, accordingly, and the instant he saw +a launch coming toward the Retriever his suspicions were fully +aroused. He ran below and returned with the two ounce gloves and +Captain Kendall's powerful marine glasses, which latter he leveled at +the approaching launch, and while the new skipper was still a couple +of cable lengths distant, Mr. Murphy recognized him. Instantly he +secured the two ounce gloves and ran aft to where Matt Peasley, +dressed in slippers, duck trousers and undershirt, sat under an awning +reading Sinful Peck. + +"Matt," he declared, "the special messenger will be aboard in about +three shakes of a lamb's tail. I recognize him." + +"Who is he?" Matt demanded coolly. + +"All Hands And Feet--and believe me, he's there! He isn't a man, +Matt, he's a bear--he's a devil, and if he ever gets his hands on you +it's Kitty bar the door! Get into the gloves, boy, get into the +gloves. You could smash that big Swede to your heart's content, but +you wouldn't even stagger him with the first few punches. You'd just +break your hands on him before you could knock him out and then he'd +walk over you. Into the gloves, Matt, and save your knuckles." + +"All right, Mike. Don't be in such a hurry. Call a couple of hands +and let down the companion ladder so the special messenger can bring +his dunnage aboard. I'll fight him after I've finished this +chapter--that is, if he insists on being accommodated." + +"He'll insist," Mr. Murphy declared. "He likes it, and the reason he +likes it is because he does it well, and that's the reason he's here. +He won't waste any ceremony on you, Matt. He's always up and doing." + +Matt finished his chapter of Sinful Peck just as All Hands And Feet, +followed by a Cape Town gentleman and two Kru boys, bearing +respectively a brown canvas telescope basket and a sea chest, bore +down upon him, convoyed by Mr. Murphy. + +"A big Swede skipper," Matt Peasley soliloquized, as he eyed the +stranger with alert interest. "Thunder, but he's big. He's the +biggest thing I ever saw walking on two legs, with the exception of a +trick elephant." He rose, put down his book and advanced to greet his +visitors. While All Hands And Feet was still fully thirty feet from +him he bawled aloud: + +"You ban Mr. Peasley?" + +"Captain Peasley," young Matt corrected him. "Since the death of +Captain Kendall I have been in charge of the vessel; hence, for the +present, I am known as Captain Peasley. What can I do for you, +gentlemen?" + +All Hands And Feet glanced appraisingly at Matt Peasley and did him +the honor to remove his coat and vest. + +"Yes; it's pretty hot down in these latitudes," Matt remarked, by way +of being pleasant and making conversation. + +All Hands And Feet removed an envelope from his coat pocket and handed +it to Matt; and while the latter perused it the big Swede strode to +the scuttle butt and helped himself to a drink of water. Matt opened +the envelope and read this communication from Cappy Ricks: + + San Francisco, California. + February 20, 19--. + + Mr. Matthew Peasley, + Chief Mate Barkentine Retriever, + Cape Town, South Africa. + + My Dear Mr. Peasley: + + Cast your eye along the lines of the bearer of this note, Captain + Ole Peterson, who comes to Cape Town to take command of the + Retriever. Within five minutes he will, acting under + instructions from me and without the slightest personal animus + toward yourself, proceed to administer to you the beating of a + lifetime. By the time he gets through wiping the deck with you + perhaps you will realize the necessity, in the future, of obeying + orders from your owners. + + In your cablegram received to-day, you take occasion to remind us + that no manager or owner has authority to disrate a ship's + officer. This is quite true. Such authority is vested only in + the master of the ship. You need have no fear for your job, + however. We believe you to be a clever first mate, otherwise + Captain Kendall would not have dug you up out of the forecastle; + and believing this, naturally we dislike the thought of disrating + you. We have, therefore, instructed Captain Peterson to retain + you in your berth as first mate. + + However, in view of the fact that we have informed him of your + amiable intentions of throwing him overboard, he will first + inculcate in you that spirit of respect to your superiors which + you so manifestly lack. He will then dip you into the drink, to + bring you to, and after that you will kindly go forward and break + out the anchor. You signed for the round trip and you're going + to complete your contract. Remember that. + + Cordially and sincerely yours, + Blue Star Navigation Company, + By Alden P. Ricks, + President. + +Matt Peasley read this extraordinary communication twice, then folded +it and calmly placed it in his pocket. + +"May I inquire, sir," he said, facing the gentleman who had +accompanied All Hands And Feet aboard the Retriever, "who you are and +the nature of your business?" + +"I am the American consul, Mr. Peasley, and I am here at the +invitation of Captain Peterson, the master of this ship, to witness +the formal transfer of authority from you to him. I was given to +understand by Captain Peterson that you might offer some slight +objection to this arrangement." + +"Slight objection!" Matt Peasley replied with a rising inflection, and +grinned maliciously. + +The consul had his Yankee sense of humor with him and chuckled as Matt +lifted his big body on his toes and stretched both arms lazily. Then +Matthew Peasley turned toward All Hands And Feet. + +"I have a letter from the owners of the Retriever," he said +respectfully, "which leads me to presume that you are to supersede me +in command of the vessel." All Hands And Feet nodded. "Which being +the case," Matt Peasley continued, "as a mere matter of formality, you +will of course present your credentials as master." + +"Sure!" Ole replied pleasantly, and sidled toward Matt Peasley with +outstretched arms. Could Cappy Ricks have seen his skipper then, he +would have reminded the Old Man more than ever of a bear. + +Matt Peasley needed no blueprint of the big Swede's plans. All Hands +And Feet, depending on his sheer horse power and superior weight, +always fought in mass formation, as it were. His modus operandi was +to embrace his enemy in those terrible arms, squeeze the breath out of +him with one bearlike hug, then lay him on the deck, straddle him, and +pummel him into insensibility at his leisure. Matt gave ground +rapidly and held up a warning hand. + +"One moment, my friend," he requested. "Before you get familiar on +brief acquaintance, don't you think you had better present your +credentials?" + +All Hands And Feet shook his two great fists and grinned +good-naturedly. + +"How dese ban suit you for credentials?" he queried. + +"Fine," Matt Peasley answered; "only, before you present them, our +first duty is to the ship. I take it that you have cleared the vessel +and that after trimming me you intend to put to sea." + +"You ban guess it," the Swede rumbled. "Put up de dooks. Anyhow, I +ban't have to fight little feller. Dat ban one comfort." + +"You cleared the ship, eh? Well, Swede, I'm glad to hear that. I +should have cleared her myself and sailed long ago if I had only had a +skipper's ticket; but these British custom-house officials are great +sticklers for red tape and they wouldn't clear me. And, of course, a +man can't sail without his papers. When he does they send a gunboat +after him. However," he added brightly "the ship is cleared and the +skipper--so I am unofficially informed--is aboard. By the way, Swede, +I left a lot of 0.K.'d bills for stores and provision up at the office +of the Harlow & Benton Company, Limited. Did you square up for them?" + +"Yah; everything ban shipshape," All Hands And Feet assured him. + +"And you insist on presenting your credentials in bunches of fives, +eh?" + +All Hands And Feet nodded and once more commenced sidling toward Matt +Peasley, who backed away again, meantime addressing himself to the +United States consul: + +"You heard what he said, Mr. Consul. He may be my superior officer, +but I have not been informed of that fact officially; and meantime, so +far as I am concerned, he is merely a fine, big squarehead who has +climbed aboard my ship uninvited and attacked me. Did you ever see a +sea bully licked, Mr. Consul?" + +"I have never had that pleasure, Mr. Peasley." + +All the time Matt Peasley was circling around the deck, with All Hands +And Feet sidling after him. + +"Then you've got something coming, sir," Matt replied. "Help yourself +to a reserved seat on the rail and watch the joyous procedure. Mr. +Murphy?" + +"Here, sir," Mr. Murphy replied promptly. + +"I'm going to thrash the big fellow, Mr. Murphy. Stand by to see fair +play and keep the crew off him. I observe you have equipped yourself +with a belaying-pin. Thank you, Mr. Murphy. You anticipate the +situation." + +He turned to All Hands And Feet, who was still crowding him as they +circled the deck. "Stop where you are, my friend; otherwise, Mr. +Murphy will crack you on the head with the belaying-pin." + +All Hands And Feet grinned patronizingly and paused. + +"Vell?" he queried. + +"On my ship," Matt continued, "all fights are pulled off under my +rules. Kicking, choking, biting, gouging and deadly weapons are +prohibited. If you get me down you can use your fists on me, but +anything else will necessitate the interference of the referee with +his trusty belaying-pin." + +"Vell?" All Hands And Feet queried again. He was very eager for the +fray. + +"We have procured a set of two-ounce gloves in anticipation of this +physical culture exhibition," Matt replied. "Unfortunately, however, +I fear your hands will not fit them. Would you care to try them on?" + +"Cut it oud! Cut it oud!" the enemy rumbled contemptuously, and again +commenced his advance. + +"One minute, then, my friend, until I put on--" + +"Fight mit your bare hands like a man!" the big Swede bellowed +scathingly. + +"You forget. I told you all fights on my ship are pulled off under my +rules. I always fight with two-ounce gloves." + +"All righd. Suit yourself." All Hands And Feet felt he could afford +to give the enemy a trifle the better of the argument without the +slightest prejudice to his own chances for success. + +Accordingly, Mr. Murphy skillfully bandaged Matt Peasley's hands, drew +on the gloves and gently shoved his young champion toward the center +of the deck. "Let 'er go!" he announced. + +"Come Swede! Present your credentials!" Matt taunted. His long left +flashed out and cuffed All Hands And Feet on the nose. + +It was a mere love-tap! All Hands And Feet grinned pityingly, and +with his left arm guarding his face, rushed. + +"Lower deck!" Mr. Murphy warned, and laughed as Matt planted left and +right in the midriff and danced away from the Swede's swinging right. +All Hands And Feet grunted--a most unwarriorlike grunt--and dropped +both hands--whereupon a fog suddenly descended upon his vision. +Faintly he made out a blur that was Matt Peasley; bellowing wrathfully +he rushed. Matt gave ground and the Swede's vision cleared and he +paused to consider the situation. + +"No rest for the wicked," Mr. Murphy declared. "At him, boy, at him!" + +All Hands And Feet realized he faced a desperate situation, and as +Matt stepped in he ducked and leaped upon his antagonist. + +"By yiminy," he yelled. "I got you now!" and his great hands closed +around Matt Peasley's neck. + +"Lower deck!" Mr. Murphy yelled shrilly, and a volley of short arm +blows commenced to rattle on the big Swede's stomach. For at least +seven seconds Matt worked 1ike a pneumatic riveter; then-- + +"Swing your partner for the grand right and left," Mr. Murphy +counseled, and Matt closed with All Hands And Feet, and managed to +shake the badly winded champion off. + +"All off," Mr. Murphy declared to the American consul and dropped his +marline-spike, as Matt Peasley ripped left and right, right and left +into Ole Peterson's dish face. "Watch the skipper--our skipper, I +mean. Regular young human pile-driver." He raised his voice and +called to Matt Peasley. "He's rocking on his legs now, sir; but keep +away from those arms. He's dangerous and you're givin' him fifty +pounds the best of it in the weights. Try the short ribs with your +left and feel for his chin with the right, sir. Very nicely done, +sir! Now--once more!" + +Mr. Murphy nodded politely to the American consul. + +"Excuse me," he said. "The bigger they are the harder they fall, and +the Retriever's deck ain't no nice place to bump a man's head. I'll +just skip round in back and catch him in my arms." + +Which being done, Mr. Murphy laid All Hands And Feet gently on deck, +walked to the scuttle butt, procured a dipperful of water and threw it +into the gory, battered face. Matt Peasley had simply walked round +him and, with the advantage of a superior reach, had systematically +cut Captain Ole Peterson to strings and ribbons. + +He held up the blood-soaked gloves for Mr. Murphy to untie the +strings, the while he sniffed a little afternoon breeze that had just +sprung up, blowing straight for the open sea. + +"When he comes to, Mr. Murphy," he ordered calmly, "escort him to your +old room. Have one of the men stow his dunnage there also; and tell +him if he shows his nose on deck until I give him permission, he shall +have another taste of the same. Mr. Consul, I should be highly +honored if you would step into my cabin and hoist one to our own dear +native land." + +"With pleasure," the consul replied. "Though I cannot, in my capacity +as a citizen of the United States, endorse your--er--mutiny, +nevertheless, as a United States consul at Cape Town I shall take +pleasure in certifying to the fact that the fallen gladiator was the +aggressor, that he did not present his credentials, and that you had +no official knowledge of his identity." + +"I wish you would make an affidavit to that effect, under the seal of +the Consulate, and mail it to me at Hoquiam, Washington, U. S. A.," +Matt pleaded, as they reached his cabin. He reached into poor old +Cap'n Noah's little private locker. "I've a suspicion, sir, I'm going +to need your affidavit very badly." + +"I shall do so, Mr. Peasley. May I inquire what you purpose doing +with Captain Peterson?" + +"Captain Peasley--if you please, Mr. Consul." Matt looked up and +grinned. "I think," he continued, as he inserted the corkscrew, "I +shall ship that boy as second mate if he's willing to work. If he's +sullen, of course he'll have to remain in his room--and I shall not +permit him to present his credentials now." + +"Captain Peasley," the consul warned seriously. "I'm afraid you're in +very, very Dutch." + +"I wouldn't be surprised. However, it will be about three months +before I commence to suffer, and in the meantime I'm going to be +supremely happy skippering the barkentine Retriever back to Grays +Harbor, if they hang me for it when I get there. Say when!" + +"When!" + +"Here's success to crime, Mr. Consul." + +"Good luck to you, you youthful prodigy; good luck and bon voyage, +Mr.--I mean Captain Peasley." + +"Thank you, Mr. Consul. I hate to hurry you away; fact is, I'd like to +have you stay aboard and have dinner with us, but if this breeze holds +good I can save my owners an outward towage bill, and I'll have to +hustle. So I'll bid you good-bye, Mr. Consul. Glad to have had you +for the little exhibition. Here is my name and address--and please +don't forget that affidavit." + +When the American consul left the ship Matt Peasley was on the poop +bawling orders; up on the topgallant forecastle the capable Mr. Murphy +and his bully boys were walking around the windlass to the bellowing +chorus of Roll A Man Down! while the boatswain, promoted by Matt +Peasley to second mate, was laying aloft forward shaking out the +topsails and hoisting her head-sails. When the consul looked again, +the American barkentine Retriever had turned her tail on Cape Town and +was scampering down Table Bay with a bone in her teeth; heeling gently +to the freshening breeze, she was rolling home in command of the boy +who had joined her five months before as an able seaman. + +Matt Peasley rounded the Cape of Good Hope nicely, but he had added +materially to his stock of seamanship before he won through the +tide-rips off Point Aghulas and squared away across the Indian Ocean. +Coming up along the coast of Australia he had the sou'east trades and +he crowded her until Mr. Murphy forgot the traditions of the sea, +forgot that Matt Peasley was the skipper and hence not to be +questioned, and remembered that the madman was only a boy. + +"Captain Matt," he pleaded, "take some clothes off the old girl, for +the love of life! She's making steamer time now, and if the breeze +freshens you'll lift the sticks out of her." + +"Lift nothing, Mike. I know her. Cap'n Noah told me all about her. +You can drive the Retriever until she develops a certain little squeak +up forward--and then it's time to shorten sail. She isn't squeaking +yet, Mike. Don't worry. She'll let us know," and his beaming glance +wandered aloft to the straining cordage and bellying canvas. "Into +it, sweetheart," he crooned, "into it, girl, and we'll show this Cappy +Ricks what we know about sailing a ship that can sail! Meager +maritime experience, eh? I'll show him!" + + Oh, Sally Brown, I love your daughter, + I love your daughter, indeed I do, + +he caroled, and buck-and-winged his way back to the poop, for he was +only a boy, life was good, he was fighting a fight and as Mr. Murphy +remarked a minute later when Matt ordered him to bend the +fore-staysail on her; "What the hell!" + +Day and night Matt Peasley drove her into it. He stood far off shore +until he ran out of the sou'east trades, fiddled around two days in +light airs and then picked up the nor'east trades; drove her well into +the north, hauled round and came romping up to Grays Harbor bar +seventy-nine days from Cape Town. A bar tug, ranging down the coast, +hooked on to him and snaked him in. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +MR. SKINNER RECEIVES A TELEGRAM + + +Cappy Ricks was having his customary mid-afternoon nap in his big +swivel chair and his feet on his desk, when Mr. Skinner came in and +woke him up. + +"I just couldn't help it, sir," he announced apologetically, as Cappy +opened one eye and glared at him, "I had to wake you up and tell you +the news." + +"Tell it!" Cappy snapped. + +"The Retriever arrived at Grays Harbor this morning, Mr. Ricks. She's +broken the record for a fast passage," and he handed Cappy Ricks a +telegram. + +"Bless my withered heart!" Cappy declared, and opened his other eye. +"You don't tell me? Well, well, well! All Hands And Feet is making +good right off the bat, isn't he?" Cappy chuckled. "Skinner, my dear +boy," he bragged, "did you ever see me start out to pick a skipper and +hand myself the worst of it?" + +"No, sir," Mr. Skinner maintained dutifully, and turned away to hide a +wicked little smile, which under the circumstances Skinner was +entitled to. + +"And you never will, Skinner. Paste that in your hat, boy. That big +Swede, Peterson, can handle a ship as well as he can handle a +refractory mate--and that's going some, Skinner--going some! I'm not +surprised at his fast passage. Not at all, Skinner. Come to think of +it, I'm going to fire that Scotchman in the Fortuna and give All Hands +And Feet his berth. He has earned it." + +He adjusted his spectacles and read: + + Hoquiam, Washington, + June 27, 19--. + + Blue Star Navigation Company, + 258 California St., + San Francisco. + + Arrived this morning, seventy-nine days from bar to bar, all + hands well, including your special messenger. Offered him job + as second mate, just to show I had no hard feelings, but he + would not work, so I brought him home under hatches. Permitted + him present his formal credentials this morning and turned over + command of ship to him. Declined responsibility and left, + saying you had promised him command four-masted schooner. + Seemed trifle hurt, although it is seventy-nine days since I + thrashed him. Consequently I am still in command and awaiting + your instructions. + + Peasley. + +For a long time Cappy Ricks kept looking sternly at Mr. Skinner over +the tops of his spectacles. There was blood on the moon again, and +the silence was terrible. He kept rocking gently backward and forward +in his swivel chair, for all the world as though preparing for a +panther-like spring at Mr. Skinner's throat. Suddenly he exploded. + +"I won't have another thing to do with the man Peasley!" he shrilled. +"The fellow is a thorn in my side and I want peace! Understand, +Skinner? I--want--peace! What in blue blazes do I pay you ten +thousand a year for if it isn't to give me peace? Answer me that, +Skinner." + +"Well you said you wanted to attend to the shipping--" + +"That'll do, Skinner--that'll do! You're an honorary member of the +I-told-you-so Club and I'm thoroughly disgusted with you. Rid me of +this man--immediately. If I ever get another telegram from the +scoundrel I shall hold you personally responsible." + +Forthwith Mr. Skinner acted. He went up to the office of the United +States District Attorney and swore out a Federal warrant for the +arrest of Matthew Peasley on a charge of mutiny and insubordination, +assault and battery on the high seas, and everything else he could +think of. The authorities promptly wired north to send a United States +marshal down to Grays Harbor to arrest the culprit; and the following +afternoon, when Cappy Ricks got back to his office after luncheon and +picked up the paper, the very first thing his glance rested on was the +headline: + + MATE CHARGED WITH MUTINY! + +Mutiny and sundry other crimes on the high seas are out of the +ordinary; hence the United Press correspondent at Hoquiam had +considered the story of Matt Peasley's arrest worthy of dissemination +over the Pacific Coast. + +Cappy Ricks read it, the principal item of interest in it being a +purported interview with Matt Peasley, who, in choice newspaperese, +had entered a vigorous denial of the charge. The story concluded with +the statement that Peasley was a native of Thomaston, Maine, where he +had always borne a most excellent reputation for steadiness and +sobriety. + +Cappy Ricks laid the paper aside. + +Thomaston, Maine! So the man Peasley was a Down-Easter! That +explained it. + +"Well, I hope my teeth may fall into the ocean!" Cappy murmured. +"Thomaston, Maine! Why, he's one of our own town boys--one of my own +people! Dear, dear, dear! Well now, it's strange I didn't know that +name. I must be getting old to forget it." + +He sat in his swivel chair, rocking gently backward and forward for +several minutes, after a fashion he had when perturbed. Suddenly his +old hand shot out and pressed the push button on his desk, and his +stenographer answered. + +"Send Mr. Skinner in!" he commanded. + +Presently Mr. Skinner came, and again Cappy eyed him over the tops of +his spectacles; again the terrible silence. Skinner commenced to +fidget. + +"Skinner," began Cappy impressively, "how often have I got to tell you +not to interfere with the shipping? Tut, tut! Not a peep out of you, +sir--not a peep! You had the audacity, sir, to swear to a Federal +warrant against the man Peasley. How dare you, sir? Do you know who +the man Peasley is? You don't. Well, sir, I'll tell you. He's a +Down-East boy and I went to school with his people. I'll bet Ethan +Peasley was a relative of this boy Matt, because Ethan had a cousin by +the name of Matthew; and Ethan and Matt and I used to hell around +together until they went to sea. + +"Lord bless you, Skinner, I can remember yet the day the Martha +Peasley came up the harbor, with her flag at half-mast--and poor old +Ethan was gone--whipped off the end of her main yard when she rolled! + +"We were great chums, Ethan and I, Skinner; and I cried. Why--why, +damn it, sir, this boy Matt's people and mine are all buried in the +same cemetery back home. Yes, sir! And nearly all of 'em have the +same epitaph--'Lost at Sea'--and--you idiot, Skinner! What do you +mean, sir, by standing there with your infernal little smile on your +smug face? Out of my office, you jackanapes, and call the dogs off +this boy Matt. Why, there was never one of his breed that wasn't a man +and a seaman, every inch of him. + +"All Hands And Feet thrash a Peasley! Huh! A joke! Why, Ethan was +six foot six at twenty, with an arm like a fathom of towing cable. +Catch me turning down one of our own boys! No, sir! Not by a damned +sight!" + +In all his life Mr. Skinner had never seen Cappy Ricks so wrought up. +He fled at once to call off the dogs, while Cappy turned to his desk +and wrote this telegram: + + San Francisco, California. + June 28, 19--. + + Matt Peasley, + Care United States Marshal, + Hoquiam, Washington. + + Congratulations on splendid voyage. You busted record. + Lindquist, in the John A. Logan, did it in eighty-four days in + the spring of ninety-four. Draw draft and pay off crew, render + report of voyage, place second mate in charge, and proceed + immediately to Seattle to get your master's ticket. Will + telegraph Seattle inspectors requesting waive further probation + as first mate and issue license if you pass examination in + order that you may accept captaincy of Retriever. Skinner, my + manager, had you arrested. Would never have done it myself. I + come from Thomaston, Maine, and I knew your people. Would + never have sent the Swede had I known which tribe of Peasley + you belonged to--though, if he had licked you, no more than you + deserved. I want no more of your impudence, Matt. + + Alden P. Ricks. + + * * * * * * + +For a week business droned along in Cappy Ricks' office as usual, +interrupted at last by the receipt of a telegram from Matt Peasley to +Cappy. It was sent from Seattle and read: + + "Have now legal right to be called captain. Rejoin ship + tomorrow. Wire orders. Thank you." + +"God bless the lad!" Cappy murmured happily. "I'll bet he's going to +make me a skookum skipper. Still, I think he's pretty young and sadly +in need of training; so I'll have to take some of the conceit out of +him. I'm going to proceed to break his young heart; and if he yells +murder I'll fire him! On the contrary, if he's one of Ethan's +tribe--well, the Peasleys always did their duty; I'll say that for +them. I hope he stands the acid." + +Whereupon Cappy Ricks squared round to his desk and wrote: + + San Francisco, July 5, 19--. + + Captain Matthew Peasley, + Master Barkentine Retriever, + Hoquiam, Washington. + + Glad you have legal right to be called captain. Sorry I have + not. Proceed to Weatherby's mill, at Cosmopolis, and load for + Antofagasta, Chile. Remember speed synonymous with dividends + in shipping business. + + Blue Star Navigation Company. + +When Cappy signed his telegrams with the company name it was always a +sure indication he had discharged his cargo of sentiment and gotten +down to business once more. + +"A little creosoted piling now and then is bully for the best of men," +he cackled. "For a month of Sundays that man Peasley will curse me as +far as he can smell the Retriever. Oh, well! Every dog must have his +day--and I'm a wise old dog. I'll teach that Matt boy some respect +for his owners before I'm through with him!" + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE CAMPAIGN OPENS + + +When Matt Peasley's Yankee combativeness, coupled with the accident of +birth in the old home town of Cappy Ricks, gained for him command of +the Blue Star Navigation Company's big barkentine, Retriever, he +lacked eight days of his twenty-first birthday. He had slightly less +beard than the average youth of his years; and, despite the fact that +he had been exposed almost constantly to salty gales since his +fourteenth birthday, he did not look his age. And of all the +ridiculous sights ashore or afloat the most ridiculous is a sea +captain with the body of a Hercules and the immature features of an +eighteen-year-old boy. + +Indeed, such a great, soft, innocent baby type was Matt Peasley that +even the limited sense of humor possessed by his motley crew forbade +their reference to him, after custom immemorial, as the Old Man. The +formal title of captain seemed equally absurd; so they compromised by +dubbing him Mother's Darling. + +"If," quoth Mr. Michael Murphy, chief kicker of the Retriever, over a +quiet pipe with Mr. Angus MacLean, the second mate, as the vessel lay +at anchor in Grays Harbor, "Cappy Ricks had laid eyes on Mother's +Darling before ordering him to Seattle to go up for his master's +ticket, the old fox would have scuttled the ship sooner than trust +that baby with her." + +"Ye'll nae be denying the lad kens his business," Mr. MacLean +declared. + +"Aye! True enough, Mac; but 'twould be hard to convince Cappy Ricks +o' that. Every skipper in his employ is a graybeard." + +"Mayhap," the canny MacLean retorted. "That's because t'owd boy's +skippers have held their berths ower long." + +But Mr. Murphy shook his head. He had come up from before the mast in +the ships of the Blue Star Navigation Company, and since he had +ambitions he had been at some pains to acquaint himself with the +peculiarities of the president of that corporation. + +"Give Cappy Ricks one look into Matt Peasley's face and I'll be +skippering the Retriever," he declared. + +And in this he was more than half right, for Cappy Ricks had never met +Matt Peasley, and when the Old Man made up his mind that he wanted the +boy to skipper his barkentine, the Retriever, he was acting entirely +on instinct. He only knew that in Matt Peasley he had a man who had +shipped out before the mast and returned from the voyage in command of +the ship, and naturally such an exploit challenged recognition of the +most signal nature--particularly when, in its performance, the object +of Cappy's admiration had demonstrated that he was possessed of +certain sterling attributes which are commonly supposed to make for +success in any walk of life. + +Since Matt Peasley had accomplished a man's work it never occurred to +Cappy Ricks to consider that the object of his interest might be a +boy. Young he knew him to be--that is to say, Cappy figured the rascal +to be somewhere between thirty and thirty-five. + +Had he known, however, that his prospective captain had but recently +attained his majority the Old Man would have ascribed Matt Peasley's +record-breaking voyage from Cape Town to Grays Harbor as sheer luck, +and forthwith would have set Master Matthew down for a five-year +apprenticeship as first mate; for Cappy was the product of an older +day, and held that gray hairs and experience are the prime requisites +for a berth as master. + +Any young upstart can run coastwise, put in his service sailing a ship +from headland to headland, and then take a course in a navigation +school, where in six weeks he can cram sufficient navigation into his +thick head to pass the inspectors and get a master's ticket; but for +offshore cruising Cappy Ricks demanded a real sailor and a thorough +business man rolled into one. + +Mother's Darling had returned to Grays Harbor from a flying visit to +Seattle, where two grizzled old ex-salts, the local inspectors, had +put him through a severe examination to ascertain what he knew of +Bowditch on Navigation and Nichols on Seamanship. Naturally he did +not know as much as they thought he should; but, out of sheer +salt-water pride in the exploit of a stripling and in deference to a +letter from Cappy Ricks requesting them to waive further probation as +chief mate and issue Mr. Peasley his master's license if they found +him at all competent--this in order that the said Peasley might take +command of his barkentine, the Retriever, forthwith--the inspectors +concluded to override the rules of the Department of Commerce, and +gave Matt Peasley his master's license. + +Upon his return from Seattle, Matt called at the telegraph office in +Hoquiam and received his loading instructions from the owners. His +heart beat high with youthful importance and the joy of victory as he +almost ran to the water front and engaged a big gasoline launch to +take him aboard the Retriever and then kick her into the mill dock at +Cosmopolis. His ship was not where he had left her, however, and +after an hour's search he discovered her several miles up the Chehalis +river. Murphy was on deck, gazing wistfully at the house and wishing +he had some white paint, when Matt Peasley came aboard. Even before +the latter leaped to the deck Mr. Murphy knew the glad tidings--knew +them, in fact, the very instant the boy's shining countenance appeared +above the rail. The skipper was grinning fatuously and Mr. Murphy +grinned back at him. + +"Well, sir," he greeted young Matt, "I see you're the permanent +skipper. I congratulate you." + +"Thank you, Mike. And I hope you will have no objection to continuing +in your berth as first mate. I realize I'm pretty young for an old +sailor like you to be taking orders from--" + +"Bless your soul, sir," Mr. Murphy protested; "of course I'll stick +with you! Didn't you whale the big Swede Cappy Ricks sent to Cape +Town to kick you out of your just due?" He reaffirmed his loyalty +with a contemptuous grunt. + +"What are you doing way up the river?" the captain demanded. + +"Oh, that's a little liberty I took," the mate declared. "You're new +to this coast; and, of course, when they ordered us to Grays Harbor I +knew we weren't going to be able to go on dry dock, because there +isn't any dry dock here. So, while you were in Seattle, I had a +gasoline tug tow us up-river. We've been lying in fresh water four +days, sir, and that'll kill most of the worms on her bottom." + +"Hereafter," said Matt Peasley, "you get ten dollars a month above the +scale. Thank you." + +Mr. Murphy acknowledged his appreciation. + +"Any orders, sir?" he continued. + +Matt Peasley showed him Cappy Ricks' telegram and Mr. Murphy nodded +his approval. He had been in port nearly a week and the whine of the +sawmills and the reek of river water had begun to get on his nerves. +He was ready for the dark blue again. + +"There's something wrong about our cargo, I think," Matt remarked +presently. + +"Why, sir?" + +"Why, down at the telegraph office this morning I met the master of +the schooner, Carrier Dove, and when I told him my orders he +snickered." + +"Huh! Well, he ought to know what he snickered about, sir. The +Carrier Dove just finished loading at Weatherby's mill," Mr. Murphy +replied. "She's a Blue Star craft and bound for Antofagasta also. Her +skipper's Salvation Pete Hansen, and it would be just like that +squarehead to dodge a deckload of piling and leave it for us." + +"Well, whatever it was it amused him greatly. It must be worse than a +deckload of piling." + +"There's nothing worse in the timber line, unless it's a load +underdeck, sir. You take a sixty-foot pile with a fourteen-inch butt +and try to shove it down through the hatch, and you've got a job on +your hands. And after the hold is half filled you've got to quit +loading through the hatch, cut ports in your bows, and shove the +sticks in that way. It's the slowest loading and discharging in the +world; and unless you drive her between ports and make up for the lost +time you don't make a good showing with your owners--and then your +job's in danger. Ship owners never consider anything except results." + +"Well," the captain answered, "in order not to waste any more time +than is absolutely necessary, call Mr. MacLean and the cook, and we'll +go for'd and break out the anchor." + +Immediately on his arrival from Cape Town, Matt Peasley had paid off +all his foremast hands, leaving the two mates and the cook the only +men aboard the vessel. He joined them now in a walk around the +capstan; the launch hooked on and the Retriever was snaked across the +harbor to Weatherby's mill. And, while they were still three cables' +length from the mill dock, Mr. Murphy, who had taken up his position +on the topgallant forecastle, to be ready with a heaving line, +suddenly raised his head and sniffed upwind. + +The captain had the wheel and Mr. MacLean was standing aft waiting to +do his duty by the stern line. Presently he, too, raised his head and +sniffed. + +"I see you got it too, Mac," Mr. Murphy bawled. + +"Aw, weel," Mr. MacLean replied; "Why worrit aboot a bridge till ye +hae to cross it? D'ye ken 'tis oors?" + +"What are you two fellows talking about and why are you sniffing?" +Matt Peasley demanded. + +"I'm sniffing at the same thing Salvation Pete Hansen laughed about," +the mate answered. "I'll bet you a uniform cap we're stuck with a +cargo of creosoted piling--and hell hath no fury like a creosoted +pile." + +When the vessel had been made fast to the mill dock Matt Peasley +walked forward to meet his mate. + +"What about this cargo of ours?" he demanded. "Remember, I'm new to +the lumber trade on this coast. I have never handled any kind of +piling." + +"Then, sir, you're going to get your education like the boa +constrictor that swallowed the nigger--all in one long, slimy bite." + +He gazed at his boyish skipper appraisingly. + +"No," he murmured to himself; "I can't do it. I like you for the way +you whaled that big Swede in Cape Town, but this is too much." + +"Why, I don't find the odor so very unpleasant," the master declared; +"in fact, I rather like it, and I know it's healthy, because I +remember, when my brother Ezra had pneumonia, they burned creosote in +the room." + +"Oh, nobody objects to the smell particularly, sir, though it's been +my experience that anybody can cheapen a good thing by overuse--and we +have three months of that smell ahead of us. It's the taste that +busts my bobstay." + +"Why, what do you mean?" + +"Well, you see, sir, the odor of creosote is so heavy it won't float +in the air, but just settles down over everything, like mildew on a +pair of boots. So it gets in the stores and you taste it. You can +store flour below deck aft and creosoted piling on deck for'd--and you +won't be out two weeks before that flour is spoiled. Same way with +the tea, coffee, sugar, mush, salt-horse--everything. It all tastes +of creosote; and then the damned stuff rubs off on the ship and ruins +the paintwork. And if the crew happen to have any cuts or abrasions +on their hands they're almost certain to get infected with the awful +stuff, and you'll be kept busy doctoring them. Then, the first thing, +along comes a gale and you're shorthanded, and there's the devil to +pay." + +"Aye!" Mr. MacLean interrupted solemnly. "I dinna care for creosote +mysel', sir; so, wi' your kind permission, I'll hae ma time--an' I'll +hae it noo." + +Matt Peasley bent upon the recalcitrant Scotchman a withering glare. +"Very well, Mr. MacLean," he said presently, "I never could sail in +the same ship with a quitter; so you might as well go now, when we can +part good friends." He turned to Mr. Murphy. "How about you, Mike? +Are you going to run out on me, too?" + +Now, as between the Irish and the Scotch, history records no +preponderance of courage in either, for both are Gaels and a +comparison is difficult. + +However, Scotchmen are a conservative race and will walk round a fight +rather than be forced into it, while all that is necessary to make an +Irishman fight is to impugn his courage. + +Mr. Murphy had seen the fight ahead of the Retriever and he did not +blame Mr. MacLean for side-stepping it. Indeed, he had intended +pursuing the same course; but Matt Peasley, by his latest remark, had +rendered that impossible. To desert now would savor of dishonor; and, +moreover, Matt Peasley, though master, had called him by his Christian +name. Mr. Murphy touched his forelock respectfully. + +"I am not Scotch," he announced, with a slight emphasis on the +pronoun. "Shame on you, Angus MacLean--ditching the skipper like +that!" + +"Sticks an' stones may break ma bones, but names'll never hur-rt me," +Mr. MacLean retorted. "I tell ye I dinna care for creosote in ma +porridge." And he followed Matt Peasley aft, where the latter paid +him off and gave him five minutes to pack and get off the ship. +Immediately after supper the cook followed the second mate; but, since +the former was a Jap and probably the worst marine cook in the world, +his departure occasioned no heartache. + +"We'll board at the mill cook-house until we're loaded, Mike," Matt +Peasley informed the mate. "They have a good Chink up there." + +Mr. Murphy sighed as he loaded his pipe and struck a match for it. + +"It does look to me, sir," he replied, with that touch of conscious +superiority so noticeable in the Celt, "as though Cappy Ricks might +have slipped this cargo to a Dutchman." + +The Retriever commenced taking on cargo at seven o'clock the following +morning, with Mr. Murphy on shipboard and Matt Peasley on the dock +superintending the gang of stevedores. Ordinarily the masters of +lumber freighters ship their crews before commencing to load, in order +that sailors at forty dollars a month may obviate the employment of an +equal number of stevedores at forty cents an hour; but Mr. Murphy, out +of his profound experience, advised against this course, as tending to +spread the news of the Retriever's misfortune and militate against +securing a crew when the vessel should be loaded and lying in the +stream ready for sea. Men employed now, he explained, would only +desert. The thing to do was to let a Seattle crimp furnish the crew, +sign them on before the shipping commissioner in Seattle, bring them +aboard drunk, tow to sea, and let the rascals make the best of a bad +bargain. + +The hold was about half filled, and the ship carpenters were at work +cutting ports in the Retriever's bows, when Matt Peasley discovered +that the mill did not have in hand any order for lumber to be used as +stowage to snug up the cumbersome cargo below decks and keep it from +rolling and working in a seaway. Accordingly he wired his owners as +follows: + + Cosmopolis, Washington, July 7, 19--. + + Blue Star Navigation Company, + 258 California St., + San Francisco, California. + + No stowage. + + Peasley. + +Cappy Ricks having deliberately conspired to hang a series of dirty +cargoes on his newest skipper, for the dual purpose of teaching Matt +Peasley his place and discovering whether he was worthy of it, grinned +evilly when he received that two-word message; and, not to be out-done +in brevity, he dictated this answer: + + San Francisco, California, July 7, 19--. + + Captain Matthew Peasley, + Master Barkentine Retriever, + Care Weatherby's mill, Cosmopolis, Wash. + + Know it. + + Blue Star Navigation Company. + +Matt Peasley's cheeks burned when he read that message. Indeed, could +Cappy Ricks have been privileged to hear the terse remarks his +telegram elicited, there is no doubt he would have sent Mr. Skinner up +to the custom-house immediately to file a certificate of change of +master. + +"Ha!" Mr. Murphy snorted when Matt showed him the message. "I get the +old sinner now. This is to be a grudge fight, Captain Matt. You +wished yourself onto him in Cape Town against his will, and now he's +made up his mind that so long as you wanted the job it's yours--only +he'll make you curse the day you ever moved your sea chest into the +skipper's cabin. He's going to send us into dogholes to load and open +roadsteads to discharge; and if he can find a dirty cargo anywhere +we'll get it. But it's carrying a grudge too far not to give us +stowage." + +"Well, it's his ship," Matt Peabody declared passionately. "If the +old thief can gamble on good weather I guess I can gamble on my +seamanship--and yours." + +The mate inclined his head at the delicate compliment; and Matt, +observing this, decided that a few more of the same from time to time +would do much to alleviate a diet of creosote. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AN OLD FRIEND RETURNS AND CAPPY LEADS ANOTHER ACE + + +Three days before the Retriever finished loading, the captain wired a +trustworthy Seattle crimp recommended by Mr. Murphy, instructing him +to send down a second mate, eight seamen and a good cook--and to bring +them drunk, because the vessel was laden with creosoted piling. +Captain Noah Kendall, Matt's predecessor on the Retriever, had been +raised on clipper ships and as he grew old had allowed himself the +luxury of a third mate, to which arrangement Cappy Ricks, having a +certain affection for Captain Noah, had never made any objection; but +something whispered to Matt Peasley that the quickest route to Cappy's +heart would be via a short payroll, so he concluded to dispense with a +third mate and tack ten dollars a month extra on the pay-check of the +excellent Murphy. + +The Retriever was lying in the stream fully loaded when the crew +arrived, convoyed by the crimp's runner. In accordance with +instructions they were drunk, the crimp having furnished his runner +with a two-gallon jug of home-made firewater upon leaving Seattle. +One man--the second mate--was fairly sober, however, and while the +launch that bore him to the Retriever was still half a mile from the +vessel the breezes brought him an aroma which could not, by any +possibility, be confused with the concentrated fragrance of the eight +alcoholic breaths being exhaled around him. Muttering deep curses at +his betrayal, he promptly leaped overboard and essayed to swim ashore. +The runner pursued him in the launch, however, and gaffed him by the +collar with a boat-hook; the launch-man, for a consideration, aided +the runner, and the unwilling wretch was carried struggling to +purgatory. + +"Oh, look who's here!" Mr. Murphy yelled to the skipper, as the +bedraggled second mate was propelled forcibly up the ship's +companion-ladder to the waiting arms of the first mate. "Welcome +home, Angus, my lad." + +It was Mr. MacLean, their quondam second mate, cast back on the +deckload of the Retriever by the resurgent tide of maritime +misfortune. Mr. Murphy sat down and held himself by the middle and +laughed until the tears ran down his ruddy cheeks, while Matt Peasley +joined heartily in the mirth. The unfortunate Mr. MacLean also +wept--but from other causes, to wit--grief and rage. + +"I'm happy to have you with us again, Mr. MacLean," Matt saluted the +second mate. "While your courage and loyalty might be questioned, +your ability may not. So the crimp swindled you, eh? Told you he +wanted you for another ship and then switched the papers on you, eh?" + +"You should never trust a crimp, Angus," Mr. Murphy warned him. "And +you should never do business with them unless you're cold sober. Let +this be a lesson to you, my lad. Never be a drinking man and you'll +never have to go to a crimp for a snug berth. Run along to your old +room, now, Angus, and shift into some dry clothes, if you expect to +finish the voyage." + +"I'll gie ye ma worrd I'll desert in th' discharrgin' port!" Mr. +MacLean burred furiously. "Ye hae me noo, body an' bones--" + +"Aye, and we'll keep you, Angus. Have no fear of that. And you'll not +desert in the discharging port. I'll see to that," Matt Peasley +assured him. + +When the last man had been assisted aboard Matt signaled for the tug +he had engaged. By the time she had hooked on and towed them over the +bar three of the seamen were sober enough to assist the skipper and +the mates in getting all plain sail, with the exception of the square +sails, on her, and, with a spanking nor'west breeze on her quarter she +rolled away into the horizon. + +Despite the fact that the Retriever's bottom was rather foul with +marine growth, and the further fact that her master had to lay her +head under her wing in a blow which, with an ordinary cargo, he would +have bucked right into, the run to Antofagasta was made in average +time. And when Matt Peasley went ashore to report by cable to his +owners he discovered that Cappy Ricks had provided him with a cargo of +nitrate for Makaweli. + +"What did I tell you, sir?" Mr. Murphy growled when the captain +informed him of the owners' orders. "I tell you, sir, the dirtiest +cargo Cappy Ricks can find is too good for us. Praise be, the worst +we can get at Makaweli is a sugar cargo." + +Mr. Murphy's grudge against nitrate lay in the annoyance incident to +taking on the cargo properly. Nitrate is very heavy and cannot, like +sugar, be loaded flush with the hatches, thus rendering shifting of +the cargo impossible. In loading nitrate a stout platform must be +erected athwart ship, above the keelsons, in order that the foundation +of the cargo may be laid level; for, as the sacked nitrate is piled, +the pile must be drawn in gradually until the sides meet in a peak +like a roof. It must then be braced and battened securely with heavy +timbers from each side of the ship, in order that the dead weight may +be held in the center of the ship and keep her in trim. Woe to the +ship that shifts a cargo of nitrate in a heavy gale; for it is a +tradition of the sea that, once a vessel rolls her main yard under, +she will not roll it back, and ultimately is posted at Lloyd's as +missing. + +When the cargo was out Mr. Murphy went ashore and purchased a lot of +Chinese punk, which he burned in the hold, with the hatches battened +down, while Mr. MacLean, who had once been a druggist's clerk, and +who, by the way, had concluded to stay by the ship, sloshed down the +decks with an aromatic concoction mixed by a local apothecary. The +remnant of their spoiled stores Matt Peasley, like a true Yankee, +sawed off to good advantage on a trustful citizen of Antofagasta, and +credited the ship with the proceeds; after which he got his nitrate +aboard and squared away for the Hawaiian Islands. + +The run to Makaweli was very slow, for the ship was logy with the +grass and barnacles on her bottom. At Makaweli he found a sugar cargo +awaiting him for discharge at Seattle; and, thanks to the northwest +trades at her quarter, the Retriever wallowed home reasonably fast. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +INSULT ADDED TO INJURY + + +When Matt Peasley's report of that long voyage reached the Blue Star +Navigation Company it was opened by Mr. Skinner, who, finding no +letter enclosed, had a clerk check and verify it, and then pass it on +to old Cappy Ricks. + +"Where's the letter that came with this report, Skinner?" Cappy piped. + +"He didn't enclose one, Mr. Ricks." + +"Im-possible!" + +"All of Captain Peasley's communications with this office since he +entered our employ have been by wire." + +"But--dad-burn the fellow, Skinner--why doesn't he write and tell us +something?" + +"About what?" + +"Why, about his ship, his voyage--any old thing. An owner likes to +have a report on his property once in a while, doesn't he? Unless we +happen to charter the Retriever for a cargo to her home port, you know +very well, Skinner, we may not see her for years. Besides, I've never +seen the man Peasley, and if he'd only write now and then I could get +a line on him from his letters. I can always tell a fool by the +letter he writes, Skinner." + +"Well, then," Skinner replied. "Peasley must be a wise man, because +he never writes at all. The only specimen of that fellow's +handwriting I've ever seen is his signature on the drafts he draws +against us. You will notice that he has even engaged a +stenographer--at his own expense, so the clerk informs me--to +typewrite his statement of account." + +"Then that explains it, Skinner. The big-fisted brute can't write a +hand that anybody could read. But, still, he should have dictated a +letter, Skinner. The least he might have done was to say: 'Enclosed +herewith find my report of disbursements for last voyage.' And then he +could have slipped in some mild complaint about the creosote, the +trouble he had in getting a crew, and so on. + +"I don't see why you complain about a lack of correspondence, sir," +Mr. Skinner protested. "For my part, I think it a profound relief to +have a captain that isn't writing or wiring in complaints about slow +dispatch in loading or discharging, his private feuds with marine +cooks and walking delegates from the Sailors' Union. Confound these +fellows that are always unloading a cargo of woe on their owners! It +strikes me that they're trying to square themselves for incompetence." + +"I agree with you, Skinner. But then, all the Thomaston Peasleys were +quick-tempered and wouldn't be imposed on; and I hate to think I've +picked the only one of the tribe who will dog it and never let a peep +out of him." + +"Oh!" said Mr. Skinner. "I see! You want him to start something with +you, eh?" + +Cappy evaded this blunt query, however, and turned his attention to +the report. + +"Hello!" he said. "I'm blessed if he hasn't anticipated the very +question I should have asked. Here's a footnote in red ink: 'Decided +not to carry third mate. Two mates ample.' And so two mates are +ample, Skinner, though I used to humor Cap'n Noah with three. This +confirms me in the belief that Peasley must be a young man, Skinner, +and not afraid to stand a watch himself if necessary. And here's +another footnote: 'Chief Mate Michael J. Murphy very gallantly +declined to leave when he smelled the creosote, and was a tower of +strength when it came to stowing the nitrate. He holds an unlimited +mate's license, is sober, intelligent, courageous, honest and a hard +worker. He goes up for his master's license this week!" + +"Ah-h-h!" Cappy Ricks looked up, smiling. "Skinner," he declared, "it +is as hard to keep a good man down as it is for a camel to enter the +Kingdom of Heaven--I mean for a rich man to enter a camel--bother! I +mean you can't keep a good man down, Skinner. And this is the reason: +The first mate, Murphy, wanted to leave, but his loyalty would not +permit it. Hence the man Peasley must be a good, fair, decent man, to +inspire such loyalty. He is, and this report proves it. His action +in bringing Murphy to our attention indicates appreciation and a sense +of justice. Good! Skinner, make a note of the qualifications of +Michael J. Murphy for a master's berth and give him the first +opening." + +He returned to a perusal of the report. + +"Huh! Harump-h-h-h! 'Credit by skipper's rake-off on stores, and so +on, $57.03.' Skinner, that proves the man Peasley is too decent and +honest to accept a commission from the thieves who supply his vessel, +because he knows that if they give him a commission they'll only tack +it on to the bill, where he can't see it. Well! All the Thomaston +Peasleys were honest, Skinner. No thanks to him. Still, it's a shame +to give him another rough deal, for apparently he +has--er--many--er--commendable qualities. Still--er--Skinner, I've +just got to have a letter from the man Peasley, if it is only a letter +of resignation. Get him another dirty cargo, Skinner, the dirtier the +better." + +The dirtiest cargo Mr. Skinner could think of, with the exception of a +load of creosoted piling, was another cargo of the same. So he +scoured the market and finally he found one on Puget Sound, whereupon +he sent Matt Peasley a telegram ordering him to tow to the Ranier Mill +and Lumber Company's dock at Tacoma, and load for Callao. At the same +time he wired the Ranier people requesting them to be ready to furnish +cargo to the Retriever the following day--this on the strength of a +telegram from Matt Peasley received the previous day informing his +owners that he was discharged and awaiting orders. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +RUMORS OF WAR + + +When four days had elapsed the manager of the Ranier mill wired the +Blue Star Navigation Company that the Retriever had not yet appeared +at their dock. + +Now four days wasted means something to a big barkentine like the +Retriever; and in the absence of any excuse for the delay Cappy Ricks +promptly came to the conclusion that Matt Peasley was ashore in +Seattle, disporting himself after the time-honored custom of deep-sea +sailors home from a long cruise. There could be no other reason for +such flagrant inattention to orders; for, had the man Peasley been +ill, the mate, Murphy, whom the captain vouched for as sober and +intelligent, would have had his superior sent to a hospital and wired +the office for orders. + +"Skinner," said Cappy, "send in a stenographer." + +When the girl appeared Cappy Ricks dictated this wire: + + Captain Matthew Peasley, + Master Barkentine Retriever, + Colman Dock, Seattle, Washington. + + Are you drunk, dead or asleep? You have your orders. Obey + them P.D.Q. or turn over command to Chief Mate Murphy. + + Alden P. Ricks. + +"There!" he shrilled. "I've signed my name to it. Sign a telegram +Blue Star Navigation Company and these infernal skippers think a clerk +sent it; but when they know the boss is on to them they'll jump +lively. Bring me the answer to that as soon as it comes, Skinner." + +However, the answer did not come that day. Indeed, the next day had +almost dragged to a close before Mr. Skinner appeared with this +telegraphic bomb: + + Alden P. Ricks, + 258 California St., + San Francisco. + + Neither! Been waiting my turn to go on dry dock. On now. + Didn't reply yesterday because too busy driving toothpicks in + vessel's bottom to plug up wormholes. If Murphy hadn't hauled + into fresh water last time on Grays Harbor while I was in + Seattle getting my ticket, her bottom would look like a + colander now. Sixteen months in the water. You ought to be + ashamed to treat a good staunch ship like that. Off dock day + after to-morrow; will tow to Tacoma immediately thereafter. + Meantime expect apology for insulting telegram. + + Peasley. + +Sixteen months without dry-docking! Why, her bottom must look like +the devil! Cappy Ricks gazed long and earnestly at his general +manager. + +"Skinner," he said, "you're an ass! Why was not this vessel +dry-docked before you sent her to Antofagasta?" + +Mr. Skinner lost his temper. + +"Because I didn't send her to Antofagasta," be replied sharply. "You +did! And the reason she wasn't docked is because there isn't a dock +on Grays Harbor. If you wouldn't interfere in the shipping, Mr. +Ricks, and spoil my plans to satisfy your personal whims, the vessel +would never have gone on that long voyage without being cleaned and +painted." + +"Enough!" Cappy half screamed. "It's a disgrace! Not another word, +sir! Not another peep out of you. Why didn't you order the man +Peasley to dock her? Why did you leave the decision to him? He knew +his vessel was foul--he thought we ought to know it, also; and +naturally he expected that when we ordered him to Seattle we would +have made arrangements to put him on dry dock. Instead of which he +had to make them himself; and I'm shown up as a regular, +infernal--er--er--baboon! Yes, sir! Regular baboon! Nice spectacle +you've made of me, getting me into a scrape where I have to apologize +to my own captain! Baboon! Huh! Baboon! Yes; you're the baboon!" + +"Well, I can't think of everything, Mr. Ricks--" + +"Everything! Good Lord, man, if you'd only think of something! Send +in a stenographer." + +Mr. Skinner rang for the girl and retired in high dudgeon, while Cappy +Ricks smote his corrugated brow and brought forth the following: + + Captain Matthew Peasley, + Master Barkentine Retriever, + Hall's Dry Dock, Eagle Harbor, Wash. + + "Yes; that was a grave oversight sending you to Antofagasta + without docking you first. Express my appreciation of Murphy's + forethought in killing some of the worms. Am not kind of owner + that lets a ship go to glory to make dividends. Keep your + vessel in top-notch shape at all times, though I realize this + instruction unnecessary to you. Give the old girl all that is + coming to her, including two coats X. & Y. copper paint. + Replace all planking that looks suspicious. + + Alden P. Ricks. + +"I guess that's friendly enough," he soliloquized. "I think he'll +understand. I don't have to crawl in the dirt to let him know I'm +sorry." + +Cappy had recovered his composure by the following morning and was +addressing Mr. Skinner as "Skinner, my dear boy," when another +telegram from Matt Peasley created a very distinct variation in his +mental compass. It ran as follows: + + Alden P. Ricks, + 258 California St. + San Francisco. + + X. & Y. copper paint no good. That brand used last time; hence + worms got to her quickly. Giving her two coats O. & Z. Costs + more, but does the business. Renewed about a dozen planks. + Repair bill about offsets profit on that infernal nitrate. + Your apology accepted, but do not say that again! + + Peasley. + +"'Your apology is accepted!'" Cappy's voice rose, shrill with anger. +"Why, the infernal--er--er--porpoise! Me apologize to a man I employ! +By jingo, I'd fire him first! Yes, sir--fire him like that!" The old +man snapped his fingers. + +"Really, Skinner, I don't know what I'm going to do about the man +Peasley. I want to befriend him, because he's one of my own people, +so to speak; but I greatly fear, Skinner, I shall have to rough him. +Here he is, disputing with me--with me, Skinner--the relative merits +of copper paint. And not only disputing, sir, but disobeying my +specific instructions. Also, he permits himself the luxury of +criticism. Well! I'll not fire him this time; but, by the gods, I'll +give him a blowing-up he'll remember. Skinner, send in a +stenographer." + +"Take letter," the old man ordered presently, and proceeded to +dictate: + + Captain Matthew Peasley, + Master Barkentine Retriever, + Care Rainier M. & L. Co., + Tacoma, Washington. + + Sir:--Your night letter of the fifth is before me and treasured + for its unparalleled effrontery. + + Please be advised that in future, when an extraordinary outlay + of cash for your vessel's accounts is contemplated, this office + should first be consulted. When, in your judgment, your vessel + requires docking, repairs, new spars, canvas, and so on, you + will apprise us before proceeding to run up a bill of expense + on your owners. Your business is to navigate your vessel. + Spending money judiciously is a fine art which no sailor, to my + knowledge, has ever acquired. + + Though admitting that the vessel needed docking, I maintain you + should have wired us of that fact, whereupon we would have + ordered you to the dry dock patronized by this company. It is + customary for owners to express a preference for dry docks and + copper paint; and in presuming to go counter to my specific + instructions in the matter of paint you are prejudicing your + future prospects with this company. + + Another exhibition of your arrogance, impudence, general bad + manners and lack of knowledge of the ethics of your profession + will result in prompt dismissal from the service of the Blue + Star Navigation Company. + + Yours, and so on, + Alden P. Ricks, President + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +WAR! + + +The receipt of Cappy Ricks' letter actually frightened Matt Peasley +for about thirty seconds. Then he reread the last paragraph. Like a +dutiful servant he forgave Cappy the letter's reference to arrogance, +impudence and general bad manners; but the reference to his lack of +knowledge of the ethics of his profession made him fighting mad. + +Cappy Ricks might just as well have passed him the supreme insult of +the seas: "Aw, go buy a farm!" He showed the letter to Mr. Murphy. + +"Why, that's adding insult to injury!" the mate declared +sympathetically. + +The youthful master threw up both hamlike hands in token of complete +surrender and profound disgust. + +"There's the gratitude of an owner!" he raved. "He wires me my loading +orders and never says a word about docking--though as managing owner +it's up to him to know when the vessel needs docking. I can't plan +her comings and goings so that at the proper time she'll find herself +at a port with a dry dock. Of course when he wired me my loading +orders I realized he wasn't going to dock me; so I took matters into +my own hands. Why, Mike, I wouldn't skipper a ship so foul she can +hardly answer her helm. How could I know he'd forgotten she needed +docking? I'm not a mind reader." + +"I suppose he's been so busy hunting another dirty cargo for us he +hadn't time to think of the vessel," Mr. Murphy sneered, and added: +"The dirty old skin-flint!" + +"Well, I'll just tell Cappy Ricks where to head in!" Matt stormed. +"Let him fire me if he wants to. I don't care to sail a +ship--particularly a dirty ship--for any man who thinks I don't know +my business. Mike, I'm going to send him a telegram that'll burn his +meddling old fingers." + +"Give him hell for me!" pleaded Mr. Murphy. "If he fires you I'll +quit, too." + +The result of this colloquy was that Cappy Ricks received this night +letter the following morning: + + Alden P. Ricks, + 258 California St., + San Francisco. + + Referring your letter. Men that taught me nautical ethics + expected things done without orders, minus thanks for doing + them well, plus abuse for doing them poorly. Regard your + criticism as out of place. Am not the seventh son of a seventh + son. How could I know you had overlooked fact that vessel + needed docking? Your business to plan my voyages to get me to + dry-dock port at least once a year. When you wired loading + orders, concluded you were cheap owner; hence decided dock her + without orders. Expect to be fired sooner or later, but will + leave good ship behind me so my successor cannot say, "Peasley + let her run down." Had I waited orders, vessel would have been + ruined. Yet you have not sufficient grace to express your + thanks. Had I not acted in this emergency, you would have + fired me later for incompetence, and blacklisted me for not + telling you what you know you ought to know without being told. + + Referring copper paint, I know from practical experience which + brand is best; you know only what paint dealer tells you. Will + not stand abuse for knowing my business and attending to it + without instructions from landlubber! When you appointed me + you said remember speed synonymous with dividends in shipping + business. How can I make fast passages with whiskers two feet + long on my keel? Send new flying jib and spanker next loading + port. Send new skipper, too, if you feel that way about it. + + Peasley. + +"Well, Skinner," Cappy Ricks declared, "this is the first time a +skipper in my employ ever talked back--and it'll be the last. I've +had enough of this fellow's impudence, Skinner. He's right at +that--blast him--but he's too much of a sea lawyer; and I won't have +any employee of mine telling me how to run my business. Send in a +stenographer." + +When the stenographer entered Cappy Ricks said: + +"Ahem-m! Harump-h-h-h! Take telegram: 'Captain Matthew Peasley, +care Rainier Mill and Lumber Company, Tacoma, Washington. You're +fired! Ricks.' Ahem! Huh! Har-ump! Take 'nother telegram: 'Mr. +Michael J. Murphy, First Mate Barkentine Retriever'--same address as +Peasley--'Accept this telegram as your formal appointment to command +of our barkentine, Retriever, vice Matthew Peasley, discharged this +day; forwarding to-morrow certificate of change of master." Sign +that: 'Blue Star Navigation Company, per Alden P. Ricks,' and get both +telegrams on the wire right away." + +Cappy turned to Mr. Skinner and chuckled sardonically. + +"I'll bet that will gravel the man Peasley," he declared. "There's +nothing harder on a captain than being fired, and succeeded by his own +mate--particularly after he has so recently recommended that mate! +Peasley will be wild--the pup!" + +"Well," Mr. Skinner replied, "appointing Mr. Murphy certainly has this +advantage,--he's there on the ground and we are thus spared the +expense of sending a man from here." + +"That's one of the reasons why I appointed him--one of three very +excellent reasons, in fact. Now we'll wait and see what the man +Peasley has to say to that telegram." + +They had to wait about two hours, and this was what Matt Peasley had +to say: + + "Many thanks. The second mate and the cook quit the minute + they discovered it was to be another cargo of creosoted piling; + and now that I am fired Mr. Murphy has concluded that he might + as well quit also. Will stick by ship, however, until you send + my successor; meantime loading continues as usual." + +"Well, that's what the man Peasley says!" Cappy snapped. "Murphy's +quit, eh? Well, I guess Mr. Murphy hadn't received my telegram when +Peasley sent this message. It'll take more than a cargo of creosoted +piling to keep Murphy out of the master's cabin when he hears from +me." + +The stenographer entered with another telegram. + +"Ah!" Cappy remarked, and rubbed his hands together in pleased +anticipation. "I dare say this is from Mr. Murphy." + +It was; and this is what the loyal Murphy had to say: + + "I thank you for the consideration. Very sweet of you; but I + wouldn't work for you again on a bet. You couldn't hand me a + ripe peach! Master or mate, creosote tastes the same to me. + At Captain Peasley's request am staying by vessel until new + master arrives and hires new mate. Would have stuck by vessel + for Old Man's sake if you'd slipped us cargo of uncrated + rattlesnakes; but since I encouraged him to tell you things for + good of your soul and you fired him for it I must decline to + profit by his misfortune." + +Silently Cappy Ricks folded that telegram and laid it on his desk; his +head sagged forward on his breast and he fell to meditating deeply. +Finally he looked up and eyed Mr. Skinner over the rims of his +spectacles. + +"Skinner," he said solemnly, "do you realize, my boy, that we have two +extremely remarkable men on the barkentine Retriever?" + +"They are certainly most remarkably deficient in respect to their +superiors, though in all probability exceedingly capable seamen," Mr. +Skinner answered sympathetically, for he had great veneration for the +creator of the pay roll. + +"I know," Cappy replied sadly; "but then, you know, Skinner, the good +Lord must certainly hate a bootlicker! Skinner, I simply cannot +afford to lose those two damned scoundrels in the Retriever. They're +good men! And a good man who knows he's good will not take any slack +from man or devil; so I cannot afford to lose those two. Skinner, +I've got myself into an awful mess. Here I've been running by dead +reckoning and now I'm on the rocks! What'll I do, Skinner? I'm +licked; but, dang it all, sir, I can't admit it, can I? Isn't there +some way to referee this scrap and call it a draw?" + +"I see no way out of it now except to send another captain to Tacoma." + +"Skinner," he declared, "you're absolutely no use to me in an +emergency. When I made you my general manager, on a bank president's +salary, I thought I'd be able to take it easy for the rest of my +life." He wagged his head sadly. "And what's the result? I work +harder than ever. Skinner, if I hadn't any more imagination than you +possess I'd be out there on the corner of California and Market +Streets peddling lead pencils this minute. Leave this problem to me, +Skinner. I suppose I'll find a way out of it, with entire honor to +all concerned. Holy sailor!" he added. "But that man Murphy is +loyal--and loyalty is a pretty scarce commodity these days, let me +tell you!" + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +CAPPY FORCES AN ARMISTICE + + +During the week that succeeded, Cappy Ricks did not once mention the +subject of the Retriever and her recalcitrant skipper and mate; and +Mr. Skinner argued from this that all was well. Finally one day Cappy +came into the office and paused beside the general manager's desk. He +was grinning like a boy. + +"Well, Skinner," he piped. "I've just come from the Merchants' +Exchange and I see by the blackboard that our Retriever cleared for +Antofagasta yesterday." + +"Indeed!" Mr. Skinner replied politely. "So you found a captain for +her. Whom did you send?" + +"Nobody," the old man cackled. "Matt Peasley took her out, and the +manager of the Rainier mill wires me that Murphy went with him as +chief kicker. What do you think of that?" + +"Why, I'm--er--satisfied if you are, sir." + +"Well, you can bet I'm satisfied. If I wasn't I'd have a revenue +cutter out after the man Peasley and his mate right now. By golly, +Skinner," he piped, and slapped his wizened flank, "I tell you I've +worked this deal pretty slick, if I do say it myself. And all on dead +reckoning--dead reckoning, and not a single day of demurrage!" + +"Oh! So you wired Peasley and the mate and asked them to go back to +work and forget they were discharged?" Mr. Skinner suggested +witheringly. + +"Skinner, on my word, you grow worse every day. You've been with me, +man and boy, twenty-odd years, and in all that time you never saw +anybody cover me with blood, did you?" + +"No, sir." + +"And you never will. Why, I managed this affair by simply forgetting +all about it! When you're in a jam, Skinner, always let the other +fellow do the talking. I just sat tight until I had a telegram from +the man Peasley, informing me that the vessel would be loaded in two +days and that his successor had not appeared as yet. I threw that +telegram in my wastebasket; and when the vessel was loaded I had +another telegram from Peasley, saying that the vessel was loaded, that +his successor was still missing, and the mill manager was kicking and +insisting that the ship be hauled away from the dock to make room for +a steam schooner which wanted to load. So I filed that telegram in +the wastebasket also. It was a night letter, delivered in the morning. + +"When Peasley didn't get an answer by noon he wired again, saying +that, as a favor to me, he would haul the Retriever into the stream, +but would accept no responsibility for delay thereafter. He said +further that, as a courtesy to me and his successor, he was shipping a +crew that day in order that there might be no delay in sailing when +the new captain arrived; so I thought I had better reply to that +telegram, Skinner--and I did!" + +"What did you say, Mr. Ricks?" + +"I said: 'Please do not annoy me with your telegrams. You were fired +a week ago, but it seems difficult for you to realize that fact. If +demurrage results through my failure to get new skipper there in time, +that is no skin off your nose. Your pay goes on until you are +relieved, and you will be relieved when I get good and ready.' That +telegram did the business, Skinner. He received it the day before +yesterday and yesterday he towed out!" + +Cappy Ricks burst into a shrill senile cackle that was really good to +hear. As they grow old most men lose that capacity for a hearty +laugh, but Cappy's perversity had kept him young at heart. The tears +of mirth cascaded down his seamed old countenance now, and he had to +sit down and have his laugh out. + +"Oh, thunder!" he panted. "Really, Skinner--there's so much fun in +business I wonder why a man can retire--just because he's made his +pile! Skinner, I had it on the man Peasley a thousand miles--and he +never guessed it! Dear, dear me! You see, Skinner, when he wired me +he would not accept responsibility for demurrage to the vessel after +she was loaded and hauled into the stream, he forgot that he had to +accept responsibility for the vessel himself until his successor +should arrive! + +"Of course, the man Murphy could quit any time he desired; but if the +skipper deserted the ship before being properly relieved, and then +something happened to the vessel and I preferred charges against him, +the inspectors might be induced to revoke his license--and he realized +that. The knowledge made him hopping mad, Skinner; and when he got my +telegram I knew he would begin to figure out some plan to make me mad! +And, of course, I knew Murphy would help him out--the Irish are +imaginative and vindictive; and--oh, dear me, Skinner--read that!" And +Cappy handed his general manager the following telegram: + + You are right. I will be relieved when I get good and ready, + and I will not be ready until I get back from Antofagasta. + Shipped crew yesterday afternoon. All arrived drunk. Next + morning all hands sober. Realizing predicament, riot resulted. + Fearing lose crew, Murphy and I manhandled and locked in + fo'castle. When your telegram arrived it found Murphy minus + front tooth, myself black eye. Can stand injury, but not + insult. Hence you are stuck with us for another voyage, + whether you want us or not. Will have towed out by time you + receive this. Go to Halifax! + + Peasley. + +Mr. Skinner's face was cold and austere as he handed this telegram +back to Cappy. + +"So you made peace with honor, eh?" he sneered. + +"Peace your grandmother!" Cappy chirped. "This war goes on until I +get a letter from the man Peasley. Skinner, he and Murphy think +they've done something wonderfully brilliant. When I wired him he +would be relieved when I got good and ready it did him an awful lot of +good to throw the words back in my face. Sure, Skinner! They think +they're giving Cappy Ricks the merry ha-ha!" + +"Well, of course, sir,"' said Mr. Skinner, "if this sort of horseplay +is your fun--if it's your notion of business--I have no comment. You +own fifteen-sixteenths of the Retriever, and you can afford to pay for +your fancies; but if it was the last act of my life I'd fire that man +Peasley in Callao and let him get home as best he could." + +"Yes; I know," Cappy replied bitterly. "You fired him in Cape Town +once--and how did he come home? He came home in the cabin of the +Retriever--that's how he came home; and the Terrible Swede I sent to +thrash him and fire him came home under hatches. Yes; you'd do a lot +of things, Skinner--in your mind." + +Mr. Skinner pounded his desk savagely. Cappy's retort made him +boiling mad. + +"Well, I'll bet I'd do something," he rasped. "I'd make that bucko +suffer or I'd know the reason why." + +"Skinner, that's just what we're going to do--just what we're doing, +in fact. One of my ancestors sailed with the late John Paul Jones and +ever since the Ricks' family motto has been: 'I have not yet begun to +fight.' Now listen to reason, Skinner. The Retriever just came off +dry-dock, didn't she? Well, it stands to reason she was dirty after +that last cargo of creosoted piling; and it stands to reason, also, +that the man Peasley slicked her up with white paint until she looked +like an Easter bride. A Scandinavian doesn't give a hoot if his +vessel is tight, well found and ready for sea; but a Yankee takes a +tremendous pride in his ship and likes to keep her looking like a +yacht. And just think, Skinner, how the man Peasley must have felt +when he came off dry dock, all clean and nice, and then had to slop +her up with another cargo of creosoted piling? Just think of that, +Skinner!" and again he commenced his insane cackle. + +"I have other, and more important things to think about," Mr. Skinner +retorted icily. As a business man he was opposed to levity in the +office. "What are your plans with reference to the Retriever? Do you +wish to bring her back from Antofagasta in ballast?" + +"Why, certainly not. Hunt a cargo for her, Skinner. We might just as +well let the man Peasley know that though he's gone he's not +forgotten. Use the cable freely and see if you can't pick up something +for the return trip that will make those two firebrands sick at the +stomach." + +A month later Mr. Skinner stepped into Cappy's sanctum. + +"Well," he announced. "I've got a return cargo for the Retriever." + +"What have you got?" Cappy demanded anxiously; and Mr. Skinner told +him. + +"No?" said Cappy incredulously. + +"Yes!" Mr. Skinner assured him. + +Cappy's laughter testified to his hearty approval. + +"Skinner, my dear boy," he cried. "I don't know what I'd do without +you." + +And then he laid his wicked old head on his desk and laughed until he +wept. Indeed, Mr. Skinner so far forgot his code as to laugh with +him. + +"We'll stink those two vagabonds--those maritime outlaws--out of the +ship," he declared. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE WAR IS RENEWED + + +The belief that they had come off victorious in their skirmish with +Cappy Ricks cheered Matt Peasley and his mate for the first two weeks +out from Puget Sound; after which the creosote commenced to season +their food, and then the victory began to take on the general +appearance of a vacuum. However, thanks to a clean keel and fair +winds, they made a smashing passage and their sufferings were not +unduly prolonged. + +Immediately on his arrival at Antofagasta the young skipper reported +by cable to his owners, thereby eliciting the following reply from +Cappy Ricks: + + "You stole ship. If you value your ticket bring her back with + cargo agent provides." + +Naturally this somewhat cryptic cablegram roused Matt Peasley's +curiosity. He could not rest until be had interviewed the agent--and +after that sop to his inquisitiveness he returned to the Retriever a +broken man. The loyal and disgusted Murphy read the trouble in the +master's face. + +"What new deviltry's afoot now, Matt?" he demanded, in his eagerness +and sympathy forgetting the respect due his superior. + +"Green hides, Mike!" the skipper answered, in his distress failing to +notice the mate's faux pas and making one himself. "Green hides, old +pal; and they stink something horrible. Back to Seattle with the +dirty mess, and then another cargo of creosoted--" + +"King's X!" yelled Mr. Murphy. "I crossed my fingers the minute your +face appeared over the rail. I quit--and I quit as soon as this +piling is out. I tell you I won't keep company with green hides. No, +sir; I won't. I tell you I will--not--do it! Why, we might as well +have a dead hog in the hold! Captain Matt, I hate to throw you down +in a foreign port; but this--is absolutely--the finish!" + +"Do you value your ticket, Mike?" the captain queried ominously. + +"What's a ticket when a man's lost his self-respect?" Mr. Murphy +raved. + +Matt handed him Cappy's cablegram and the mate read it. + +"I think that bet goes double, Mike," the skipper warned him. "You +signed for the round trip. I've got to go through--and there's +strength in numbers." + +"Well," said Mr. Murphy reluctantly, "I suppose I do attach a +certain--er--sentimental value to my ticket." + +"I thought you would. Cappy's got us by the short hair, Mike; and the +only thing to do is to fly to it, with all sails set. We must never +let on he's given us anything out of the ordinary." + +Mr. Murphy shivered; for, as Cappy had remarked to Mr. Skinner, the +mate was Irish, hence imaginative. He imagined he smelled the green +hides already, and quite suddenly he gagged and sprang for the rail. +Poor fellow! He had stood much of late and his stomach was a trifle +sensitive from a diet of creosote straight. + +Somehow they got the awful cargo aboard, though, at that, there were +not sufficient hides to half load her; in consequence of which all +hands realized that Cappy had merely given them this dab of freight to +sicken them. They cursed him all the way back to Seattle, where the +crew quit the minute the vessel was made fast to the dock. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +CAPPY SEEKS PEACE + + +"Here's a telegram for you, sir," Mr. Murphy remarked when Matt +Peasley came aboard after cashing a draft on the Blue Star Navigation +Company to pay off his crew. It proved to be from Cappy Ricks and +said merely: + +"Discharge that cargo of hides or take the consequences!" + +"The old sinner thought I'd dog it, I suppose," Matt sneered, as he +passed the message to Mr. Murphy, who shivered as he read it. "I +guess you're elected, Mike," the skipper continued. "The second mate +has quit. However, it isn't going to be very hard on you this time. +I was speaking to the skipper of that schooner in the berth ahead of +us, and he gave me a recipe for killing the perfume of a cargo of +green hides." + +"If he'd given it to us in Antofagasta, I'd name a ship after him some +day," Mr. Murphy mourned. + +"Well, we've gotten it in time to be of some use," Matt declared. +"You don't suppose I'm going to let this old snoozer Ricks get away +with the notion that he put one over on us, do you? Shall we haul Old +Glory down? No! Never! I'll just switch off the laughing gas on +Cappy Ricks," and the young skipper went ashore and wired his managing +owner as follows: + + "Green hides are the essence of horror if you do not know how + to handle them. Fortunately I do. Pour water on a green hide + and you muzzle the stink. I judge from your last telegram you + thought you handed me something." + +When Cappy Ricks got that telegram he flew into a rage and refused to +believe Matt Peasley's statement until he had first called up a dealer +in hides and confirmed it. The entire office staff wondered all that +day what made Cappy so savage. + +By the following day, however, Cappy's naturally optimistic nature had +reasserted itself. He admitted to himself that he had fanned out, but +still the knowledge brought him some comfort. + +"He's walloped me so," Cappy soliloquized, "he just can't help writing +and crowing about it. If I didn't do anything else I bet I've pried a +letter out of him. It certainly will be a comfort to see something +except a telegram and a statement of account from that fellow." + +However, when the report of the voyage arrived, Mr. Skinner reported +that it contained no letter. Cappy's face reflected his +disappointment. + +"I guess you'll have to go stronger than green hides to get a yelp out +of that fellow," Mr. Skinner predicted. + +"Why, there isn't anything stronger than a cargo of green hides, +Skinner," Cappy declared thoughtfully. He clawed his whiskers a +moment. Then: "What have you got for her on the Sound, Skinner?" + +"Nothing nasty, sir. We'll have to give him a regular cargo this +time--that is, unless he quits. I've got a cargo for Sydney, ready at +our own mill at Port Hadlock." + +"Well, he hasn't resigned yet," Cappy declared; "so we might as well +beat him to it. Wire him, Skinner, to tow to our mill at Port Hadlock +and load for Sydney. If he believes we're willing to call this thing +a dead heat he may conclude to stick. Tell him this is a nice cargo." +Again Cappy clawed his whiskers. "Sydney, eh?" he said musingly. +"That's nice! We can send him over to Newcastle from there to pick up +a cargo of coal, and maybe he'll come home afire! If we can't hand +him a stink, Skinner, we'll put a few gray hairs in his head." + +These instructions Mr. Skinner grudgingly complied with; and Matt +Peasley, with his hatches wide open and buckets of punk burning in the +hold to dispel the lingering fragrance of his recent cargo--concluding +that, on the whole, he and Mr. Murphy had come through the entire +affair very handsomely indeed--towed down to Hadlock and commenced to +take on cargo. If Cappy Ricks was willing to declare a truce then +Matt Peasley would declare one too. + +Matt's peaceful acquiescence in his owner's program merely served to +arouse Cappy Ricks' abnormal curiosity. The more he thought of Matt +Peasley the greater grew his desire for a closer scrutiny. The most +amazing man in the world had been in his employ a year and a half, and +as yet they had never met; unless the Retriever should happen to be +loaded for San Francisco years might elapse before they should see +each other; and now that he had attained to his allotted three score +years and ten Cappy decided that he could no longer gamble on the +future. + +He summoned Mr. Skinner. + +"Skinner, my dear boy," he announced with the naive simplicity that +made him so lovable. "I suppose it's very childish of me, but I have +a tremendous desire to see this extraordinary fellow Peasley." + +"You can afford to satisfy your slightest whim, Mr. Ricks," he +replied. "I'll load her for San Francisco after she returns from +Australia. I daresay if he ever gets through the Golden Gate he'll +call up at the office." + +"Skinner, I can't wait that long. Many things may happen. Ahem! +Harump-h-h-h! Wire the man Peasley, Skinner, to have his photograph +taken and forwarded to me immediately charging expense." + +"Very well, sir," Mr. Skinner responded. + +"Well, I'll be keel-hauled and skull-dragged," Matt Peasley declared +to Mr. Murphy. "Here's a telegram from the owners demanding my +photograph." + +Mr. Murphy read the amazing message, scratched his raven poll, and +declared his entire willingness to be damned. + +"It's a trap," he announced presently. "Don't send it. Matt, you +look about twenty years old and for the next few years, if you expect +to work under the Blue Star flag, you must remember your face isn't +your fortune. You've got to be pickled in salt for twenty years to +please Cappy Ricks. If he sees your photograph he'll fire you, Matt. +I know that old crocodile. All he wants is an excuse to give you the +foot, anyhow." + +"But he's ordered me to send it, Mike. How am I going to get out of +it?" + +As has been stated earlier in this tale, Mr. Murphy had an +imagination. + +"Go over into the town, sir," he said, "and in any photograph gallery +you can pick up a picture of some old man. Write your name across it +and send it to Cappy. He'll be just as happy, then, as though he had +good sense." + +"By George, I'll just do that!" Matt declared, and forthwith went +ashore. + +He sought the only photographer in Port Hadlock. At the entrance to +the shop he found a glass case containing samples of the man's art, +and was singularly attracted to the photograph of a spruce little old +gentleman in a Henry Clay collar, long mutton-chop whiskers, and +spectacles. + +Moreover, to Matt's practiced eye, this individual seemed to savor of +a Down-Easter. He was just the sort of man one might expect to bear +the name of Matthew Peasley; so the captain mounted the stairs and +sought the proprietor, from whom he purchased the picture in question +for the trifling sum of fifty cents. Then he bore it away to the +Retriever, scrawled his autograph across the old gentleman's hip and +mailed the picture to Cappy Ricks. + + + +CHAPTER XX + +PEACE AT LAST! + + +Mr. Skinner entered Cappy Ricks' office bearing an envelope marked +"Photo. Do not crush or bend!" From the announcement in the upper +right-hand corner the general manager deduced that the photograph was +from Matt Peasley. + +"Well, here's Captain Peasley's picture, Mr. Ricks," he announced. + +"Ah! Splendid. Prompt, isn't he?" Cappy tore open the envelope, drew +forth the photograph, scrutinized it carefully and then laid it face +down on his desk, while he got out his spectacles, cleaned them +carefully, adjusted them and gazed at the photograph once more. + +"Ahem! Hu-m-m-m! Harump-h-h-h! Well, Skinner, life is certainly +full of glad surprises," he announced presently, and +added--"particularly where that man Peasley is concerned. I never did +see the beat of that fellow." + +"May I see his photograph, sir?" Mr. Skinner pleaded. + +"Certainly," and Cappy passed it to the general manager, who glanced +once at it and smiled down whimsically at Cappy. + +"Yes, I agree with you, Mr. Ricks," he said. "Of all the surprises +that man Peasley has handed us, this is the greatest." + +Cappy nodded and smiled a little prescient smile. "Skinner," he said, +"send in a stenographer. I'm going to send him a telegram." + +He did. Matt Peasley blinked when he got it, and for the first time +since he had commenced exchanging telegrams and cablegrams with the +peculiar Mr. Ricks he was thoroughly non-plussed--so much so, in fact, +that he called his right bower, Michael J. Murphy, into consultation. + +"Mike," he said, and handed the mate the telegram, "what in the world +do you suppose the old duffer means by that?" + +Mr. Murphy read: + + "Matt, I always knew you were young, but I had no suspicion you + were a child in arms until I received your photograph." + +"Serves you right," the mate declared. "I told you to send the photo +of an OLD man." + +"But I did, Mike. I sent him a picture of an old pappy-guy sort of +man, with long, mutton-chop whiskers, glasses and an old-fashioned +collar as tall as the taffrail." + +"It beats my time then what he's driving at, Captain Matt. But then +one can never tell what Cappy Ricks is up to. I've heard he's a great +hand to have his little joke, so I daresay that telegram is meant for +sarcasm." + +Matt had a horrifying inspiration. "I know what's wrong," he cried +bitterly. "He thinks I'm so old I ought to be retired, and that +telegram is in the nature of a hint that a letter, asking for my +resignation, is on the way now." + +"Why--why--why?" Mr. Murphy stuttered, "did you send him the picture +of Methuselah himself? Heaven's sake, skipper, there's a happy +medium, you know. I meant for you to pick yourself out a man of about +fifty-five, and here you've slipped him a patriarch of ninety. +Sarcasm! I should say so." + +They stared at each other a few seconds; then Mr. Murphy had an +equally disturbing inspiration. + +"By Neptune!" he suggested, "maybe you sent him the picture of +somebody he knows!" + +"Well, in that case, Mike, I'm not going to hang on the hook of +suspicion. Maybe I can find out whose picture I sent," and away Matt +went up town to the photograph gallery. When he returned ten minutes +later Mr. Murphy, sighting him a block in the offing, knew the skipper +of the barkentine Retriever for a broken man! Beyond doubt he had +shipped a full cargo of grief. + +"Well?" he queried as Matt hove alongside. "Did you find out?" + +Matt nodded gloomily. + +"Who?" Mr. Murphy demanded peremptorily. + +"Cappy Ricks!" Matt almost wailed. + +"NO!" Mr. Murphy roared. + +"Yes! The old scoundrel was up here three years ago, visiting this +mill--you know, Mike, he owns it--and the Retriever was here loading +at the time. He and Captain Kendall were close friends, and they went +over to that photograph shop, had their pictures taken and +swapped--and like a poor, helpless, luckless boob I had to come along +and buy the sample picture the photographer hung in his case. It +never occurred to me to ask questions--and I might have known nobody +but a prominent citizen ever gets into a show-case--" + +"Glory, glory, hallelujah," Mr. Murphy crooned in a deep, chain-locker +voice, and fled from the skipper's wrath. + +An hour later, in the privacy of his cabin, Matt Peasley took his pen +in hand and wrote to Cappy Ricks: + + Mr. Alden P. Ricks, + Dear Sir:-- + + I herewith tender my resignation as master of the barkentine + Retriever, same to take effect on my return from Sydney--or + before I sail, if you desire. If I do not hear from you before + I sail I shall assume that it will be all right to quit when I + get back from Australia. + + I will not be twenty-three years old until the Fourth of July. + I was afraid you wouldn't trust me with a big ship like the + Retriever if you knew; so I sent you a photograph I purchased + for fifty cents from the local photographer. I guess that's + all--except that you couldn't find a better man to take my + place than Mr. Murphy. He has had the experience. + + Yours truly, + Matt Peasley. + +There were tears in his eyes as he dropped that letter into the mail +box. The Blue Star Navigation Company owned the Retriever, +but--but--well she was Matt Peasley's ship and he loved her as men +learn to love their homes. It broke his heart to think of giving her +up. + +"Skinner," said Cappy Ricks, "I've got a letter from the man Peasley +at last; and now, by golly, I can quit and take a vacation. Send in a +stenographer." The stenographer entered. "Take telegram--direct +message," he ordered, and commenced to dictate: + + Captain Matthew Peasley, + + Your resignation accepted. You are too almighty good for a + windjammer, Matthew. You need more room for the development of + your talent. Give Murphy the ship, with my compliments, and + tell him I've enjoyed the fight because it went to a knock-out. + Report to me at this office as soon as possible. You belong + in steam. A second mate's berth waiting for you. In a year + you will be first mate of steam; a year later you will be + master of steam, at two-fifty a month, and I will have a + four-million-foot freighter waiting for you if you make good. + The picture was a bully joke; but I could not laugh, Matt. It + is so long since I was a boy. + + Cappy. + +"Send that right away, like a good girl," he ordered. "He's about +loaded and he may have towed out before the telegram reaches him. Or, +better still, send the message in duplicate--one copy to the mill and +the other in care of the custom-house at Port Townsend. He'll have to +touch in there to clear the ship." + +He walked into Mr. Skinner's office. + +"Skinner," he said, "Murphy has the Retriever, and you're in charge of +the shipping. Attend to the transfer of authority before she gets out +of the Sound." + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +MATT PEASLEY MEETS A TALKATIVE STRANGER + + +Cappy Ricks' telegram to Matt, in care of the mill at Port Hadlock, +arrived several hours after the Retriever, fully loaded with fir +lumber, had been snatched away from the mill dock by a tug and started +on her long tow to Dungeness, where the hawser would be cast off. It +was not until the vessel came to a brief anchorage in the strait off +Port Townsend, the port of entry to Puget Sound, and Matt went ashore +to clear his ship, that the duplicate telegram sent in care of the +Collector of the Port, was handed to him. + +He read and reread it. The news it contained seemed too good to be +true. + +"I guess I won't clear her after all," he announced to the deputy +collector. + +The official nodded. "I didn't think you would," he replied. "I have +a telegram from the custom-house at San Francisco, apprising me that +Michael J. Murphy has been appointed master of the Retriever, so if +she's to be cleared Captain Murphy will have to do the job." + +"He's my mate, and if you'll wait about half an hour I'll go get the +old Siwash," Matt replied happily, and started back to the Retriever +in a hurry. He had been gone less than twenty minutes, a fact noted +by the astute Murphy, who met his superior at the rail as the latter +climbed up the Jacob's ladder. + +"Why, you haven't cleared the old girl so soon, have you, sir?" he +queried. + +"Read that," Matt announced dramatically. + +Mr. Murphy read the telegram. "Bust my bob-stay!" he murmured. "The +dirty old assassin! The slimy old pile-worm! The blessed old duffer! +After treating us like dogs for a year and a half he gives me the +ship, sets you down for a two year apprenticeship in steam and says +he's going to build you a four-million-foot freighter! The +scoundrelly old renegade! Why, say, Matt, Cappy's been spilling the +acid all over us and we never knew it. Somehow, I have a notion that +if we had yelled murder when he was beating us he'd have had us both +out of his employ while you'd be saying Jack Robinson." + +"I believe you, Mike. But he needn't think he's going to grab two +years of my precious young life before he'll trust me with a steamer. +I have an unlimited license for sail, and if I can pass the +examination for steam before the inspectors--and I can--I'll get my +license immediately. Just consider the old boy's inconsistency, Mike. +If a man can handle a square-rigged ship he ought to be trusted with +anything; yet, when be gives me a steamer you'd think he was giving me +a man's job! Fair weather or foul, you stand on the bridge and +control your vessel with the engine room telegraph. Shucks! I wonder +if that crotchety old joker thinks it will take me two years to learn +how to dock a steam schooner?" + +Mr. Murphy hitched his trousers, stuck his thumbs in his belt and +glared at Matt Peasley. "See here, you," he declared, "you're a child +wonder, all right, but the trouble with you is, you hate yourself too +much. Listen to me, kid. I'm the skipper of the Retriever now and +you're my friend, young Matt Peasley, so I can talk to you as a +friend. You're a pretty skookum youth and I'd hate like everything to +mix it with you, but if you start to veto the old man's orders you may +look for a fine thrashing from me when I get back from Australia! I +won't have you making a damned fool of yourself, Matt. If you are in +command of a four-million-foot freighter by the time you're +twenty-seven, you'll be the youngest skipper of steam afloat, and you +ought to be down on your marrow bones giving thanks to the good Lord +who has done so much for you, instead of planning insurrection against +Cappy Ricks. The idea!" + +"But what sense is there in waiting--" + +"When I refereed the scrap between you and All Hands And Feet you took +my advice, didn't you? You didn't say to me then: 'What sense is +there in waiting? Let me go in and finish the job and have done with +it,' did you?" + +"But this is business, Mike. For a year and a half Cappy has been +having a whole lot of fun out of me--" + +"It might have been fun for him, but it came pretty near being the +death of me," Mr. Murphy contradicted. "If that jag of green hides +from Antofagasta was a joke, beware of Cappy Ricks when he's serious. +He's serious about you, Matt. He's picked on you sight unseen, and +he's going to do something for you. He's an old man, Matt. Let him +have his way and you'll profit by it." + +"Well, I'll see what he has to say, at any rate," Matt compromised, +and they went below, Matt to pack his sea chest and Mr. Murphy to +shave and array himself in a manner befitting the master of a big +barkentine about to present himself at the custom-house for the first +time to clear his ship. + +An hour later Matt Peasley found himself sitting on his sea chest on +the cap of the wharf, watching the Retriever slipping down the strait +under command of Captain Michael J. Murphy, while a new chief mate, +shipped in Port Townsend, counted off the watches. Presently she +turned a bend and was gone; and immediately he felt like a homeless +wanderer. The thought of the doughty Murphy in that snug little cabin +so long sacred to Matt Peasley brought a pang of near jealousy to the +late commander of the Retriever; as he reflected on the two years of +toil ahead of him before men would again address him as Captain +Peasley, he wondered whether the game really would be worth the +candle; for he had all of a Down-Easter's love for a sailing ship. + +He recalled to mind Mr. Murphy's favorite story of the old sailing +skipper who went into steam and who, during his very first watch on +the steamship's bridge, ordered the man at the wheel to starboard his +helm, and then forgot to tell him to steady it--the consequence being +that the helmsman held hard-a-starboard and the ship commenced to +describe a circle; whereupon the old sailing skipper got excited and +screamed: "Back that main yard!" Matt felt that should anything like +that happen to him in steam and the news should ever leak out, he +would have to go back to the Atlantic Coast rather than face the gibes +of his shipmates on the Pacific. + +The passenger boat from Victoria picked him up and set him down in +Seattle that night, and the following morning he boarded a train for +San Francisco to report to Cappy Ricks. + +At luncheon in the dining car that day Matt Peasley found himself +seated opposite a man who had boarded the train with him at Seattle. +As the young captain plied his knife and fork he was aware that this +person's gaze rested with something more than casual interest on +his--Matt's--left forearm; whereupon the latter realized that his +vis-a-vis yearned to see more of a little decoration which, in the +pride of his first voyage, Matt had seen fit to have tattooed on the +aforesaid forearm by the negro cook. So, since he was the +best-natured young man imaginable, Matt decided presently to satiate +his neighbor's curiosity. + +"It's a lady climbing a ladder," he announced composedly and drew back +his sleeve to reveal this sample of black art. "I have a shield and +an eagle on my breast and a bleeding heart, with a dagger stuck +through it, on my right forearm." + +"I didn't mean to be rude," the other answered, flushing a little. "I +couldn't help noticing the chorus lady's shapely calves when you +speared that last pickle; so I knew you were a sailor. I concluded +you were an American sailor before I learned that you advertise the +fact on your breast, and I was wondering whether you belong in the +navy or the merchant marine." + +"I'm from blue water," Matt replied pleasantly. "You're in the +shipping business, I take it." + +"Almost--I'm a ship, freight and marine insurance broker." And the +stranger handed over a calling card bearing the name of Mr. Allan +Hayes. "I'm from Seattle." + +"Peasley is my name, Mr. Hayes," Matt answered heartily, glad of this +chance acquaintance with a man with whom he could converse on a +subject of mutual interest. "I haven't any post-office address," he +added whimsically. + +"Going over to Columbia River to join your ship, I daresay," Mr. Hayes +suggested. + +"No, sir. I'm bound for San Francisco, to get a job in steam and work +up to a captaincy." + +"Wherein you show commendable wisdom, Mr. Peasley," the broker +answered. "A man can get so far in a windjammer--a hundred a month in +the little coasting schooners and a hundred and twenty-five in the big +vessels running foreign--and there he sticks. In steam schooners a +good man can command two hundred dollars a month, with a chance for +promotion into a big freighter, for the reason that in steam one has +more opportunity to show the stuff that's in one." + +"How far are you going?" Matt demanded. + +"I'm bound for San Francisco too." + +"Good!" Matt replied, for, like most boys, he was a gregarious animal, +and Mr. Hayes seemed to be a pleasant, affable gentleman. "I suppose +you know most of the steam vessels on this coast?" he continued, +anxious to turn the conversation into channels that might be +productive of information valuable to him in his new line of endeavor. + +Mr. Hayes nodded. "I have to," he said, "if I'm to do any business +negotiating charters; in fact, I'm bound to San Francisco now to +charter two steamers." + +"Freight or passenger?" + +"Freight. There's nothing for a broker in a passenger vessel. I'm +scouting for two boats for the Mannheim people. You've heard of them, +of course. They own tremendous copper mines in Alaska, but they can't +seem to get the right kind of flux to smelt their ore up there; so +they're going to freight it down to their smelter in Tacoma." + +"I see. But how do you work the game to pay your office rent?" + +"Why, that's very simple, Mr. Peasley. Their traffic manager merely +calls me up and tells me to find two ore freighters for him. He +doesn't know where to look for them, but he knows I do, and that it +will not cost him anything to engage me to find them for him. Well, I +locate the vessels and when I come to terms with the owners, and those +terms are satisfactory to my clients, I close the charter and the +vessel owners pay me a commission of two and a half per cent. on all +the freight money earned under the charter. A shipowner generally is +glad to pay a broker a commission for digging him up business for his +ships--particularly when freights are dull." + +Matt Peasley nodded his comprehension and did some quick mental +arithmetic. + +"Why, you'll make a nice little fee on those ore boats," he said. "I +suppose it's a time charter." + +"Four years," Mr. Hayes replied, and smiled fatly at the thought of +his income. "Of course I'd make a larger commission if the freight +rate was figured on a tonnage basis; but on long charters, like these +I mention, the ships are rented at a flat rate a day or month. Say, +for instance, I negotiate these charters at the rate of four hundred +dollars a day, or eight hundred dollars a day for the two boats. Two +and a half per cent. of eight hundred dollars is twenty dollars a day, +which I will earn as commission every day for the next four years that +the vessels are not in dry dock or laid up for repairs." + +"And you probably will earn that by one day of labor," Matt Peasley +murmured admiringly--"perhaps one hour of actual labor!" + +Mr. Hayes smiled again his fat smile. He shrugged. + +"That's business," be said carelessly. "An ounce of promotion is +worth a ton of horse power." + +"Well, I should say so, Mr. Hayes! But you'll have quite a search to +find an ore boat on the Pacific Coast. There are some coal boats +running to Coos Bay, but they're hardly big enough; and then I suppose +they're kept pretty busy in the coal trade, aren't they? It seems to +me that what you need for your business would be two of those big +steel ore vessels, with their engines astern--the kind they use on the +Great Lakes." + +"That is exactly why I am going to San Francisco, Mr. Peasley. There +are on this Coast two ships such as you describe--sister ships and +just what the doctor ordered." + +"What are their names?" + +"The Lion and the Unicorn." + +Matt Peasley paused, with a forkful of provender halfway to his mouth. +The S.S. Lion, eh? Why, that was one of Cappy Ricks' vessels! He +remembered passing her off Cape Flattery once and seeing the Blue Star +house flag fluttering at the fore. + +"Were they Lake boats originally?" he queried. + +Mr. Hayes nodded. + +"What are they doing out here?" + +"Right after the San Francisco fire, when fir lumber jumped from a +twelve-dollar base to twenty-five, lumber freights soared +accordingly," Hayes explained. "Vessels that had been making a little +money at four dollars a thousand feet, from Oregon and Washington +ports to San Francisco, were enabled to get ten dollars; and anything +that would float was hauled out of the bone yard and put to work. Old +Man Ricks, of the Blue Star Navigation Company, was the first to see +the handwriting on the wall; so he sneaked East and bought the Lion +and the Unicorn. It was just the old cuss's luck to have a lot of +cash on hand; and he bought them cheap, loaded them with general cargo +in New York, and paid a nice dividend on them on their very first +voyage under the Blue Star flag. When he got them on the Coast he put +them into the lumber trade and they paid for themselves within a year. + +"Then, just before the panic of 1907, old Ricks unloaded the Unicorn +on the Black Butte Company for ten thousand dollars more than he paid +for her--the old scamp! He's the shrewdest trader on the whole +Pacific Coast. He had no sooner sawed the Unicorn off on the Black +Butte people than the freight market collapsed in the general crash, +and ever since then the owners of the Lion and the Unicorn have been +stuck with their vessels. They're so big it's next to impossible to +keep them running coastwise in the lumber trade during a dull period, +and they're not big enough for the foreign trade. About the only +thing they could do profitably was to freight coal, coal freights have +dropped until the margin of profit is very meager; competition is keen +and for the last six months the Lion and the Unicorn have been laid +up." + +Matt Peasley smiled. + +"They'll be hungry for the business," he said, "and I'm sailor enough +to see you'll be able to drive a bargain without much trouble." + +"I ought to get them pretty cheap," Mr. Hayes admitted. "As you +perhaps know, a vessel deteriorates faster when laid up than she does +in active service; and an owner will do almost anything to keep her at +sea, provided he can make a modest rate of interest on her cost price +or present market value." + +"Naturally," Matt Peasley observed as they rose from the table. + +He purchased a cigar for Mr. Hayes, and as they retired to the buffet +car to continue their acquaintance something whispered to Matt not to +divulge to this somewhat garrulous stranger the news that he was a sea +captain lately in the employ of the Blue Star Navigation Company and +soon to enter that employ again. He had learned enough to realize +that Cappy's bank roll was threatened by this man from Seattle; that +with his defenses leveled, as it were, the old gentleman would prove +an easy victim unless warned of the impending attack. + +Therefore, since Matt had not sought Mr. Hayes' confidence nor +accepted it under a pledge of secrecy, he decided that there could be +nothing unethical in taking advantage of it. Plainly the broker had +jumped to the conclusion that Matt was a common sailor--above the +average in point of intelligence, but so young and unsophisticated +that one need not bother to be reserved or cautious in his presence. +Some vague understanding of this had come to Matt Peasley; hence +throughout the remainder of the journey his conversations with the +broker bore on every other subject under heaven except ships and +shipowners. + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +FACE TO FACE + + +In his private office Cappy Ricks sat on his spine, with his old legs +on his desk and his head sunk forward on his breast. His eyes were +closed; to the casual observer he would have appeared to be dozing. +Any one of his employees, however, would have known Cappy was merely +thinking. It was his habit to close his eyes and sit very still +whenever he faced a tussle with a tough proposition. + +Presently an unmistakably feminine kiss, surreptitiously delivered, +roused Cappy from his meditations. He opened his eyes and beheld his +daughter Florence, a radiant debutante of twenty, and the sole prop of +her eccentric parent's declining years. + +"Daddy dear," she announced, "there's something wrong with my bank +account. I've just come from the Marine National Bank and they +wouldn't cash my check." + +"Of course not," Cappy replied, beaming affectionately. "They +telephoned about five minutes ago that you're into the red again; so +I've instructed Skinner to deposit five thousand to your credit." + +"Oh, but I want ten thousand!" she protested. + +"Can't have it, Florry!" he declared. "The old limousine will have to +do. Go slow, my dear--go slow! Why, they're offering random cargoes +freely along the street for nine dollars. Logs cost six dollars, with +a dollar and a half to manufacture--that's seven and a half; and three +and a half water freight added--that's eleven dollars. Eleven-dollar +lumber selling for nine dollars, and no business at that! I haven't +had a vessel dividend in six months-- + +Mr. Skinner entered. + +"Mr. Ricks," he announced, "Captain Peasley, late of the Retriever, is +in the outer office. Shall I tell him to wait?" + +"No. Haven't we been itching to see each other the past eighteen +months? Show him in immediately, Skinner." Cappy turned to his +daughter. "I want to show you something my dear," he said; "something +you're not likely to meet very often in your set--and that's a he-man. +Do you remember hearing me tell the story of the mate that thrashed +the big Swede skipper I sent to Cape Town to thrash him and bring the +vessel home?" + +"Do you mean the captain that never writes letters?" + +"That's the man. The fellow I've been having so much fun with--the +Nervy Matt that tried to hornswoggle me with my own photograph. +Passed it off as his own, Florry! He hails from my old home town, and +he's a mere boy--Come in!" + +The door opened to admit Matt Peasley; and as he paused just inside +the entrance, slightly embarrassed at finding himself under the cool +scrutiny of the trimmest, most dashing little craft he had ever seen, +Miss Florry decided that her father was right. Here, indeed, was a +specimen of the genus Homo she had not hitherto seen. Six feet three +he was, straight from shoulder to hip, broad-chested and singularly +well formed and graceful for such a big man. + +He wore stout shoes, without toe caps--rather old-fashioned footgear, +Florry thought; but they were polished brightly. A tailor-made, +double-breasted blue serge suit, close-hauled and demoded; a soft +white silk shirt, with non-detachable collar; a plain black silk +four-in-hand tie, and a uniform cap, set a little back and to one side +on thick, black, glossy, wavy hair, completed his attire. He had his +right hand in his trousers pocket; his left was on the doorknob. He +glanced from her to her father. + +"He's handsome," thought Florry. "What a beautiful tan on his throat! +He looks anything but the brute he is. But he hasn't any manners. +Oh, dear! He stands there like a graven image." + +Matt Peasley's hand came out of his pocket; off came his cap and he +bowed slightly. + +"I am Captain Peasley," he said. + +Cappy Ricks, leaning forward on the edge of his swivel chair, with +head slightly bent, made a long appraisal of the young man over the +rims of his spectacles. + +"Ahem!" he said. "Huh! Harumph!" Ensued another terrible silence. +Then: "Young scoundrel!" Cappy cried. "Infernal young scoundrel!" + +"I accept the nomination," said Matt dryly. "You'd never know me from +my photograph, would you, sir? I'd know you from yours, though--in a +minute!" + +Miss Florry tittered audibly, thus drawing on herself the attention of +the skipper, who was audacious enough to favor her with a solemn wink. + +"None of your jokes with me, sir!" said Cappy severely. + +"That's just what I say, sir; none of your jokes on me! Those green +hides were absolutely indecent." + +"Matt, you're a fresh young fellow," Cappy charged, struggling to +suppress a smile. + +"And I was raised on salt water too," Matt added seriously. + +Cappy laughed. + +"You're a Thomaston Peasley," he declared, and shook hands. "Ever +hear of Ethan Peasley back there?" + +"He was my uncle, sir. He was drowned at sea." + +"He was a boyhood chum of mine, Matt. Permit me to present my +daughter, Miss Florence." + +Miss Florence favored the captain with her most bewitching smile and +nodded perkily. Matt held out his great hand, not realizing that a +bow and a conventional "Delighted, I'm sure!" was the correct thing in +Florry's set. Florry was about to accept his great paw when Cappy +yelled: + +"Don't take it, Florry! He'll squeeze your hand to jelly." + +"I won't," Matt declared, embarrassed. "I might press it a little--" + +"I know. You pressed mine a little, and if I live to be a thousand +years old I'll never shake hands with you again." + +"I'll give her my finger then," Matt declared, and forthwith held out +his index finger, which Florry shook gravely. + +"Well, well, boy; sit down, sit down," Cappy commanded briskly, "while +I tell you the plans I have for your future. I ought to have fired +you long ago--" + +"I shall always be happy to testify that you tried hard enough," Matt +interrupted, and Florry's silvery laugh filled the room. Cappy +winced, but had to join with her in the laugh on himself. + +"For the sake of your Uncle Ethan, and the fact that you're one of our +own boys, Matt," he continued, "I'll retain you if you behave +yourself. As I believe I wired you, I'm going to put you in steam." + +"You didn't consult me about it, sir; but, to please you, I'll tackle +steam. I'm very grateful for your interest in me, Mr. Ricks." + +"Huh! That's not true, Matt. You're not grateful; and if you are you +have no business to be. I paid you a hundred and twenty-five dollars +a month to skipper the Retriever; you earned every cent of it and I +made you fight for the job; so, no thanks to me. And I know for a +fact that you and Mr. Murphy cursed me up hill and down dale--" + +"Oh, Captain Peasley!" Miss Ricks interrupted. "Did you curse my +father?" + +"She's trying to fluster me," Matt thought. "She thinks I'm a +farmer." Aloud he said: "Well, you see, Miss Ricks, I had to work for +him. However, Mr. Murphy and I have forgiven him. We're both willing +to let bygones be bygones." + +"Young scoundrel!" piped Cappy, delighted beyond measure, for he was +used to unimaginative, rather dull skippers, who revered their berths +and stood before him, hat in hand, plainly uncomfortable in the +presence of the creator of the payroll. "Dashed young scoundrel! +Well, we had some fun anyhow, didn't we, Matt? And, as the young +fellows say, I got your Capricorn. Very well, then. We'll make a new +start, Matthew; and if you pay attention to business it's barely +possible you may amount to something yet. + +"I'm going to provide a berth for you, my boy, as second mate on the +dirtiest, leakiest little bumboat you ever saw--our steam schooner +Gualala. She's a nautical disgrace and carries three hundred thousand +feet of lumber--runs into the dogholes on the Mendocino Coast and +takes in cargo on a trolley running from the top of the cliff to the +masthead. It'll be your job to get out in a small boat to pick up the +moorings; and that'll be no picnic in the wintertime, because you lie +just outside the edge of the breakers. But you'll learn how to pick +up moorings, Matt, and you'll learn how to turn a steamer round on her +heels also." + +"I never did that kind of work before," Matt protested. "I stand a +good chance of getting drowned, don't I?" + +"Of course! But better men than you do it; so don't kick. In the +spring I'll shift you to a larger boat; but I want you to have one +winter along the Mendocino Coast. It'll about break your heart, but +it will do you an awful lot of good, Matt. When you finish in the +Gualala, you'll go in the Florence Ricks and run from Grays Harbor to +San Pedro. Then, when you get your first mate's license, I'll put you +in our Tillicum, where you'll learn how to handle a big vessel; and by +the time you get your master's license for steam you'll be ready to +start for Philadelphia to bring out the finest freighter on this +Coast. How does that prospect strike you?" + +Matt's eyes glowed. He forgot the two years' apprenticeship and +thought only of the prize Cappy was dangling before him. + +"If faithful service will be a guaranty of my appreciation--" he +began; but Cappy interrupted. + +"Nonsense! Not another peep out of you. You'd better take a little +rest now for a couple of weeks and get your stomach in order after all +that creosote. Meantime, if you should need any money, Skinner will +fix you up." + +"I'll not need any, thank you. I saved sixteen hundred dollars while +I was in the Retriever--" + +"Fine! Good boy!" exclaimed Cappy, delighted beyond measure at this +proof of Matt's Yankee thrift and sobriety. "But don't save it, Matt. +Invest it. Put it in a mortgage for three years. I know a captain +now that wants to borrow a thousand dollars at eight per cent. to buy +an interest in one of our vessels. You shall loan it to him, Matt, +and he'll secure you with the insurance. Perfectly safe. Guarantee +it myself. Bring your thousand dollars round in the morning, Matt. +Understand? No fooling now! Make your money work for you. You bet! +If I'm not here tomorrow leave the money with Skinner." + +"Mr. Skinner is the general manager, isn't he?" + +"Yes, and a mighty clever one, too. Don't you monkey with Skinner, +young man. He doesn't like you and he doesn't bluff worth a cent; and +if you ever have a run-in with him while I'm away and he fires +you--well, I guess I'd have to stand by Skinner, Matt. I can't afford +to lose him. Cold-blooded dog--no sense of humor; but honest--a pig +for work, and capable." + +"I'll be very careful, sir," Matt assured him. "Thank you for the +vacation, the promised job, and the chance to invest my thousand +dollars at eight per cent. And, now that my affairs are out of the +way, let's talk about yours. I think I can get you a four-year +charter for your steamer Lion--" + +"Matt," said Cappy Ricks impressively, "if you can get that brute of a +boat off my hands for four years, and at a figure that will pay me ten +per cent. on her cost price, I'll tell you what--I'll pay you a +commission." + +"I don't want any commission, sir, for working for the interests of my +employer. What do you reckon it costs a day to operate the Lion?" + +Cappy drew a scratch pad toward him and commenced to figure. + +"She'll burn a hundred and seventy barrels of crude oil a day, at +sixty-five cents a barrel. That's about a hundred and ten dollars. +Her wages will average seventy-five dollars a day; it costs twenty +dollars a day to feed her crew; incidentals, say twenty dollars a day; +insurance, say, four dollars a day; wireless, three and a half +dollars; depreciation, say, two dollars and seventy-five cents a day; +total in round figures two hundred and thirty-five dollars a day. I +ought to get four hundred dollars a day for her; but in a pinch like +the present I'd be glad to get her off my hands at three hundred and +fifty dollars. But, no matter what the price may be, Matt, I'm afraid +we can't charter her." + +"Why?" + +"Because the Black Butte Lumber Company owns her sister, the Unicorn; +she's a burden on their back, as the Lion is on mine, there's war to +the finish between Hudner, the Black Butte manager, and myself, and +he'll get the business. He's a dog, Matt--always cutting prices below +the profit point and raising hob in the market. Infernal marplot! He +stole the best stenographer in the United States from me here about +three years ago." + +"Where is Hudner's office?" Matt queried. + +"In this building--sixth floor." Matt rose and started for the door. +"Where are you going now, Matt?" Cappy piped. + +"Why, you say the Unicorn will compete against the Lion for this +charter I have in mind. That is true enough. I know the Black Butte +Lumber Company will be approached for the Unicorn; so I'm going to get +the Unicorn out of the way and give you a clear field with the Lion. +I figured it all out coming down on the train." And, without waiting +to listen to Cappy's protestations, Matt left the office. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +BUSINESS AND-- + + +Three minutes later he was closeted with Hudner, of the Black Butte +Lumber Company. + +"My name is Peasley, Mr. Hudner," he began truthfully. "I arrived +from Seattle this morning. I am looking for a steam freighter for +some very responsible people and your Unicorn appears to be about the +vessel they're looking for. They would want her to run coastwise, and +prefer to charter at a flat rate a day, owners to pay all expenses of +operating the ship. Would you be willing to charter for sixty days, +with an option on the vessel for an extension of the charter on the +same terms for four years, provided she proves satisfactory for my +clients' purposes?" + +Mr. Hudner started slightly. Four years! It seemed almost too good +to be true. He was certain of this the next instant when he thought +of Cappy Ricks' Lion, also laid up and as hungry for business as the +Unicorn. He wondered whether this young broker from Seattle had +called on Cappy Ricks as yet; and, wondering, he decided to name a +price low enough to prove interesting and, by closing promptly, +eliminate his hated competitor from all consideration. + +"I should be very glad to consider your proposition, Mr. Peasley," he +said. "You say your clients are entirely responsible?" + +"They will post a bond if you're not satisfied on that point, Mr. +Hudner. What will you charter the Unicorn for, a day?" + +Mr. Hudner pretended to do a deal of figuring. At the end of five +minutes he said: "Three hundred and fifty dollars a day, net to the +vessel." + +Matt nodded, rose and reached for his hat. + +"I guess you don't want to charter your vessel, sir," he said. "I'm +not working for my health, either; so I guess I'll look for some other +vessel. I hear the Lion is on the market." And without further ado +he walked out. + +Mr. Hudner let him go; then ran after him and cornered him in the +hall. + +"I'll let you have her at three hundred and thirty," he said +desperately; "and that's bedrock. And if your clients elect to take +her for four years, I'll pay you a thousand dollars commission on the +deal. The vessel simply cannot afford to pay more." + +After his conversation with Cappy Ricks, Matt realized that Hudner +had, indeed, named a very low price on the Unicorn. But Matt was a +Yankee. He knew he had Hudner where the hair was short; so he said: + +"I'll give you three twenty-five and accept a thousand dollars +commission in case my clients take her for four years. That's my +final offer, Mr. Hudner. Take it or leave it." + +"I'll take it," said poor Hudner. "It's better than letting the +vessel fall to pieces in Rotten Row. How soon will you hear +definitely from your principals?" + +"I'll hear to-day; but meantime you might give me a three-day option +on the vessel, in case of unavoidable delays--though I'll do my best +to close the matter up at once." + +Hudner considered. The Unicorn had paid his company but two dividends +since her purchase from Cappy Ricks, while it was common talk on +'Change that the Lion had paid for herself prior to the 1907 panic. +In consideration of the fact, therefore, that the Lion did not owe +Cappy Ricks a cent, Hudner shrewdly judged that Cappy would be less +eager than he for business, and that hence it would be safe to give a +three-day option. He led Matt back to his office, where he dictated +and signed the option. Matt gave him a dollar and the trap was set. + +From Hudner's office Matt returned to that of Cappy Ricks. The heir +to the Ricks millions was still there, as Matt noted with a sudden, +strange thrill of satisfaction. + +"I've waited until your return, Captain Peasley," she said, "to see +whether you could dispose of dad's competitor as handily as you +disposed of your own that time in Cape Town." + +Matt blushed and Cappy chuckled. + +"I've bet Florry five thousand dollars you'll dispose of Hudner and +the Unicorn, Matt," he said. + +"I'm glad of that, sir, because if you hope to win the bet you'll have +to help me. I've gone as far as I can, sir. I've got an option on +the Unicorn for three days on a sixty-day charter, running coastwise +with general cargo, with the privilege of renewing for four years at +the same rate. The rate, by the way, is three hundred and twenty-five +dollars. I want you to charter her from Hudner; and then--" + +"Bless your soul, boy, I don't want her! Haven't I got a boat of my +own I'd almost be willing to charter at the same figure to Hudner?" + +"You don't understand, sir. The Mannheim people, with copper mines in +Alaska, want two boats to freight ore--and their agent came down on +the train with me. Don't you see, sir, that you have to control both +boats to get a price? If you don't that agent will play you against +Hudner and Hudner against you, until he succeeds in tying up both +boats at a low price. He wouldn't tell you he wants two boats, but he +was fool enough to tell me--" + +"God bless my mildewed soul!" said Cappy excitedly, and smashed his +old fist down on his desk. "For the man to do things, give me the lad +who keeps his ears open and his mouth shut! Of course we'll charter +her; and, what's more, we'll give her business ourselves for sixty +days just to keep her off the market!" + +"Then you'd better hurry and close the deal, sir," Matt warned him. +"I only arrived in town this morning; and I checked my baggage at the +depot and came up here immediately. The Seattle broker went up to his +hotel. He said he had to have a bath and a shave and some clean linen +first thing," he added scornfully: "Me, I'd swim Channel Creek at low +tide in a dress suit if I had important business on the other side." + +"Matt," said Cappy gratefully, "you're a boy after my own heart. +Really, I think you ought to get something out of this if we put it +through." + +"Well, as I stated, I wouldn't take anything out of the Lion charter, +because it's my duty to save you when somebody has a gun at your head; +but on the Unicorn charter I thought--well, if you can recharter at a +profit I thought you might agree to split the profit with me. I'm a +skipper, you know, and this sort of thing is out of my regular line; +and besides, I'm not on your pay roll at present. I've promoted the +deal, so to speak. I supply the ship and the brains and the valuable +information, and you supply business for the ship." + +"Yes; and, in spite of the hard times, I'll supply it at a profit if I +have to," Cappy declared happily. "Of course I'll split the profit +with you, Matt. As you say, this Unicorn deal is outside your regular +line. It's a private deal; and as the promoter of it you're entitled +to your legitimate profit." He rang for Mr. Skinner. + +"Skinner, my boy," he said when that functionary entered, "Matt and I +are going to unload that white elephant of a Lion and get her off our +hands for four years at a fancy figure; but to do it we've got to +charter another white elephant--the Black Butte Lumber Company's +Unicorn. Here's an option Captain Peasley has just secured on her. +Have the charter parties made out immediately in conformity with this +option and bring them here for my signature." + +Mr. Skinner read the option and began to protest. + +"Mr. Ricks, I tell you we cannot possibly use the Unicorn for sixty +days, if you are forced to keep her off the market that long. If this +thing develops into a waiting game--" + +"I'll wear the other side out," Cappy finished for him. "Listen to +me, Skinner! How's the shingle market in the Southwest?" + +"The market is steady at three dollars and fifty cents, f.o.b. +Missouri River common points." + +Cappy scratched his ear and cogitated. + +"The Unicorn will carry eighteen million shingles," he murmured. "The +going water freight from Grays Harbor to San Francisco is how much?" + +"Thirty-five cents a thousand," Mr. Skinner replied promptly. + +"Therefore, if we used one of our own vessels to freight eighteen +million shingles it would cost us--" + +"Six thousand three hundred dollars," prompted Mr. Skinner. + +"Fortunately for us, however, we do not use one of our own vessels. +We use that fellow Hudner's and we get her for three hundred and +twenty-five dollars a day. She can sail from here to Grays Harbor, +take on her cargo, get back to San Francisco and discharge it in +twelve days. What's twelve times three hundred and twenty-five?" + +"Thirty-nine hundred dollars," flashed Skinner, to the tremendous +admiration of Matt Peasley, who now considered the manager an +intellectual marvel. + +"Being a saving of how much?" Cappy droned on. + +"Twenty-four hundred dollars," answered the efficient human machine +without seeming to think for an instant. + +"Being a saving of how many cents on a thousand shingles?" + +Mr. Skinner closed one eye, cocked the other at the ceiling an instant +and said: + +"Thirteen and one-third cents a thousand." + +"Very well, then, Skinner. Now listen to my instructions: Wire all +the best shingle mills on Grays Harbor for quotations on Extra Star A +Stars in one to five million lots, delivery fifteen, thirty and +forty-five days from date; and if the price is right buy 'em all. We +have about ten millions on hand at our own mill. To-night send out a +flock of night letters to all the wholesale jobbers and brokers in +Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and all points taking a sixty-cent +tariff, and quote 'em ten cents under the market subject to prior +acceptance." + +He turned to Matt Peasley. + +"That clause--'subject to prior acceptance'--saves our faces in case +we find ourselves unable to deliver the goods," he explained, and +turned again to Skinner. + +"We can freight the shingles from Grays Harbor to San Francisco in the +Unicorn; re-ship on cars from Long Wharf and beat the direct car +shipments from the mills ten cents, and still make our regular profit. +Besides, the cut in price will bring us in a raft of orders we could +not get otherwise. We can thus keep the Unicorn busy for sixty days +without losing a cent on her, and if we haven't come to terms with the +Mannheim people at the end of that time we'll find something else for +her. And, of course, if we succeed meantime in chartering the Lion at +a satisfactory price, we can throw the Unicorn back on Hudner at the +end of the sixty days." And Cappy snickered malevolently as he +pictured his enemy's discomfiture under these circumstances. + +Mr. Skinner nodded his comprehension and hastened away to prepare the +charter parties. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE CLEAN UP + + +Hudner, manager of the Black Butte Lumber Company, arched his eyebrows +as Matt Peasley entered his office half an hour after he had left it +and presented for Hudner's signature a formal charter party, in +duplicate, wherein the Blue Star Navigation Company chartered from J. +B. Hudner, managing owner of record, the American Steamer Unicorn for +sixty days from date, at the rate of three hundred and twenty-five +dollars a day, said managing owner to pay all expenses of operating +said Unicorn. + +"Huh!" Mr. Hudner snorted. "I'd like to know what the devil Cappy +Ricks wants of my Unicorn when he's got her infernal sister squatting +in the mud of Oakland Creek? There's something rotten in Denmark, Mr. +Peasley. There always is when that old scoundrel Ricks does +incomprehensible things." + +"Very likely he's up to some skullduggery, sir," Matt opined. + +"I wish you had informed me of the identity of your client, Mr. +Peasley," Hudner complained. "I don't like to sign this charter." + +"I cannot help that now, sir," Matt retorted. "You have agreed in +writing to charter the vessel to any responsible person I might bring +to you, and I guess the Blue Star Navigation Company comes under that +head." + +Mr. Hudner sighed and gritted his teeth. Instinct told him there was +deviltry afoot, but in an evil moment he had sewed himself up and he +had no alternative now save to complete the contract or stand suit. +So he signed the charter party and retained the original, while Matt +Peasley, with the duplicate in his pocket, hastened back to Cappy +Ricks' office. + +"Matt," said Cappy approvingly, "you're a born business man, and it +will be strange indeed if you don't pick up a nice little piece of +money on this Unicorn deal." He glanced at his watch and then turned +to his daughter. + +"Florry, my dear," he said, "would you like to go up-town with your +daddy and Captain Peasley for luncheon?" + +Matt Peasley grinned like a Jack-o'-lantern, all lit up for +Hallowe'en. + +"Fine!" he said enthusiastically. + +Florence withered him with one impersonal glance, saw that she had +destroyed him utterly, relented, and graciously acquiesced. When they +left the office Matt Peasley was stepping high, like a ten-time +winner, for he had suddenly made the discovery that life ashore was a +wonderful, wonderful thing. There was such a lilt in his young heart +that, for the life of him, he could not forbear doing a little double +shuffle as he waited at the elevator with Cappy and his daughter. He +sang: + + "The first mate's boat was the first away; + But the whale gave a flip of his tail, + And down to the bottom went five brave boys, + Never again to sail-- + Brave boys, + Never again to sail! + + When the captain heard of the loss of his whale, + Right loud-lee then he swore. + When he heard of the loss of his five brave boys, + 'Oh,' he said, 'we can ship some more brave boys-- + 'Oh,' he said, 'we can ship some more.'" + +Cappy winked slyly at his daughter, but she did not see the wink. She +had eyes for nobody but Matt Peasley, for he was a brand-new note in +her life. They were half through luncheon before Florry discovered +the exact nature of this fascinating new note. Matt Peasley was real. +There was not an artificial thought or action in his scheme of things; +he bubbled with homely Yankee wit; he was intensely democratic and +ramping with youth and health and strength and the joy of living; he +could sing funny little songs and tell funny little stories about +funny little adventures that had befallen him. She liked him. + +After luncheon Cappy declared that Matt should return to the office +with him, while Florry instructed the waiter to ring for a taxicab for +her. Later, when Matt gallantly handed her into the taxi, he asked +innocently: + +"Where are you going, Miss Florry?" + +"Home," she said. + +He looked at her so wistfully that she could not mistake the hidden +meaning in his words when he asked, with a deprecatory grin: + +"Where do you live?" + +"With my father," she said, and closed the door. + +When Cappy and Matt returned to the Blue Star offices they were +informed that Mr. Allan Hayes was patiently awaiting the arrival of +the managing owner of the Lion. Matt concluded, therefore, to remain +secluded while Cappy went into his own office and met Mr. Hayes. + +Two hours later Cappy summoned Skinner and Matt to his sanctum. + +"Skinner," he said briskly, "have you bought any shingles?" + +"I have not," said Mr. Skinner. + +"Have you sent out those telegrams to the dealers?" + +"Not yet, Mr. Ricks. I was going to have them filed just before we +close the office." + +"Well," said Cappy smilingly, "don't accept any quotations until +to-morrow and don't send out those telegrams until further advice from +me. I locked horns with that man Hayes, and I think I gored him, +Matt. It appeared he called on me first; and when I quoted him four +hundred dollars a day on the Lion, he favored me with a sweet smile +and said he could get the Unicorn for three-fifty. So, of course, I +had to explain to him that he couldn't, because I wouldn't charter her +at any such ridiculous figure! That took the ginger out of him and we +got down to business, with the result that I've given him a +forty-eight-hour option on both boats at four hundred dollars a day +each, with a commission of two thousand dollars cash in full to him." + +"Why, he told me he would get two and a half per cent. commission!" +Matt declared. "He figured he'd have an income of twenty dollars a +day for the next four years." + +"I daresay he did, Matt," Cappy replied dryly; "but then, in the very +best business circles you never pay a broker two and a half commission +when you know who his principals are! If he insists, you eliminate +him entirely and do business direct. Of course, my boy, if he had put +the proposition up to me, and I had agreed to pay him the regular +commission while ignorant of the identity of his principals, and he +had then reposed confidence in my business honor and told me whom he +represented, he would have been perfectly safe. Remember, Matt, that +the business man without a code of business honor never stays in +business very long. From the office to the penitentiary or the +cemetery is a quick jump for birds of that feather." + +"Then, why did you offer him two thousand dollars?"' + +"Because it never pays to be a hog, my son, and besides I want to +close this deal and close it quickly. Naturally Hayes isn't fool +enough to toss away two thousand dollars, and something seems to tell +me he'll urge his principals to take the boats at our figure, +Matthew!" And the graceless old villain chuckled and dug his youngest +skipper in the short ribs. "Let this be a lesson to you, my boy," he +warned him. "Remember the old Persian proverb: 'A shut mouth catches +no flies.'" + +Cappy's prediction proved to be correct, for the following morning +Hayes telephoned that the Mannheim people desired the steamers at +Cappy's figures, the charter parties, signed by Cappy, were forwarded +to Seattle, and in due course were returned signed by the charterers; +whereupon Cappy exercised his option, procured by Matt from Hudner, to +charter the Unicorn for four years additional. + +"What did Hudner have to say for himself?" Cappy queried when Matt +returned from the latter's office, after finally completing the deal. + +"Not a word! He looked volumes, though, sir." + +"Serves him right. That man, sir, is a thorn in the side of the +market. However, since we're making a daily profit on him we can +afford to speak kindly of the unfortunate fellow, Matt; so sit down +and we'll figure out where we stand on the Unicorn. She costs us +three-twenty-five and we've chartered her at four hundred--a daily +profit of seventy-five dollars, of which you receive thirty-seven +dollars and fifty cents. That makes eleven hundred and twenty-five +dollars monthly income for you, my boy; and, believe me, it isn't to +be sneezed at. Meantime you and I, as partners, owe me a thousand +dollars commission to that Seattle broker; so I'll have Skinner make a +journal entry and charge your account five hundred dollars. There's +no need to pay it now, Matt. Wait until the vessel earns it." + +"The vessel might sink on her first voyage and that would cancel the +charter," Matt replied; "so I guess I'll be a sport and hold up my +end. You paid out the hard cash and took a chance, and so will I." +And, with the words, Matt drew from his pocket the Black Butte Lumber +Company's check for a thousand dollars, indorsed it and passed it over +to Cappy Ricks. "We're equal partners, sir," he said, "and I pried +that thousand out of Hudner on the side as a commission for chartering +the Unicorn to you. Half of it is yours and I owe you the other half; +so there you are." + +Cappy Ricks threw up his hands in token of complete surrender. + +"Scoundrel!" he cried. "Damned young scoundrel! You Yankee thief, +haven't you any conscience?" And he laid his old head on his desk and +laughed his shrill, senile laugh, while tears of joy rolled down his +rosy old cheeks. "Oh-h-h-h, my!" he cackled. "But wait until I get +Hudner among my young friends at the Round Table up at the Commercial +Club to-morrow! To think of a young pup like you coming in and +chasing an old dog like Hudner round the lot and taking his bone away +from him!" + +He turned to the general manager: + +"Oh, Skinner! Skinner, my dear boy, this will be the death of me yet! +Remember that old maid stenographer Hudner stole away from us, +Skinner? Remember? Oh, but isn't he paying for her through the nose? +Isn't he, Skinner? Oh, dear! Oh, dear, what a lot of fun there is in +just living and raising hell with your neighbor--particularly, +Skinner, when he happens to be a competitor." + +When Cappy could control his mirth he handed the money back to Matt. + +"Oh, Matt, my dear young bandit," he informed that amazed young man, +"I'm human. I can't take this money. It's been worth a thousand +dollars to have had this laugh and to know I've got a lad like you +growing up in my employ. You're worth a bonus, Matt; I'll stand all +the commission. Soak Hudner's thousand away in the bank, Matt; or, +better still--Here! Here; let's figure, Matt: You had sixteen +hundred saved up and you've loaned a thousand on that mortgage. Now +you've made a thousand more. Better buy a good thousand-dollar +municipal bond, Matt. That's better than savings-bank interest, and +you can always realize on the bond. I'll buy the bond for you." + +"Thank you, sir," Matt replied. + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +CAPPY PROVES HIMSELF A DESPOT + + +Cappy Ricks lay back in his swivel chair, his feet on his desk and his +eyes closed. He was thinking deeply, for he had something to think +about. Coming in from his club the night before he had observed that +Florry was entertaining company in the billiard room, as the crash of +pool balls testified. He had scarcely reached his room on the second +floor, however, when the pool game came to an end and he heard voices +in the drawing room, followed presently by a few random chords struck +on the piano, and a resonant baritone was raised in the strangest song +ever heard in that drawing room--a deep-sea chantey. + +Cappy was no great shakes on music, but before he had listened to the +first verse of Rolling Home he knew Captain Matt Peasley for the +singer and suspected his daughter of faking the accompaniment. He +listened at the head of the stairs and presently was treated to a +rendition of a lilting little Swedish ballad, followed by one or two +selections from the Grand Banks and the doleful song of the Ferocious +Whale and the Five Brave Boys. Then he heard Florry laugh happily. + +Cappy was thinking of the curious inflection in that laugh now. Once +before he had heard it--when he courted Florry's dead mother; and his +old heart swelled a little with pain at the remembrance. He was +wondering just what to do about that laugh when Matt was announced. + +"Show him in," said Cappy; and Matt Peasley entered. + +"Sit down, Matt," said Cappy kindly. "Yes, I sent for you. The +Gualala will be in to-morrow and you've had a fine two-weeks' +vacation. What's more, I think you've enjoyed it, Matt, and I'm glad +you did; but now it's time to get down to business again. I wanted to +tell you that the skipper of the Gualala will expect you to be aboard +at seven o'clock to-morrow morning." + +Matt studied the pattern of the office rug a minute and then faced +Cappy bravely. + +"I'm obliged to you, Mr. Ricks, more than I can say; but the fact of +the matter is I've changed my mind about going to sea again. It's a +dog's life, sir, and I'm tired of it." + +"Tired at twenty-three?" said Cappy gently. + +Matt flushed a little. + +"Well, it does appear to me kind of foolish for a man with an income +of more than eleven hundred dollars a month to be going to sea as +second mate of a dirty little steam schooner at seventy-five dollars a +month." + +"Well, I can hardly blame you," said Cappy gently. "I suppose I'd +feel the same way about it myself if I stood in your shoes." + +"I'm sure you would," Matt replied. + +Fell a silence, broken presently by Cappy's: + +"Huh! Ahem! Harump!" Then: "When I came in from my club last +night, Matt, I believe Florry had a caller." + +"Yes, sir," said Matt; "I was there." + +"Huh! I got a squint at you. Am I mistaken in assuming that you were +wearing a dress suit?" + +"No, sir." + +"Whadja mean by wasting your savings on a dress suit?" Cappy exploded. +"Whadja mean by courting my Florry, eh? Tell me that! Give you an +inch and you'll take an ell! Infernal young scoundrel!" + +"Well," said Matt humbly, "I intended to speak to you about Miss +Florry. Of course now that I'm going to live ashore--" + +"What can a big lubber like you do ashore?" Cappy shrilled. + +"Why, I might get a job with some shipping firm--" + +"You needn't count on a job ashore with the Blue Star Navigation +Company," Cappy railed. "You needn't think--" + +"Have I your permission to call on Miss Florry again?" Matt asked +humbly. + +"No!" thundered Cappy. "You're as nervy as they make 'em! No, sir! +You'll go to sea in the Gualala to-morrow morning--d'ye hear? That's +what you'll do!" + +But Matt Peasley shook his head. + +"I'm through with the sea," he said firmly. "I have an income of +eleven hundred dollars a month--" + +"0h, is that so?" Cappy sneered. "Well, for the sake of argument, +we'll admit you have the income. We don't know how long you'll have +it; but we'll credit your account on the books while we're able to +collect it from the charterers, and I guess we'll collect it while the +Unicorn is afloat. But having an income and being able to spend it, +my boy, are two different things; so in order to set your mind at +ease, let me tell you something: I'm not going to give you a cent out +of that charter deal--" + +Matt Peasley sprang up, his big body aquiver with rage. + +"You'd double-cross me!" he roared. "Mr. Ricks, if you weren't--" He +paused. + +"Shut up!" snapped Cappy, undaunted. "I know what you're going to +say. If I wasn't an old man I'd let you make a jolly jackanapes of +yourself. Now listen to me! I said I wasn't going to let you have a +cent out of that charter deal--and I mean it. If you couldn't say +Boo! from now until the day you finger a dollar of that income you'd +be as dumb as an oyster by the time I hand you the check. What do you +know about money?" he piped shrilly. "You big, overgrown baby! Yah! +You've had a little taste of business and turned a neat deal, and now +you think you're a wonder, don't you? Like everybody else, you'll +keep on thinking it until some smart fellow takes it all away from you +again; so, in order to cure you, I'm not going to let you have it!" + +"I'll sue you--" + +"You can sue your head off, young man, and see how much good it will +do you. You surrendered to me your option that Hudner gave you on the +Unicorn, and you failed to procure from me in writing an understanding +of the agreement between us regarding this split. You haven't a leg +to stand on!" + +Matt Peasley hung his head. + +"I didn't think I had to take business precautions with you, sir," he +said. + +"You should take business precautions with anybody and everybody." + +"I thought I was dealing with a man of honor. Everybody has always +told me that Cappy Ricks'--" + +"How dare you call me Cappy?" + +"--word was as good as his bond." + +"And so it is, my boy. You'll get your money, but you'll wait for it; +and meantime I'll invest it for you. As I said before, you've had a +taste of business and found it pretty sweet--so sweet, in fact, that +you think you're a business man. Well, hereafter you'll remember, +when you're making a contract with anybody, to get it down in black +and white; and then you'll have something to fight about if you're not +satisfied. Now, by the time you're skipper of steam you'll be worth a +nice little pile of money; you can buy a piece of the big freighter +I'm going to build for you and it'll pay you thirty per cent. +Remember, Matt, I always make my skippers own a piece of the vessel +they command. That gives 'em an interest in their job and they don't +waste their owner's money." + +"I won't be dictated to!" Matt cried desperately. "I'm free, white +and--" + +"Twenty-three!" jeered Cappy. "You big, awkward pup! How dare you +growl at me! I know what's good for you. You go to sea on the +Gualala." + +"I must decline--" + +"Oh, all right! Have it your own way," said Cappy. "But, at the rate +you've been blowing your money in on Florry for the past two weeks, +I'll bet your wad has dwindled since you struck town. I've put that +thousand dollars out on mortgage for you, and Skinner has the mortgage +in the company safe, where you can't get at it to hock it when your +last dollar is gone. And he has the bond there too; so it does appear +to me, Matt, that if you want any money to spend you'll have to get a +job and earn it. I have the bulge on you, young fellow, and don't you +forget it!" + +Matt Peasley rose, walked to the window and stood looking down into +California Street. He was so mad there were tears in his eyes, and he +longed to say things to Cappy Ricks--only, for the sake of Miss +Florence Ricks, he could not abuse her sire. Once he half turned, +only to meet Cappy's glittering eyes fixed on him with a steadiness of +purpose that argued only too well the fact that the old man could not +be bluffed, cajoled, bribed or impressed. + +Presently Matt Peasley turned from the window. + +"Where does the Gualala lie, sir?" he asked gruffly. + +"Howard Street Wharf, Number One, Matt," Cappy replied cheerfully. "I +think she had bedbugs in her cabin, but I'm not sure. I wouldn't go +within a block of her myself." + +Matt gazed sorrowfully at the rug. Too well he realized that Cappy +had the whip hand and was fully capable of cracking the whip; so +presently he said: + +"Well, I've met bedbugs before, Mr. Ricks. I'll go aboard in the +morning." + +"I'm glad to hear it, Matt. And another thing: I like you, Matt, but +not well enough for a son-in-law. Remember, my boy, you're only a +sailor on a steam schooner now--so it won't be necessary for you to +look aloft. You understand, do you not? You want to remember your +position, my boy." + +Matt turned and bent upon Cappy a slow, smoldering gaze. Cappy almost +quivered. Then slowly the rage died out in Matt Peasley's fine eyes +and a lilting, boyish grin spread over his face, for he was one of +those rare human beings who can smile, no matter what the prospect, +once he has definitely committed himself to a definite course of +action. Only the years of discipline and his innate respect for gray +hairs kept him from bluntly informing Cappy Ricks that he might +forthwith proceed to chase himself! Instead he said quietly: + +"Very well, sir. Good afternoon." + +"Good afternoon, sir," snapped Cappy. + +At the door Matt paused an instant, for he was young and he could not +retire without firing a shot. He fired it now with his eyes--a glance +of cool disdain and defiance that would have been worth a dollar of +anybody's money to see. Cappy had to do something to keep from +laughing. + +"Out, you rebel!" he yelled. The door closed with a crash, and Cappy +Ricks took down the telephone receiver and called up his daughter. + +"Florry," he said gently, "I want to tell you something." + +"Fire away, Pop!" she challenged. + +"It's about that fellow Peasley," Cappy replied coldly. "I wish you +wouldn't have that big, awkward dub calling at the house, Florry. +He'll fall over the furniture the first thing you know, and do some +damage. I think a lot of him as a sailor, but that's about as far as +my affection extends; and if you insist on having him call at the +house, my dear, my authority over him as an employee will suffer and +I'll be forced to fire the fellow. Of course I realize what a +pleasant boy he is; but then you don't know sailors like I do. +They're a low lot at heart, Florry, and this fellow Peasley is no +exception to the general rule." + +Cappy paused to test the effect of this broadside. There was a little +gasp from the other end of the wire; then a click as his daughter hung +up, too outraged to reply. + +Cappy's kindly eyes twinkled merrily as he replaced the receiver on +the hook. + +"What a skookum son-in-law to take up the business when I let go!" he +murmured happily. "Oh, Matt, I'm so blamed sorry for you; but it's +just got to be done. If you're going to build up the Blue Star +Navigation Company after the Panama Canal is opened for business, +you've got to know shipping; and to know it from center to +circumference. It isn't sufficient that you be master of sail and +steam, any ocean, any tonnage. You've got to learn the business from +the rules as promulgated by little old Alden P. Ricks, the slave +driver. There's hope for you, sonny. You have already learned to +obey." + +Mr. Skinner bustled in with the mail. + +"Skinner," said Cappy plaintively, "what's the best way to drive +obstinate people south?" + +"Head them north," said Mr. Skinner. + +"I'm doing it," said Cappy dreamily. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +MATT PEASLEY IN EXILE + + +From Cappy Ricks' office Matt Peasley went to the rooms of the +American Shipmaster's Association, entered the telephone booth and +called up Florence Ricks. From the instant he first laid eyes on her, +Miss Florry had occupied practically all of Matt's thoughts during +every waking hour. He had assayed her and appraised her a hundred +times and from every possible angle, and each time he decided that +Florry was possessed of more than sufficient charm, good looks, +sweetness and intelligence to suit the most exacting. Matt wasn't +ultra-exacting and she suited him, and the fact that she was the sole +heir to millions was the least of the sailor's considerations as he +dropped his nickel down the slot. Neither did the identity of the +young lady's paternal ancestor constitute a problem, despite the +recent interview with that variable individual. Matt regarded Cappy +somewhat in the light of a mixed blessing; while he respected him he +was a little bit afraid of him, and just at present he disliked him +exceedingly. And lastly, his own social and economic status as second +mate of the most wretched little steam schooner in the Blue Star +Navigation Company's fleet, failed to enter even remotely into Matt's +scheme of things. + +The reason for this mental stand on his part was a perfectly simple +and natural one. To begin, he was a stranger to caste other than that +of decent manhood. The only rank he had ever known was that of a +ship's officer, and that was merely a condition of servitude. When +ashore he regarded himself as the equal of any monarch under heaven +and treated all men accordingly. Since he had never known any of the +restrictions of polite conventions behind which society entrenches +itself in the world occupied by such pampered pets of fortune as Miss +Florence Ricks, Matt Peasley failed to see a single sound reason why +he should not indulge a very natural desire for Cappy's ewe lamb--for +a singularly direct and forceful individual was Matthew. It was his +creed to take what he could get away with, provided that in the taking +he broke no moral, legal or ethical code; and if any thought of the +apparent incongruity of a sailor's aspiring to the hand of a +millionaire shipowner's daughter had occurred to him--which, by the +way, it had not--he would doubtless have analyzed it thusly: + +"There she is. Isn't she a queen? I want her and there isn't a +single reason on earth why I shouldn't have her, unless it be that she +doesn't want me. However, I'll learn all about that when I get good +and ready, and if I'm acceptable Cappy Ricks and one of his employees +are going to have a warm debate--subject, matrimony. What do I care +for him? He's only her father, and I'll bet he wasn't half so well +fixed as I am when he got married. I'll just play the game like a +white man, and if Cappy doesn't like it he'll have to get over it." + +"Miss Florence," Matt began, "this is Matt." + +"Matt who?" she queried with provoking assumption of innocence. + +"Door Mat," he replied. "Your daddy has just walked all over me at +any rate." + +"Oh, good morning, captain. Why, what has happened? Your voice +sounds like the growl of a big bear." + +"I suppose so. I'm hopping mad. The very first day I was ashore I +turned a nice little trick for your father. I wasn't on the pay roll +at the time, so we went into the deal together and chartered the Lion +and the Unicorn to freight ore for the Mannheim people from Alaska to +Seattle. I furnished the valuable information and the bright idea, +and he capitalized both. The result of the deal was that he has his +own steamer, the Lion, off his hands for four years, chartered at a +fancy figure. Also he chartered the Unicorn from her owner at a cheap +rate and rechartered at an advance of seventy-five dollars a day, and +we split that profit between us. That gives me an income of +thirty-seven and a half a day for the next four years, provided the +Unicorn doesn't get wrecked. Naturally I wanted to stay ashore, when +there's money to be made as easy as that--and he won't let me." + +"Oh, I'm so sorry, captain." + +"Well, that helps." + +"You do not have to go to sea, do you?" Miss Ricks queried hopefully. + +"Yes, Miss Florry, I do; that's what hurts. Your father induced me to +invest all of my savings in a mortgage and a bond, and he has both +locked up in the Blue Star safe with that ogre Skinner in charge, so I +can't get them to realize on. Of course I could go to law and make +him give them to me, but he knows I'll not do that, so he just sits +there and defies me. And I neglected to take the proper business +precautions about my daily income from the charter of the Unicorn, and +because I cannot prove I have a divvy coming on that he says he won't +give me a cent of it. He says he'll credit my account on the +company's books, and when the Unicorn completes her charter he'll give +it to me in a lump. In the meantime he's going to invest it for me, +and without consulting me." + +"Oh, dear," said Miss Ricks sympathetically. "I'm so sorry dad's such +a busybody." + +"You're not half so sorry as I am. I'm flat broke, and in order to +eat I have to go to work, and in order to go to work I have to get a +job, and in order to get the job I have to take what your father +offers me--in fact, insists upon my taking. You see, Miss Florry, I'm +almost a stranger in Pacific shipping. I don't know any owners except +your father and I've never had any coastwise experience. It might be +years before I could get another job as master of a sailing ship, and +most steamship captains prefer to let some other captains break in +their mates for them. So you see I'm helpless." + +A silence. Then: "I'm going to sea in the Gualala to-morrow morning, +Florry." + +It was the first time he had dropped the "Miss," but he dropped it +purposely now. Miss Ricks noticed the omission, which probably imbued +her with the courage to voice again her excess of sympathy. Said she: +"Oh, I'm so sorry, Matt!" + +He thrilled at that. "Well," he answered humorously, "for the first +time I'm glad I'm not a captain any more!" + +Followed another brief silence, while Florry groped for the hidden +meaning behind that subtle retort; then he continued: "Your father +thinks I was a little presumptuous in calling at the house. He spoke +to me about it, Florry, so I'm not going to call any more until he +invites me. It's his house, you know. But he didn't say anything +about not telephoning to you or seeing you outside his confounded +house, so I suppose there's no necessity for me feeling badly about +it, is there?" + +This was a pretty direct feeler, but Florry parried it with feminine +skill. + +"Of course you can telephone me whenever you get to port. You mustn't +take dad too seriously, Matt. Really he's very fond of you." + +"Professionally, yes. Socially, no. I think he wants to give me a +good chance to do something for myself in a business way later on, but +he made it pretty plain that he is the only member of the Ricks family +I'm to take seriously. Of course I expect to have something to say +about that myself, Florry, but I didn't tell him so. He's your +father, you know, and besides, a man can't make a very good showing on +seventy-five dollars a month. But if the Unicorn lives to complete +her charter I'll be up on Easy Street, even if I'll only be a plain +sea captain when I come into that money. Of course now I'm only a +second mate on the worst little steam schooner your father owns and I +cannot say the things I want to say--I don't mean to your father, +Florry, but to you--" + +"But you're a captain now," Florry interrupted, in delicious terror +hastening to obstruct any further discussion of what a seventy-five +dollar man might have to say were he but in position to say it. "Why +should you go to work as a second mate--" + +"I've been a captain of sail, Florry. Of course, if I had never been +master of a vessel of more than five hundred tons net register, or my +sailing license had been limited to vessels of that tonnage, I should +have to work up from second mate to master in steam. But any man who +has been master of a vessel of more than five hundred tons net +register for more than one year is entitled to apply for a license as +master of steam vessels, and if he can pass the examination he can get +his license." + +"Then why don't you do that, Matt?" Florry inquired. + +"I have. The idea of two years' probation as second and first mate +didn't appeal to me, so while I was waiting round to join the Gualala +I went up for my ticket as master of steam. I passed, but when I told +your father I had a license to command the largest steam freighter he +owns, he only laughed at me and told me the inspectors weren't running +his business for him. Just because I'm not twenty-three years old he +says I ought to have two years' experience in steam as mate before he +gives me command of a vessel. He says I'd better learn the Pacific +Coast like he knows his front lawn, or some foggy night I'll walk my +vessel overland and the inspectors will set me down for a couple of +years." + +"Well, that sounds reasonable, Matt." + +"Yes, I'll admit there's some justice in his contention, so I'm going +to do it to please him, although I hate to have him think I'm a +dog-barking navigator." + +"Why, what's that?" Florry demanded. + +"A dog-barking navigator is a coastwise blockhead that gets lost if he +loses sight of land. He steers a course from headland to headland, +and every little while on dark nights he stands in close and listens. +Pretty soon he hears a dog barking alongshore. 'All right,' he says +to the mate; 'we're off Point Montara. I know that Newfoundland dog's +barking. He's the only one on the coast. Haul her off and hold her +before the wind for four hours and then stand in again. When you pick +up the bark of a foxhound you'll be off Pigeon Point.'" + +Florry's laughter drowned a further description of the dog-barking +navigator's wonderful knowledge of Pacific Coast canines, and after +some small talk Matt said good-bye and hung up. When he left the +telephone booth, however, he was a happier young man than when he had +entered it, for he had now satisfied himself that while Cappy Ricks +might arrogate to himself the right of proposing, his daughter could +be depended upon to attend to the disposing. He went to his boarding +house, paid his landlady, packed his clothes and sent them down to the +Gualala, rubbing her blistered sides against Howard Street Pier No. 1. +At seven o'clock next morning he was aboard her and at seven-five he +superintended the casting off of the stern lines and his +apprenticeship in steam had commenced. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +PROMOTION + + +Cappy Ricks was in a fine rage. A situation, unique in his forty +years of experience as a lumber and shipping magnate, was confronting +him, with the prospects exceedingly bright for Cappy playing a role +analogous to that of the simpleton who holds the sack on a +snipe-hunting expedition. He summoned Mr. Skinner into his private +office, and glared at the latter over the rims of his spectacles. +"Skinner," he said solemnly, "there's the very devil to pay." + +Mr. Skinner arched his eyebrows and inclined a respectful ear. Cappy +continued: + +"It's about the Hermosa. Skinner, that dog-barking navigator you put +in that schooner while I was on my vacation has balled us up for fair. +I'll be the laughing-stock of the street." + +Parenthetically it may be stated that the Blue Star Navigation +Company's schooner, Hermosa, had cleared from Astoria for Valparaiso +with a cargo of railroad ties, and, for some reason which the captain +could not explain but which Cappy Ricks could, the unfortunate man had +become lost at sea, finally ending his voyage on a reef on one of the +Samoan Islands. The Hermosa had been listed as missing and her owners +had been on the point of receiving a check for the insurance on the +vessel and her cargo when an Australian steamer brought news of her +predicament in Samoa. Her captain sent word that she was resting +easily and that he would get her off. Subsequently, Cappy learned +that his dog-barking skipper had discharged his cargo of railroad ties +on barges, in order to lighten the vessel and float her off with the +aid of a launch. Unfortunately, however, he discovered a huge hole in +her garboard, and before he could patch it an extra high tide lifted +the vessel over the reef and sunk her forty fathoms deep in a place +where nobody could ever get at her again. + +"Yes, sir," Cappy complained. "I'll be the laughing-stock of the +street. Here's a letter from the insurance people, inclosing a check +for a total loss on the vessel, but they repudiate payment of the +insurance on the cargo." + +"Why?" demanded the amazed Skinner. "They insured those ties for +delivery at Callao. They can't get out of it." + +"I'll bet they can," Cappy shrilled. "I've just called up the Board +of Underwriters and they say the cargo hasn't been lost. They say +nothing is lost if you know where it is, and the ties are on the beach +in Samoa awaiting our pleasure. Skinner, call up our attorneys at +once and tell them to enter suit." + +"I was just about to call them up on another matter," Mr. Skinner +replied. "As secretary of the Blue Star Navigation Company I have +just been served with a summons in another suit, entered against the +Quickstep." + +"What in the fiend's name is the matter with that infernal Quickstep? +This is the third suit we've had in two years. Skinner, what is wrong +with that steam schooner?" + +"She must be hoodooed, Mr. Ricks." + +"Another seaman injured by being hit with a cargo block or having a +piece of eight-by-eight drop on his foot, I suppose." + +"Not this time, Mr. Ricks. One Halvor Jacobsen has sued the Quickstep +and owners for five thousand dollars for injuries alleged to have been +inflicted upon him by the captain." + +"So that Captain Kjellin has been fighting again, eh? Skinner, that +man is too handy with his fists, I tell you. He's another one of your +favorites, by the way. I only put that fellow in the Quickstep to +please you." + +"We haven't a better man in our employ," Mr. Skinner asserted stoutly. +"He carries larger cargoes and makes faster time than any +steam-schooner captain in our vessels of similar carrying capacity. +He's a dividend producer, Mr. Ricks, and he is very efficient." + +"Don't talk to me of efficiency," Cappy snarled. "What's the sense +rushing the vessel round Robin Hood's barn to make dividends, if we +lose them in lawsuits?" + +"His vessel didn't lay up during the strike of the Waterfront +Federation in 1903," Skinner challenged. "You bet she didn't! +Kjellin rustled up a scab crew and kept the mob off the vessel at the +point of a gun. I understand he's a bit short-tempered, but while +there are ships with red-blooded men in them, Mr. Ricks, we must +expect the men to pull off a couple of rounds with skin gloves every +so often." + +Cappy looked over the rims of his spectacles at Mr. Skinner. +"Skinner," he said impressively, "listen to me: This is the last suit +that's going to be entered against the Quickstep. Was that man Halvor +Jacobsen who is suing us second mate on the Quickstep?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"I knew it," Cappy shrilled triumphantly. "Skinner, with all your +efficiency ideas, you fail to see anything remarkable in that fact. +Now don't tell me you do, because I know you do not. This is the +third suit since Kjellin took charge, and that's proof enough for me +that there's something wrong with that big Finn. Those other two +suits were for injuries received by men loading cargo in the after +hold. The after hold is presided over by the second mate." Cappy +waved his hands. "Huh!" he said. "Simple!" + +"I believe I comprehend," Mr. Skinner admitted. "But what are you +going to do about it? We can scarcely discharge Kjellin without a +hearing and without proof that he is to blame." + +"What am I going to do about it?" Cappy echoed. "Why, I'm going to +send a judge and a jury aboard the Quickstep, try this Finn, Kjellin, +and if he's guilty of dereliction of duty I'll bet you a plug hat to +one small five-cent bag of smoking tobacco I'll know all about it +inside of a week." + +"Do you mean to put a secret-service operative aboard disguised as a +deckhand?" + +"Huh! Skinner, you distress me. I'm going to put Matt Peasley aboard +the Quickstep as second mate, and let Nature take its course." + +"I wouldn't do that if I were you, sir," Mr. Skinner advised. "That +rowdy Peasley and a man like Kjellin will not get along together for +one voyage; then Kjellin will fire him, and first thing you know +you'll be groping around in the dark again." + +"Oh, I know this Finn is a pet of yours," Cappy retorted acidly, "but +Matt Peasley is a pet of mine. If we put them together in the same +ship maybe we'll have one of those skin-glove contests you referred to +a minute ago, but between their mutual recriminations you can bet your +hopes of Heaven I'll catch a glimpse of the truth and act accordingly. +Matt will not tell a lie, Skinner. Remember that." + +"Neither will Kjellin," Skinner declared with equal warmth. + +"Well, I don't know whether he will or not. However, that's beside +the question. Where is the Florence Ricks?" + +"Sailed from San Pedro at noon yesterday." + +"Where is the Quickstep?" + +"Sailed from Eureka to load shingles last night." + +"Good. Wireless the master of the Florence to provide himself with a +new second mate. That will give him time to wireless ahead and have +one waiting for him when the vessel touches in to discharge passengers +from the south. Tell him to inform Peasley he isn't fired, but just +transferred. Attend to it, Skinner." + +While Mr. Skinner departed to carry out Cappy's order, the old +gentleman called up Harbor 15, Masters' and Pilots' Association, and +asked for the secretary. + +"Ricks of the Blue Star speaking," he announced crisply. "Been +furnishing many second mates to the Quickstep lately?" + +"Why, yes, Mr. Ricks. Kjellin wires for a new second mate quite +frequently. They don't seem to stay with him more than a voyage or +two. He's quite a driver, you know, Mr. Ricks." + +"I know," Cappy replied grimly. "The next time he wires in to have a +second mate join the ship when he touches in here, you might be good +enough to call me up. I have a skookum young second mate in the +Florence Ricks that I'm training for a captain, and I want to switch +him in on the Humboldt Bay run for the sake of the experience. And, +of course, you know how it is with masters--they like to think they're +selecting their own mates, and always resent any interference from +their owners. And if you do ask them to take a certain mate they're +apt to suspect he's a spy from the office, and--well, you understand. +I'd prefer to have this lad I have in mind go aboard as if you had +sent him." + +"I understand, Mr. Ricks. I'll let you know the first time Kjellin +wires in." + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +CAPPY HAS A HEART + + +"Well, Matt," said Cappy Ricks, cheerfully, as he shook hands with the +late second mate of the Florence Ricks. "We don't see much of each +other now that you're a mate. But don't worry, you'll be a master +again, and then you'll be dropping in here a couple of times a month +pestering me for a lot of things for your ship that you could probably +get along without. You're looking fit, my boy." + +"I'm feeling fit, sir," Matt replied, grinning. + +"I'm glad to hear it," was Cappy's grim reply. "Hum! Harump-h-h-h! +Let me see now. You've had your course in the Mendocino dog-holes, +and that's over. I hope you learned something. You've run for seven +months from all the Washington and Oregon ports to Southern +California, and--er--that's very nice. But you haven't been over +Humboldt Bar yet, have you?" + +"No, sir." + +"Then you have something coming. Quite a bar in the winter time, +Matt, quite a bar! Good many tickets been lost on that bar, Matt, so +you ought to have more than a nodding acquaintance with it. You're +going second mate in the Quickstep. She's carrying redwood shingles +from Eureka to the Shingle Association's air-drying yards up river at +Los Medanos at present, and she'll get to Los Medanos Sunday +afternoon, so you'd better get there about the same time, in order to +turn to discharging bright and early Monday morning. And you'll have +to step lively, Matt. The Quickstep lives up to her name, and the way +they put shingles into that vessel is a scandal." + +"Shingles are nice stuff to handle," Matt ventured. + +"Not redwood shingles, Matt. All right after they're dry, but when +they come fresh from the saws they bleed a little, so be sure and wear +gloves when you handle them. If you have a cut on your hand that +redwood sap may poison you. I think you'll like the Quickstep, Matt." + +"It doesn't matter whether I do or not," Matt replied humorously. +"You always do things for me without consulting me anyhow." + +"Why, you don't mind, do you, my boy? It's all for your own good." + +"I can bear it, sir, because one of these bright days I'm going to do +something without consulting you." + +Cappy favored him with a sharp glance. "As the street boys say," he +flashed back, "'I get you, Steve!'" + +"And having gotten me, Mr. Ricks, do you still want me in your +employ?" + +"Oh, certainly, certainly. Any time I want to get rid of you I'll +fire you or have Skinner do it for me." + +Matt looked at his watch and rose. "I have four days' shore leave +before me, sir," he said, "so I guess I'll be trotting along and make +the most of it. I'll be at Los Medanos Sunday night." + +"Her skipper's a big Finn," Cappy warned him. "Behave yourself, Matt. +He's bad medicine for young second mates." + +"I'll do my duty, sir." + +He took his leave. As he went out the door Cappy gazed after him with +twinkling eyes: "Young scoundrel!" he murmured. "Damned young +scoundrel! You'll be ringing Florry up the minute you leave this +office, if you haven't already done it. I'm onto you, young fellow!" + +Matt Peasley took Florry Ricks to a matinee that very day. Cappy, +suspecting he might attempt something of the sort and desiring to +verify his suspicions, went home from the office early that day, and +from his hiding place behind the window drapes in his drawing room he +observed a taxicab draw up in front of his residence at six o'clock. +From this vehicle Matt Peasley, astonishingly well tailored, alighted, +handed out the heir to the Ricks millions, said good-by lingeringly +and drove away. + +"Well," Cappy soliloquized, "I guess I'm going to land the son-in-law +I'm after. The matinee is over at a quarter of five, and those two +have fooled away an hour. I'll bet a dollar Florry steered that +sailor into a tea fight somewhere, and if she did that, Matt, you're a +tip-top risk and I'll underwrite you." + +That same evening Cappy sneaked into his daughter's apartments and +found a photograph of Matt Peasley in a hammered silver frame on +Florry's dressing table. + +"Holy sailor!" he chuckled. "They think they're putting one over on +the old gentleman, don't they? Trying to cover me with blood, eh? +Huh! If I'd let that fellow Matt stay ashore he'd have hung round +Florry until he wore out his welcome, and I suppose in the long run +I'd have had to put up with one of these lawn-tennis, tea-swilling +young fellows too proud to work. By Judas Priest, when I quit the +street I want to give my proxy to a lad that will make my competitors +mind their step, and by keeping Matt at sea a couple of years, I'll +get him over the moon-calf period. Deliver my girl and my business +from the hands of a damned fool!" + +The following evening Cappy questioned his daughter's chauffeur--a +chauffeur, by the way, being a luxury which Cappy scorned for himself. +He maintained a coachman and a carriage and a spanking team of bays, +and drove to his office like the old-fashioned gentleman he was. From +this chauffeur Cappy learned that he, the chauffeur, had been out all +the afternoon with Miss Florence and a large, light-hearted young +gentleman. They had lunched together at the Cliff House. + +"What did she call him?" Cappy demanded, anxious to verify his +suspicions. "Didn't she address him as 'Matt?'" + +"No, sir," the man replied, grinning. "She called him 'dearie.'" + +"Holy jumped-up Jehosophat!" murmured Cappy, and questioned the man no +further. That evening, however, he decided to have a +heart--particularly after Florry had informed him that she was going +out to dinner the following night. + +"And you'll be all alone, popsy-wops," she added, "so you had better +eat dinner at the club." + +"Oh, I'm tired of my clubs," Cappy replied sadly. "Still your remark +gives me an idea, Florry. If I happen to run across that young fellow +Peasley--you remember him, Florry; the boy I'm training for a +steamship captain--I'll have him out for dinner with me so I'll not +have to eat alone." + +"I thought you didn't care for him socially," Florry put forth a +feeler. + +"Well, he used to remind me considerably of a St. Bernard pup, but I +notice he's losing a lot of that fresh, puppy-dog way he used to have. +And then he's a Down-East boy. His Uncle Ethan Peasley and I were +pals together fifty years ago, and for Ethan's sake I feel that I +ought to show the boy some consideration. He's learning to hold +himself together pretty well, and if I should run into him to-morrow +I'll ask him out." + +Florry exhibited not the slightest interest in her father's plans, but +he noticed that immediately after dinner she hurried up to her room, +and that upon her return she declined a game of pool with her father +on the score of not feeling very well. + +"You skipped upstairs like a sick woman," Cappy reflected. "I'll bet +a hat you telephoned that son of a sea cook to be sure and throw +himself in my way to-morrow, so I'll invite him out to dinner. And +you're complaining of a headache now so you'll have a good excuse to +cancel that dinner engagement to-morrow night so as to eat at home +with your daddy and his guest. Poor old father! He's such a dub! +I'll bet myself a four-bit cigar I eat breakfast alone to-morrow +morning." + +And it was even so. Florry sent down word that she was too indisposed +to breakfast with her father, and the old man drove chuckling to his +office. That afternoon Matt Peasley, in an endeavor to invade the +floor of the Merchants' Exchange, to which he had no right, was +apprehended by the doorkeeper and asked to show his credentials. + +"Oh, I'm Captain Peasley, of the Blue Star Navigation Company," he +replied lightly, and was granted admittance as the courtesy accorded +all sea captains. He knew Cappy Ricks always spent an hour on 'Change +after luncheon at the Commercial Club. When Cappy met him, however, +the old man was mean enough to pay not the slightest attention to +Matt; so after waiting round for three-quarters of an hour longer, the +latter left the Exchange and walked down California Street, where he +posted himself in the shelter of a corner half a block south of No. +258, where the Blue Star Navigation Company had its offices. From +this vantage point presently he spied Cappy trotting home from the +Merchants' Exchange; whereupon Matt strolled leisurely up the street +and met him. And in order that Cappy should realize whom he was +meeting Matt bumped into the schemer and then begged his pardon +profusely. + +"Don't mention it, Matt," the old rascal protested. "You shook up a +flock of ideas in my head and jarred one loose. If you haven't +anything on to-night, my boy, better come out to the house and have +dinner with me. I'm all alone and I want company." + +"Thank you, sir," Matt replied enthusiastically; "I'll be glad to +come." + +"You bet you will," Cappy thought. Aloud he said: "At six-thirty." + +"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." And Matt Peasley was off like a +tin-canned dog to slick himself up for the party, while Cappy entered +the elevator chuckling. "If I ever find the sour-souled philosopher +who said you can't mix business and sentiment without resultant +chaos," he soliloquized, "I'll boil the kill-joy in oil." + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +NATURE TAKES HER COURSE + + +The big steam schooner Quickstep was lying at the Los Medanos dock +when Matt Peasley reported for duty. The captain was not aboard, but +the first mate received him kindly and explained that Captain Kjellin +had gone down to San Francisco by train for a little social relaxation +and to bring back funds to pay off the longshoremen. + +Early on Monday morning the crew and a large force of stevedores +commenced to discharge the vessel. Two winches were kept busy, the +first mate being in charge of the work up forward and Matt +superintending that aft. The shingles were loaded in huge rope cargo +nets, snatched out of the ship and swung overside onto flat cars, +which were shunted off into the drying yard as soon as loaded. + +The captain returned at noon on Tuesday, and at two o'clock the last +bundle of shingles was out of the Quickstep, for the mate had worked +overtime Monday night in order that they might finish discharging +early enough on Tuesday afternoon to drop down to Oleum and take on +fuel oil for the next voyage. This schedule would bring them to the +dock at San Francisco about six o'clock, where they would take on +stores and passengers and sail at seven for Eureka, on Humboldt Bay, +where they would arrive Wednesday night. On Thursday they would +commence taking on cargo, but since they had to take shingles from +several mills round the bay, they were bound to be delayed waiting for +tides to get in and out, and in all probability they would not be +loaded and at sea until Saturday night, which would give them Sunday +at sea--and in the lumber trade on the Pacific Coast the only +profitable way to spend Sunday is to spend it at sea. To spend it in +port is a day lost, with the crew loafing and drawing full pay for it. +The mate explained to Matt that Captain Kjellin would drive them hard +to maintain this schedule, for he prized his job as master of the +Quickstep, and had a reputation for speed and efficiency with his +owners which he was anxious to maintain. + +Despite their best efforts, however, the vessel was doomed to fall +behind her schedule. At Oleum they found the oil dock lined with +vessels taking on fuel, and in consequence were forced to wait two +hours for a berth; seeing which the captain went ashore and telephoned +his owners that he would be unable to get to the dock in San Francisco +until about eight o'clock. Consequently, Mr. Skinner, realizing that +the passengers their agent had booked for the Quickstep, by reason of +the cut-rates prevailing on lumber steamers, would not wait on the +dock until the Quickstep should arrive, instructed the captain to lay +over in San Francisco all night and put to sea at nine o'clock +Wednesday morning. In the meantime he said he would send a clerk down +to the dock to notify the waiting passengers of the unavoidable change +in schedule. + +Promptly at eight o'clock Wednesday morning the Quickstep got away +from the dock. The minute she was fairly out the Golden Gate, +however, she poked her nose into a stiff nor'west gale; and as she was +bound north and was empty, this gale, catching her on the port +counter, caused her to roll and pitch excessively, and cut her +customary speed of ten miles an hour down to five. Every passenger +aboard was soon desperately seasick, and off Point Reyes so violently +did the Quickstep pitch that even some members of the crew became +nauseated, among them Matt Peasley. He had never been seasick before +and he was ashamed of himself now, notwithstanding the fact that he +knew even the hardiest old seadogs are not proof against mal-de-mer +under certain extraordinary conditions. Captain Kjellin, coming up on +the bridge during Matt's watch, found the latter doing the most +unseamanlike thing imaginable. Caught in a paroxysm at the weather +end of the bridge, Matt, in his agony, was patronizing the weather +rail! The captain heard him squawk, and ducked to avoid what instinct +told him the gale would bring him his way. + +"Vat you ban tankin' of?" he roared furiously. "You damned landsman! +Don't you know enough to discharge dot cargo over der lee rail?" + +Having disposed of a hearty breakfast, Matt raised his green face and +stared sheepishly at the Finn. "You didn't get sprayed, did you, +sir?" he queried breathlessly. + +"No, but who der devil ever heard of a seaman gettin' sick to +windward--?" + +"I know it looks awful, sir," quavered Matt. "I thought something +like this might happen, and in order to be prepared for eventualities +I hung a fire bucket over the edge of the weather-bridge railing and +set another there by the binnacle. The man at the wheel got me +started, sir. He asked me if I liked fat pork. Can't you see that if +I had made a quick run for the lee rail while the vessel was pitching +to leeward the chances are I'd continue right on overboard? As soon +as I get my bearings again I'll empty the bucket, sir." + +"Der fire buckets ban't for dot purpose." + +"All right, sir. I'll buy you a new fire bucket when we get to +Eureka," Matt answered contritely. + +Kjellin stayed on the bridge a few minutes, growling and glaring, but +Matt was too ill and dispirited to pay any attention to him, so +finally he went below. + +The Quickstep bucked the gale all the way to Humboldt Bar, and tied up +at the first mill dock at half past one o'clock on Friday. It was two +o'clock before the passengers and their baggage had been sent ashore, +but the minute the last trunk went over the rail the loading began. + +"We'll work overtime again to-night," the first mate told Matt at +luncheon. "The old man will drive us hard to-morrow, and we'll have +more overtime Saturday night so we can get to sea early Sunday +morning." + +"I don't care," Matt replied. "I get seventy-five cents an hour for +my overtime, and I'm big enough to stand a lot of that. But, believe +me, I'll jump lively. The old man's out of sorts on account of the +delay due to that head wind." + +At three o'clock the captain walked aft, where Matt Peasley was +superintending the stowing in the after hold. + +"Is dot all you've got to do," he sneered--"settin' roundt mit your +hands in your poggeds?" + +Matt glared at him. True, his hands were in his pockets at that +moment, but he was not setting round. He was watching a slingload of +shingles hovering high over the hatch, and the instant it was lowered +he intended to leap upon it, unship the cargo hook, hang the spare +cargo net on it and whistle to the winchman to hoist away for another +slingload. He controlled his temper and said: + +"I'm doing the best I can, sir. That winchman doesn't have to wait on +us a second, sir. We handle them as fast as they swing them in from +the mill dock." + +"Yump in an' do somedings yourself," Kjellin growled. "Don't stand +roundt like a young leddy." + +"D'ye mean you want I should mule shingles round in this hold like a +longshoreman?" + +"Sure! Ve got to get to sea Sunday morning, und every liddle bit +helps." + +"Well, then you'll get along without my little bit. If you don't know +your business, sir, I know mine. Somebody's got to tend that sling, +and everybody's business is nobody's business. If I'm not on the job +a bundle of shingles may come flying down from above and kill a man, +or that heavy cargo block may crack a stevedore on the head. Who's +going to look after the broken bundles and see that they're repacked +if I don't? I can't do that and mule shingles round in this hold, +sir; and what's more I'm not going to do it." + +"Den, by yimminy, you get off der ship!" the captain roared. "I don't +vant no loafers aboard my boat, und if you tank--" + +"Stow the gab, you big Finn! I'm through. Pay me off and help +yourself to another second mate." And Matt put on his coat and +whistled to the winchman to steady his slingload while he climbed out +of the hold. Kjellin followed and Matt preceded him to his stateroom, +where the captain paid him the few dollars he had coming to him. + +"Sign clear," he ordered, and Matt took an indelible pencil and +stooped over the skipper's desk to sign the pay roll. As he +straightened up the captain's powerful left forearm came round Matt's +left shoulder and under his chin, tilting his head backward, while the +Finn's left knee ground into the small of his back. He was held as in +a vise, helpless, and Kjellin spoke: + +"Ven I get fresh young faler like you, an' he quit me cold, I lick him +after I pay him off." + +"I see," Matt replied calmly. "That makes it a plain case of assault +and battery, whereas if you lick him before you pay him off, he can +sue your owners. You're a fine, smart squarehead!" + +"You bet!" Kjellin answered, and struck him a stunning blow behind the +ear. Matt, realizing his inability to wriggle out of the captain's +grasp, kicked backward with his right foot and caught the Finn +squarely on the right shin, splintering the bone. The captain cried +out with the pain of it and released the pressure on Matt's chin, +whereupon the latter whirled, picked the Finn up bodily, and threw him +through the stateroom door out onto the deck, where he struck the pipe +railing and rebounded. He lay where he fell, and when Matt's brain +cleared and he came out on deck the captain was moaning. + +"Get up, you brute!" Matt ordered. "You got the wrong pig by the ear +that time." + +"My leg ban broken," Kjellin whimpered. + +"I wish it was your neck," Matt replied with feeling, and bent over to +examine his fallen foe. When he grasped Kjellin by the right +shoulder, however, the Finn screamed with pain, so Matt called the +steward, and together they lifted him and carried him to his berth. + +"I'll bet a cooky you're a total loss and no accident insurance," Matt +soliloquized. "You're not worth it, but for the sake of the owners +I'll get a doctor to look you over," and he went ashore at once. When +the doctor had looked Thorwald Kjellin over his verdict was a broken +tibia, a broken radius and a broken clavicle. + +Matt was concerned. "I don't think I ever had any of those things to +get broken," he declared humorously, "but if mere words mean anything +I'll bet this is a hospital job." The doctor nodded, and Matt turned +to the captain: "Do you want to go to the hospital in Eureka or in +San Francisco?" + +"I ban vant to go home," the Finn moaned. + +"Very well, captain; I guess your successor will bring you there. I'm +going up to the mill office now to report to the owners by telephone." + +"Dot ban't none o' your business, Peasley," Kjellin protested. "Dot +is der first mate's job. You ban fired." + +"Yes, I know. Now I'm back-firing," Matt retorted. + +Fifteen minutes later he had Cappy Ricks on the long-distance +telephone. + +"Mr. Ricks," he began, "this is Peasley talking from Eureka. I have +to report that I'm fired out of the Quickstep. I'm not complaining +about that or asking you to reinstate me, because I can get another +job now, but I want to tell you why I was fired. The captain got a +grouch against me coming up. We had a nor'west gale on our port +counter and she rolled and bucked until even some of the crew got +seasick. I'm ashamed to say I fell by the wayside myself for a few +minutes, and Captain Kjellin caught me draped over the weather bridge +railing. So I guess he thought I wasn't much of a seaman. Anyhow he +picked on me from then on, and a little while ago he ordered me to +mule shingles with the longshoremen in the after hold. I couldn't do +that, Mr. Ricks. I'm a ship's officer, and besides you've simply got +to have somebody to watch the slings when they're coming into the ship +at the rate of two a minute or somebody will get hurt, and then the +vessel will be sued for damages. You see we were working overtime and +in a hurry to get loaded--" + +"I see everything," Cappy retorted. "What happened next?" + +"The captain got me foul in his cabin when I went to be paid off, and +hung a shanty back of my ear, so I threw him out on deck and hurt him. +You'll have to send a new skipper up to bring the Quickstep home, +sir. The first mate is a good man but he hasn't a master's license--" + +"What did you do to Kjellin, Matt?" + +"You'll have to ask a doctor, sir. I didn't intend to break him up, +but it seems I damaged all his Latin superstructure, and he'll have to +go to a hospital for a couple of months. I'm sorry I hurt your +skipper, sir, and I felt I couldn't leave your employ, Mr. Ricks, +without an explanation." + +"You haven't left my employ at all. Get back on the job and load that +vessel, or the first thing you know you'll be stuck in port over +Sunday, and that's not the way to make a start as master of the +Quickstep. You have a license as master of steam, haven't you?" + +"Yes, sir. I can handle her, sir." + +"Then do it and don't stand there burning up good money on the +long-distance phone. The Quickstep is yours--on one condition." + +"I accept it, sir," Matt exclaimed, overjoyed. "What is it?" + +"That you stick in her at least six months." + +"I will if I live and she floats that long, sir. Thank you. Please +have a second mate and an ambulance waiting for me at Meiggs Wharf on +Monday. I'll touch in there on my way up river to discharge what's +left of your skipper." + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +MR. SKINNER HEARS A LECTURE + + +Down in the offices of the Blue Star Navigation Company Cappy Ricks, +having summoned Mr. Skinner, sat peering whimsically at the general +manager over the rims of his spectacles. "Well, Skinner, my dear +boy," he announced presently, "sure enough there was something wrong +with the Quickstep, and now I know what it is; she has had the wrong +master. When he hustles to catch a tide or to get to sea Saturday +night or Sunday morning he drives his mates and tries to make them do +longshoremen's work. When he bullied a weak mate into doing that, +there was nobody to pay exclusive attention to the slingloads as they +came into the ship, and naturally accidents resulted. When strong +second mates refused he fired them, and after firing them he cornered +them in his cabin, held them foul and beat them. You see, Skinner, +this skookum skipper of yours didn't realize that with two slingloads +of shingles a minute dropping into the ship he had to have a man on +the job to watch the loading and do nothing else; and because he +didn't realize the error of his way, Skinner, he and Matt Peasley have +pulled off that little skin-glove contest, and now Kjellin looks like +a barrel of cement that's been dropped out the window of a six-story +building. Hum! Ahem! Harump-h-h-h! Call up the attorney for that +man Jacobsen that's suing the Quickstep, and tell him to come down +here with his man and we'll settle the case out of court. His charge +lies against Kjellin for assault and battery, but after all, Skinner, +I dare say we are in a measure responsible for our servants. I'll +give the attorney about twenty-five dollars for his fee, and er--the +man Jacobsen--let me see, Skinner, he had a broken nose, did he not?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"We'll pay his doctor bill and his wages as second mate since Kjellin +fired him, and give him a hundred dollars extra." + +"How about Kjellin's hospital bill?" + +"I disclaim responsibility, Skinner. Did he settle up with the +cashier for his last voyage?" + +"Yes, Mr. Ricks." + +"Then send him a wireless and tell him he's fired. Also, Skinner, my +boy, see that an ambulance is waiting for him at Meiggs Wharf when he +arrives on the Quickstep on Monday. We'll show him we're not entirely +heartless. Make it clear, however, that this office will not be +responsible for the ambulance fee. Matt will bring the vessel down +without a second mate, I dare say. He'll stand a watch himself. +Better call up Harbor 15 and see if there isn't a second mate out of a +job hanging round there, and tell him to join the ship at Meiggs +Wharf." + +Mr. Skinner's eyes fairly popped. "You don't mean to tell me, sir, +that you've given the Quickstep to that rowdy Peasley?" + +Cappy relapsed into the colloquialism of the younger generation with +which he was wont to associate at luncheon. "Surest thing you know," +he said. + +"If I may be permitted a criticism, Mr. Ricks--" + +"You may not." + +"Your sentimental leaning toward your fellow townsman may be the cause +of losing one of the best paying ships of the fleet." + +"Forget it, Skinner!" + +"Oh, very well. You're the boss, Mr. Ricks. But if I were in your +place I would have an older and more experienced man to relieve him +the moment he comes into the bay. You must remember, Mr. Ricks, that +while he may run her very nicely during the summer months, he has had +no experience on Humboldt Bay during the winter months--" + +"Skinner, the only way he'll ever accumulate experience on that bar is +to give him the opportunity." + +"He'll take big risks. He's very young and headstrong." + +"I admit he's fiery. But I promised him a ship, and he's earned her +sooner than I planned, so, even if my decision loses the Quickstep for +us, he shall have her. I'll be swindled if I ever did see the like of +that boy Matt. He gets results. And do you know why, Skinner?" + +"Because," Mr. Skinner replied coldly, "he's a huge, healthy animal, +able and willing to fight his way in any ship, and at the same time +clever enough to take advantage of your paternal interest in him--" + +"Rats! I'll give you the answer, Skinner, my boy: He gets results +because he does his duty and doesn't sidestep for man or devil. And +he's able to do his duty and do it well because he has a clear +understanding of what his duty is--and that, Skinner, is the kind of +skipper material I've been looking for all my life. As for the boy's +horsepower, let me tell you this: If Matt Peasley wasn't any bigger +than I am, he'd fight any man that tried to walk over him. It's in +his breed. Damn it, sir, he's a Yankee skipper, and when you've said +that you're through. I guess I know. How much have we been paying +that bully Kjellin?" + +"Two hundred a month." + +"Too much! Pay Matt two-twenty-five and attend to the certificate of +change of masters." + +When Mr. Skinner had departed Cappy sat back in his chair and closed +his eyes, as was his habit when his gigantic brain grappled with a +problem of more than ordinary dimensions. For fully ten minutes he +sat absolutely motionless, then suddenly he straightened up like a +jack-in-the-box and summoned Mr. Skinner. + +"Skinner," he said plaintively, "I'm feeling a little run down. Will +you please be good enough to book Florry and me passage to Europe +right away. I've never been to Europe, you know, Skinner, and I think +it's time I took a vacation." + +Mr. Skinner smiled. "Why all the hurry?" he queried. + +"I want to try out a theory," Cappy replied. "I have a great +curiosity, Skinner, to ascertain if there is any truth in the old +saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder. And if it does, +Skinner--why, the sooner I start the sooner I can get back." + +Mr. Skinner went out mystified. As Mark Twain's friend, Mr. Ballou, +remarked about the coffee, Cappy Ricks was a little too "technical" +for him. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +INTERNAL COMBUSTION + + +The Quickstep had arrived in port again before Cappy Ricks and Florry +could get away to Europe, so Matt came down by train from Los Medanos +and was granted the meager comfort of a farewell with his heart's +desire. Thereafter all comfort fled his life, for, with Cappy Ricks +away, Mr. Skinner was high and low justice, and he was not long +keeping Matt Peasley in ignorance of the fact that it was one thing to +skipper a Blue Star ship for Cappy Ricks and quite another thing to +skipper the same ship for the Blue Star manager. For Mr. Skinner had +never liked Captain Peasley, and, moreover, he never intended to, for +the master of the Quickstep was not sufficiently submissive to earn +the general manager's approbation as a desirable employee, and Cappy +Ricks was the only man with a will and a way of his own who could get +along amicably in the same office with the efficient and cold-blooded +Mr. Skinner. + +Cappy wasn't outside Sandy Hook before Mr. Skinner had Matt on the +carpet for daring to bring the Quickstep up river without a pilot. He +demanded an explanation. + +"I made careful note of all the twists and turns when the pilot took +me up the first time," Matt declared. "It isn't a difficult channel, +so I decided to save forty-five dollars the next time and take her up +myself." + +"Suppose you'd buried her nose in the mud and we'd had to lighter her +deckload to get her off," Mr. Skinner suggested. + +Matt grinned. "If your aunt was a man she'd be your uncle, wouldn't +she?" he parried. He had made up his mind not to take Mr. Skinner +seriously. Mr. Skinner flushed, looked dangerous, but concluded not +to pursue the investigation further. + +Three weeks later, when making up to a dock at San Pedro, a strong ebb +tide and a mistake in judgment swung the bow of the Quickstep into the +end of the dock and a dolphin was torn out. In the fullness of time +the Blue Star Navigation Company was in receipt of a bill for $112 +dock repairs, whereupon Mr. Skinner wrote Matt, prefacing his letter +with the query: "Referring to inclosed bill--how did this happen?" +Then he went on to scold Matt bitterly for his inability to handle his +ship properly in making up to a dock. + +Matt promptly returned Mr. Skinner his own letter, with this penciled +memorandum at the bottom of the page: "Referring to inclosed bill for +dock repairs--the dock happened to be in my course. That's the only +way I can account for it." + +For some time, whenever the Quickstep carried shingle cargoes for the +Shingle Association, there had been disputes over her freight bill, +due to continued discrepancies between the tally in and the tally out, +and Mr. Skinner had instructed Matt to tally his next cargo into the +ship himself and then tally it out again. Matt engaged a certified +lumber surveyor at five dollars a day to do the tallying at the +various mills, but at Los Medanos he tallied the cargo out personally. +To a shingle it agreed with the mill tally. Subsequently the manager +of the drying yard reported a shortage of eight thousand shingles, and +again Mr. Skinner wrote Matt for an explanation, to which Matt replied +as follows: + +"Do not pay any attention to the yard manager's tally. Ours is right. +A certified tallyman counted 11,487,250 in, and I counted 11,487,250 +out, as I have already reported. Sorry I cannot reverse my decision. +However, I have an idea which may account for the shortage: After the +vessel is reported down river, the stevedores gather on the dock, and +while waiting for us to arrive and commence discharging they whittle +shingles to pass the time away. I give you this information for what +it may be worth." + +Mr. Skinner had the grace to see that he had been rebuked and left +standing in a very poor light for one of his noted efficiency, so he +did not pursue the subject further; but the next time Matt came to the +office he jumped on him for carrying a dead-head passenger from San +Pedro in the first cabin. + +"Of course I carried him," Matt replied. "When I was before the mast +in the Annabel Lee he was her skipper, so when I met him in Pedro +minus his ticket and stony broke I gave him a lift to San Francisco. +Mr. Ricks informed me that I would be permitted these little +courtesies within the bounds of reason." + +"When Captain Kjellin had the Quickstep," Mr. Skinner answered, "he +never carried dead-heads." + +"You mean he didn't have the courage to put the name on the passenger +list and write D. H. after it. However, please do not compare me with +Captain Kjellin." + +"Well, you're not making the time he made in the Quickstep." + +"I know it, sir. My policy is to make haste slowly. Kjellin +hurried--and see what happened to him. He'll never be fast again, +either, with that short leg of his." + +"Captain Peasley, I am opposed to your levity." + +"Do you want me to worry and stew just because you do not happen to +like me and keep picking on me, Mr. Skinner? Why don't you be a sport +and give me a fair chance, sir? You have all the best of it in any +argument--so why argue?" + +"No more dead-heads," Mr. Skinner warned. "Hereafter, pay for your +guests." + +With the coming on of winter, however, Matt's troubles with Mr. +Skinner really commenced, although, in all justice to Skinner, the +general manager was merely following out his theory of efficiency, and +in respect to the matter upon which he deviled Matt Peasley most he +did not differ vastly from many managing owners of steam schooners on +the Pacific Coast. The trouble lay in the fact that the Quickstep +carried passengers. While she was a cargo boat, and hence had no +regular run or sailing schedule, her cabin accommodations were really +very good and her steward's department excelled that of the regular +passenger boats. By cutting the regular passenger rates from +twenty-five to forty per cent. and advertising the vessel to sail at a +certain hour on a certain date from a certain pier, free-lance ticket +brokers found no difficulty in getting her a fair complement of +passengers each trip. There was a moderate profit in this passenger +traffic, and Mr. Skinner was anxious to increase it. + +The difficulty surrounding the passenger business in the +steam-schooner trade, however, lies in the uncertainty of a vessel's +arrival and departure. It is all guesswork. Thus Matt Peasley, with +his cargo half discharged at San Pedro, would estimate that he would +sail from that port, northbound via San Francisco to some Oregon or +Washington port for another cargo, at noon on the following day. +Accordingly, he would wire his owners, who would immediately advertise +the sailing of the vessel from San Francisco forty hours later, the +Quickstep's average running time between San Pedro and San Francisco +being about thirty-eight hours. If the master's estimate proved +correct and there were no strong head winds to retard the vessel, she +would sail within an hour or two of the advertised time, whereas a +delay of six to eight hours in the arrival of the vessel at San +Francisco might mean the loss of all the passenger business garnered +for that trip; for competition was keen, and the ticket agents, +selling on a commission of one dollar per ticket, would switch the +traffic to some other vessel sailing earlier rather than have the +tickets canceled and thus lose the commission. + +When through delay or miscalculation the vessel lost passenger traffic +out of a port other than San Francisco, Mr. Skinner did not feel +discouraged. To lose passengers out of San Francisco, where the home +office of the Blue Star Navigation Company was located, however, +savored of a reflection on his efficiency, and caused him much bitter +anguish. Consequently, when Matt Peasley, with a full passenger list +from Eureka to San Francisco, wired Mr. Skinner that he would leave +his loading port at two P. M. on Wednesday, Mr. Skinner allowed him +twenty-two hours for landing his passengers from Eureka to San +Francisco and taking on another load for San Pedro, whither the +Quickstep was bound on that voyage. As a result the Quickstep was +advertised to sail from San Francisco on Thursday at two P. M., and +the agents were notified to commence selling tickets. Judge of Mr. +Skinner's perturbation, therefore, when he received the following +wireless from Matt Peasley at five o'clock on Wednesday: + +Bar breaking heavily. At anchor inside. Will cross out as soon as I +judge it safe to do so. + +Three hours' delay, already, with the prospects exceedingly bright for +the Quickstep's lurking inside Humboldt Bar all night! Mr. Skinner +saw his passenger traffic gone to glory for that trip, so he sent a +reply to Matt Peasley by wireless, as follows: + +You are advertised to sail from here for San Pedro at two o'clock +to-morrow. Hope you will permit nothing to militate against the +preservation of that schedule. Answer. + +"That's what comes of having an inexperienced man in the vessel," he +complained to the cashier. "That fellow Peasley sees a few white caps +on the bar, and he's afraid to cross out. Damn! Kjellin had her +three years and never hung behind a bar once. Many a time he's come +down to Humboldt Bar and found half a dozen steam schooners at anchor +inside, waiting for a chance to duck out. Did Kjellin drop anchor +too? He did not. Out he went and bucked right through it." + +Mr. Skinner waited at the office until six o'clock to get Matt +Peasley's answer. He got it--between the eyes: + +I have no jurisdiction over Humboldt Bar. + +The Quickstep crossed out next morning, and Mr. Skinner wirelessed her +master this message: + +Your timidity has spoiled San Pedro passenger business. Drop Eureka +passengers at Meiggs Wharf and continue your voyage. + +Now it does not please any mariner to be told that he is timid, and, +while Matt Peasley made no reply, nevertheless, he chalked up a black +mark against Mr. Skinner and commenced to plan against the day of +reckoning. + +That was an unusually severe winter. Four times Matt Peasley came +down to the entrance to Humboldt Bar and came to anchor. Three times +he tried to cross out and was forced to change his mind; seven times +did Mr. Skinner upbraid him. The eighth time that Matt Peasley's +caution knocked the San Francisco passenger traffic into a deficit, +Mr. Skinner sent him this message where the Quickstep lay behind Coos +Bay Bar: + +What is the matter with you? Your predecessor always managed to +negotiate that bar, and this company expects same of you. + +"He's bound to run me out of this ship," Matt soliloquized when he +read that terse aerogram, "but I promised Cappy I'd stick six months +and I'll do it. That penny-pinching Skinner wants me to cut corners +and get myself into trouble so he can fire me. I'll not tell him the +things I want to tell him, so I guess I won't say anything--much." + +He didn't. He just wired Mr. Skinner as follows: + +Any time you want to commit suicide I will furnish a pistol. + +About the beginning of March Mr. Skinner opened his cold heart long +enough to let in a little human love and get married, and shortly +thereafter he found it necessary to make a business trip to the +redwood mill of the Ricks Lumber and Logging Company on Humboldt Bay. +He went up on the regular P. C. passenger boat and took his bride with +him, and while he was at the mill Matt Peasley came nosing in with the +Quickstep and loaded a cargo of redwood lumber. He finished loading +on the same day that Mr. Skinner discovered he had no further excuse +for remaining away from the office, in consequence of which the latter +decided to return to San Francisco on the Quickstep. This for several +very good reasons: The food on the Quickstep was better than the food +on the regular liner, the accommodations were fully as good, the +vessel was loaded deeply and would ride steadily--and Mr. Skinner and +his bride would travel without charge. + +The sight of the Skinners coming aboard was not a pleasing one to Matt +Peasley. He did not like Mr. Skinner well enough to care to eat at +the same table with him, and he bethought him now of all the mean, +nagging complaints of the past six months. In particular he recalled +Mr. Skinner's instructions to him anent the carrying of dead-head +passengers--and suddenly he had a brilliant idea. He sent for his +wireless operator and ordered him to send this message: + +Blue Star Navigation Company, San Francisco, Cal. + +Please accept my resignation as master of your steamer Quickstep, said +resignation to take effect immediately upon my arrival in San +Francisco. Kindly have somebody on hand to relieve me. + +Matthew Peasley. + +Matt had just remembered that his six months in the Quickstep were up. +His next move was to call on the steward. + +"Go into Stateroom 7," he ordered, "and collect fifteen dollars from +that man and woman in there. They came aboard without tickets." + +Two minutes later the steward was back with word that the passengers +in question were dead-heads, being none other than the manager of the +Blue Star Navigation Company and his wife. + +"Steward, you go back and tell that man Skinner that Captain Peasley +never carries any dead-heads on the Quickstep. Tell him that when +Captain Peasley wants to carry a guest he pays the guest's passage out +of his own pocket." + +"But he'll fire me, sir." + +"Do as I order; he will not fire you. I'm the only man that has that +privilege, and I'll exercise it if you don't obey me." + +Two more minutes elapsed; then Mr. Skinner presented himself at the +captain's stateroom. + +"Peasley," he said sharply, "what nonsense is this?" + +"No dead-heads on this ship, Mr. Skinner. Your own orders, sir. +Fifteen dollars, if you please. You're not my guests." + +"Of course," said Mr. Skinner, "I shall do nothing of the sort." + +"Then get off the ship." + +"Sir, are you crazy?" + +"No, I am not; I'm just disgusted with you. Fifteen dollars here and +now before I cast off the lines, or I'll run you off the ship. Don't +tempt me, Skinner. If I ever lay violent hands on you there'll be +work for a doctor." + +Mr. Skinner was speechless, but he laid fifteen dollars on the +captain's desk and returned to his stateroom. His silence was +ominous. Five minutes later the Quickstep backed out from the mill +wharf and headed down the bay. As she plowed along, the rain +commenced falling and a stiff southeast breeze warned Matt that he was +in for a wet crossing. He was further convinced of this when the bar +tug Ranger met him a mile inside the entrance. She steamed alongside, +and, as she passed, her captain hailed Matt. + +"Don't try to cross out, Peasley," he shouted. "The bar is breaking." + +"The Quickstep doesn't mind it," Matt answered. + +"Don't try it, I tell you. I've been twenty years on Humboldt Bar and +I know it, Peasley. I've never seen it so bad as it is this minute." + +"Oh, we'll cross out without any fuss," Matt called back cheerfully, +and rang for full speed ahead. They were down at the entrance, and +the Quickstep had just lifted to the dead water from the first big +green roller, when Mr. Skinner came up and touched Matt Peasley on the +arm. + +"Well, sir?" Matt demanded irritably. + +"Drop anchor inside, captain. That bar is too rough to attempt to +cross out." + +"Oh, nonsense!" Matt declared. + +"But didn't you hear what that tug-boat captain said? He said it was +breaking worse than he had known it for twenty years." + +"Bah! What does he know about it?" + +"I don't care what he knows, Captain Peasley; I order you not to +attempt to cross out. My wife is aboard and I'll take no chances. +Come to anchor and wait for the bar to settle." + +"You order me?" Matt sneered. "Who in blazes are you to give orders +on my ship? I'm at sea, you understand, and you have nothing to say. +You'll give your orders and I'll obey them when I'm at the dock, but +crossing Humboldt Bar, I'm the master of ceremonies. I can't turn +back now. I'd lose my rudder as I came about. Get out. Who invited +you up here?" + +"How dare you, sir?" Mr. Skinner cried furiously. "Man, have you lost +your mind? Obey me, I say." + +Matt Peasley laughed blithely. "You miserable, cold-blooded, nagging +old woman," he said, and took Mr. Skinner by the nape and shook him. +"I've prayed for this day. Do you remember the time you wired me at +Coos Bay that my timidity had lost you some passenger traffic? You +impugned my courage then, you whelp, and now I'm going to give you a +sample of it. All winter long you've been hounding me, trying to make +me take chances crossing this bar, just so the vessel might pick up a +couple of hundred dollars extra in passenger money. It didn't matter +to you what risks other men's wives ran when you were snug in your +office, did it? You never thought of the passengers I had aboard, or +the lives of my crew or me, did you? You wanted me to cut corners and +risk human lives for the sake of your reputation as an efficient +manager, you--" And he shook Mr. Skinner until the manager's teeth +rattled. "Now you're aboard yourself with your blushing bride, and +how do you like it, eh? How do you like it? You know all about +navigation, don't you? Well, you and your wife are the only +passengers this trip, and I'm going to give you a taste of salt water +you'll remember till your dying day," and with a shove he sent Mr. +Skinner flying aft until he collided with the funnel. + +"You're fired!" Skinner screamed, beside himself with fear and rage. +But Matt Peasley was devoting all of his attention to the Quickstep +now; and it was well that he did. The vessel rose on the crest of a +green comber thirty feet high, and plunged with the speed of an +express elevator into the valley between that wave and the next. + +A tremendous sea boiled in over the knight heads and swept aft, +burying the Quickstep until nothing showed but her upper works. But +she was a sturdy craft and came up from under it, rode the succeeding +three seas and was comparatively free of water when she shipped the +next one. The crest of it came in along the little promenade deck, +carrying away the companion that led to the bridge, staving in the +doors and windows of all the staterooms on the port side and carrying +away the rails and stanchions. There was two feet of water in +Stateroom 7, where Mrs. Skinner clung to her husband, screaming +hysterically. + +But despite the awful buffeting she was receiving the Quickstep never +faltered. On she plowed, riding the green billows like a gull, and +shipping a sea only occasionally. The deckload, double-lashed, held, +although the deckhouse groaned and twisted until Matt Peasley +regretted the impulse that had impelled him to do this foolish thing +for the sake of satisfying a grudge. + +"She'll make it, sir," the man at the wheel called up; but Matt's face +was a little white and serious as he tried to smile back. + +Another sea came ramping aboard and snatched the port lifeboat out of +the davits, smashed in the door of the dining saloon and flooded it, +gutted the galley, and drove the cook and the steward to the +protection of the engine room. The chief called up through the +speaking tube: + +"How's the boss making it, captain?" + +"It's a wet passage for him, chief. I can hear his wife scream every +time we ship one." + +"Serves her right for marrying the pest," the chief growled, and +turned away. + +They crossed out, but at a cost that made Matt Peasley shudder, when +he left the bridge in charge of the mate and went below to take stock +of the damage. A new boat and four days' work for a carpenter +gang--perhaps eighteen hundred dollars' worth of damage, not counting +the demurrage! It was a big price to pay for one brief moment of +triumph, but Matt Peasley felt that it would have been cheap at twice +the money. He passed round on the starboard side of the vessel and +found Mr. Skinner wet to the skin and shivering. + +"We're over," Matt announced cheerfully. "How did you like the +going?" + +"You villain!" Skinner cried passionately. "You'll never command +another ship in the Blue Star fleet, I'll promise you that." + +"I know it, Skinner. But if I were you I'd go down in the engine room +and dry out while the cook and the steward straighten things round." + +"I'll discharge you the moment we tie up at the dock in San +Francisco," Skinner stormed. + +"Oh, no, you won't," Matt assured him. "I've beaten you to it. I +resigned by wireless before we left the dock at Eureka." + +That was a long, cold, cheerless trip for the Skinner family. The +Quickstep bucked a howling southeaster all the way down the coast, and +the Skinners were knocked from one end of their wet stateroom to the +other and slept not a wink. It was a frightful experience, and to add +to the discomfort of the trip Mrs. Skinner wept all the way. +Eventually, however, the Quickstep tied up at the wharf in San +Francisco, and the minute she was fast Matt Peasley, his accounts all +made up to date and his clothes and personal effects packed, sprang +out on the dock. + +"There's your ship, Skinner," he called to the general manager. "I'm +through." And he hastened away to the Blue Star office to settle up +with the cashier, while Mr. Skinner and his bride entered a taxicab +and were driven to their home. And two hours later when Mr. Skinner, +warm and dry at last, came down to the office to attend to the task of +selecting a new master for the Quickstep, he found Cappy Ricks was +back from Europe and on the job. + +"I hear you've been having some experience," said Cappy cheerfully as +he shook hands with his manager. "Peasley was telling me what he did +to you, and all the disrespectful things he said to you. Skinner, my +dear fellow, that was an outrageous way for him to act." + +"I fired him," said Skinner waspishly. "And while we're on the +subject let me declare myself about this man Peasley; as long as I +remain in your employ, Mr. Ricks, that man must never command another +Blue Star vessel. Do I make myself sufficiently clear?" + +"You do, Skinner; you do, indeed," Cappy answered. "I warned Matt +that if you ever fired him, I'd have to back you up--and I'll do it, +Skinner. I'll sustain your decision, my boy. As long as you're my +manager that fellow can never go to sea under the Blue Star flag. The +scoundrel!" + +"And I wouldn't recommend him to any other owner either," Mr. Skinner +suggested. + +"I'll not, Skinner. He will never go to sea again. I'm not going to +have his license taken away from him--er-- Hum! Ahem! Harump-h-h-h! +But I'll see that he doesn't use it again. The fact is, Skinner, I'm +er--getting--old--and--er--you're pretty hard-worked in the lumber +department, so I've--Hum! Harump-h-h-h! decided to relieve you of the +shipping entirely and hire Matt for our port captain. He's on the pay +roll at three hundred a month. And--er--Skinner, try to be friendly +with the boy for my sake. The young rascal is engaged to marry my +daughter, and I--er--it's barely possible he'll take up the +business--Hum! Ahem! I'll stick round another year and break him +into the landward side of shipping and then, Skinner, d'ye know what +I'm going to do then?" + +"What?" Mr. Skinner asked dully. + +"I'm going to learn to play golf," said Cappy. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +SKINNER PROPOSES--AND CAPPY RICKS DISPOSES + + +Having, as he thought, evaded the spirit of Mr. Skinner's ultimatum +while conforming to its literal terms, Cappy Ricks hurried home +leaving his general manager a stunned and horrified man. In this +instance, however, Cappy had erred in his strategy. Skinner was calm, +cold-blooded, suave, politic and deferential, but in his kind of fight +he never bluffed. He never played his hand until he had sufficient +trumps to take the odd trick. + +He looked ahead now, into the not very distant future, and saw Matt +Peasley, husband of the heiress to the Ricks millions, giving him +orders--and the vision did not sit well on the general manager's +stomach. Consequently, Mr. Skinner decided for a test of strength at +once. + +Accordingly, when Cappy Ricks came down to the office the following +morning, Mr. Skinner came into the old fellow's sanctum and requested +an interview. + +"Fire away, my boy," said Cappy amiably, yet with a queer sinking +feeling in his vitals, for he did not like the look in Skinner's eye; +and something told him there was blood on the moon. + +"With reference to this rowdy, Peasley, whom you tell me you are going +to make port captain--" + +"I also told you, Skinner, my boy, that he is to be my son-in-law," +Cappy interrupted, like a good general bringing up his heavy artillery +prior to ordering a charge. "I beg of you, Skinner, whatever your +animosities, to bear in mind the fact that my daughter could not +possibly engage herself to a rowdy." + +"Out of respect to you and Miss Florence I shall not indulge in +personalities, sir," Mr. Skinner replied smilingly, and Cappy +shuddered, for Mr. Skinner never smiled in a fight unless he had the +situation well in hand. "I have merely called to tell you that I have +invested seventy-five cents of my salary in a stout hickory +pick-handle, and the next time Captain Matt Peasley enters my office I +shall test the quality of the said pick-handle over his head. I don't +care if he is engaged to your daughter; the minute you bring that man +into this office I go out. You shall have my resignation instantly. +That decision, Mr. Ricks, is final and irrevocable." And without +giving Cappy an instant for argument Mr. Skinner bowed himself out. + +A month and Cappy Ricks remained minus his port captain; Mr. Skinner +was still strongly entrenched in his job as general manager. It was a +hard hand to beat, for the fact of the matter was that Cappy Ricks +simply could not afford to dispense with Mr. Skinner. The man was too +honest, too conscientious, too industrious, too brilliant, too +efficient, not to be reckoned with. To part with Skinner was like +parting with a dividend-producing gold mine; it was equivalent to +unloading on Cappy's shoulders again the burden of work and worry that +would have killed him ten years ago had he not surrendered it to +Skinner, who handled it as a juggler handles nine balls. Moreover, +Skinner knew all of the business secrets of the Ricks Lumber and +Logging Company and the Blue Star Navigation Company--why, he was an +integral part of the business; and, lastly, Cappy was fond of the man. + +Skinner had come to him as office boy at the tender age of ten--and +that was twenty-five years before. A daily association for +twenty-five years would make a human being like Cappy fond of the +devil himself; and, barring the fact that he was cold-blooded, Skinner +was a fairly likeable chap, and devoted, body and soul to Cappy Ricks. +The longer Cappy pondered the thought of asserting his authority as +boss and defying Skinner, the more impossible the alternative became. +Also the longer he thought of having Matt Peasley kept out of the +business by Skinner, the higher rose his gorge, for Cappy had yearned +for a son like Matt Peasley and been denied. Now when he had planned +successfully to do the next best thing and have Matt for a son-in-law, +to be blocked by Skinner was unbearable. All Cappy could do was to +search vainly for an "out," and in the interim, whenever he met Matt +Peasley at his home, he carefully avoided all reference to Matt's +future in the Blue Star employ for which, by the way, Matt was +eternally grateful. He did not care to talk business with Cappy for a +month as yet. He was too happy with Cappy's daughter. + +Another month passed. Cappy grew thin and lost his relish for his +food. Then Florence, being a woman, began to see, looming out of the +rose-tinted mist of her happy dreams, a huge interrogation mark. + +She wondered what her father intended doing for her future husband; +and since she was accustomed to bossing her parent she spoke to Cappy +about it, thereby increasing his mental agony. + +About the same time Matt Peasley commenced to wonder also, but forbore +to mention the subject to Cappy. Instead, he went down to the Red +Stack people and got himself a job skippering a tug; and great was his +joy thereat, for the wages were fully as good as he had enjoyed on the +Quickstep, and he was enabled to spend nearly every night in port. +The two months of idleness, albeit the happiest he had ever known, had +commenced to pall on him, and he wanted to be up and doing once more. +Also, being a man, he sensed something of the embarrassment of Cappy's +position, and, manlike, decided to relieve the old fellow of that +embarrassment. Matt concluded that he would retain his job as master +of the tug Sea Fox for a few months--say six--and then ask Cappy Ricks +for twenty thousand dollars, which amount would by that time be to his +credit on the Blue Star books by reason of his half-interest in the +seventy-five-dollar-a-day profit he and Cappy had annexed when +rechartering the steamer Unicorn. With that amount of money in hand, +plus the savings from his salary, he planned to marry Cappy's daughter +and go into business for himself as a ship, freight and marine +insurance broker. + +Mr. Skinner heard of Matt Peasley's appointment as master of the tug +Sea Fox several hours before the same information reached Matt +himself. The general manager of the tugboat company, scanning Matt's +application and having a vacancy to fill, called up Mr. Skinner. + +"Say, Skinner," he said, "I have an application for a job as master +for one of our tugs from Captain Matthew Peasley. He tells me he was +a couple of years under the Blue Star flag, from A. B. to master of +steam and sail, with an unlimited license. Is he a good man?" + +"We never had a more capable skipper in our employ," said Mr. Skinner +truthfully. + +"Why did you let him go then?" + +"He resigned." + +"Under fire?" + +"No, he quit voluntarily." + +"Honest?" + +"Very." + +"Then what's wrong with him?" + +"He doesn't like me. But he's capable and fearless and a devil on +wheels. He'll take a ship anywhere and bring her out again whole." + +"Then he's my huckleberry. That's the kind of man for a tugboat +skipper," was the reply, and Matt Peasley had the job, greatly to the +joy of Mr. Skinner, who realized now that his ultimatum to Cappy Ricks +had been a knockout blow. Cappy had surrendered, and the rowdy Matt, +having given up hope of a snug berth as port captain of the Blue Star +Navigation Company, had in despair sought a job with a tugboat +company. + +Mr. Skinner was so happy he shelved his office dignity long enough to +whistle a popular ballad that had been running through his mind of +late. All too gladly had he recommended Matt Peasley for that tugboat +job! He would have employed anything, short of dishonorable methods, +to rid the Blue Star of that incubus! + +Cappy Ricks almost wept with rage when his daughter informed him that +Matt had gone back to salt water. She was a little indignant over it, +and demanded a show-down from her unhappy father, who looked at her +miserably and said he'd think it over. + +He did. Every afternoon, upon his return from luncheon he slid down +on his spine in his upholstered swivel chair, draped his old shanks +over his desk, dropped his chin on his breast, closed his eyes and +went into a clinch with the awful problem, with all its dips, spurs +and angles. Save for the nervous clasping and unclasping of his hands +one would have thought him sound asleep. + +For a month no gleam of light filtered through the deep gloom of the +old gentleman's predicament. A dozen times had he reached forth to +press the push-button on his desk, summon Skinner and force the latter +to do one of two things; recede from his position or resign as general +manager. Ten times he had paused with his finger on the push-button. +He simply could NOT afford to dispense with Skinner! The eleventh +time, however, grown desperate from much brooding over his unhappy +lot, Cappy pressed the button. + +"Send Mr. Skinner in," he commanded bravely to the boy who answered +his summons. + +Mr. Skinner entered and stood awaiting Cappy's pleasure. On the +instant the old fellow was overcome by panic. Frantically he sought +an "out." + +"Skinner, my dear boy," he purred, "has it occurred to you that young +Tommy, the office boy, has been here long enough, and behaved himself +well enough, to merit a raise of about ten dollars a month?" + +Mr. Skinner was a natural conservative and considerable of a +pessimist. + +"Well, I daresay he has, although I hadn't given the matter any +thought, sir. However, the way lumber has been selling the past few +months, we ought to be cutting salaries instead of raising them." + +"I know, Skinner, I know. But a boy needs some encouragement; he has +to have some concrete evidence of appreciation, er--er--attend to it, +Skinner, my boy, attend to it." + +Mr. Skinner nodded and retired, leaving Cappy to grit his teeth and +curse himself for a poltroon. "It's certainly hell when a man of my +age and financial rating stands between his love and duty," he +mourned. "Darn that fellow Skinner. If my bluff should fail to work +and he got on his high horse and quit, I'd have to climb off my high +horse and beg him to return to work. And he knows it. He knows I've +been taking it easy so long I never could bring myself to take up the +burden of active business again. Money! What does money mean if it +can't buy happiness? Drat that devilish Skinner. I wish to jiminy he +had the burden of my dollars--" + +He paused, overcome by a sudden brilliant thought. "Bully for you, +Alden P., you old, three-ply, copper-riveted, reinforced, +star-spangled jack-ass!" he murmured. "Why didn't you think of it +before and save yourself all this grief?" + +His hand shot out once more to the push-button. "Send in Mr. Hankins, +sonny," he ordered the office boy. + +Mr. Hankins was the cashier; also secretary of all of Cappy's +companies, of which Mr. Skinner was first vice president. He entered +and stood deferentially beside Cappy's desk. + +"Hankins, my dear boy, bring me the stock certificates for my holdings +in the Ricks Lumber and Logging Company and the Blue Star Navigation +Company. I am going to indorse them, after which I wish you would +reissue the stock to me, less one hundred shares of each in the name +of Mr. Skinner. Say nothing to Mr. Skinner about this and bring the +new certificates to me immediately." + +When Hankins had complied with his request Cappy Ricks placed the +Skinner certificates in his pocket and went uptown to the office of +his attorney. He returned to his office within an hour and +immediately sent for Mr. Skinner. + +"Skinner, my dear boy," began Cappy affably, "sit down. I want to +have a very serious talk with you." + +"Nothing wrong, I trust," Skinner began apprehensively, for Cappy's +air was very portentous. + +"If there was," Cappy snapped, "you wouldn't be here to-day. Some +other fellow would be holding down your job, and, I dare say, giving +poor satisfaction--by the way, my dear Skinner, something which you +have never done." + +Mr. Skinner flushed pleasurably and thanked his employer. + +"Some twenty-five years ago," Cappy continued, "you entered my employ +as a spindle-legged office boy. To-day you are my general manager, +and a rattling good one, too, even if we do have our little run-in +together every so often. We mustn't pay any attention to that, +however, for a fight is good for a man, Skinner. I maintain that it +brings out all of his virtues and vices where one can have an +unobstructed view of them. However, passing that, I decided a long +time ago, Skinner, that you are entitled to more than a mere salary--" + +"My salary has been eminently satisfactory, sir--" Mr. Skinner began. + +"Don't be an ass, Skinner," Cappy interrupted tartly. "I wouldn't +give two hoots in hell for a satisfied man, unless he's his own +man--understand. You should have a more vital interest in the Ricks +Lumber and Logging Company and the Blue Star Navigation Company. We +always make our skippers own a piece of the vessels they command, so +they will not be tempted to rob us, for in robbing us they rob +themselves. Consequently, thinking it over, Skinner, I have decided +to make you own a piece of both the companies you manage, not because +you may rob them but because I want to reward you for faithful +service. I had planned to do this in my will, but I feel so healthy +lately I think I'll live a long time yet, and there isn't any real +sense in keeping you waiting. What is the book valuation of the Ricks +L. & L. stock?" + +"Three hundred eighty-seven thirteen, according to the last annual +report," replied Skinner glibly. His eyes glistened. + +"And the Blue Star stock?" + +"Four hundred thirty-two twenty-seven." + +"Hump! Harump-h-h! It will be worth more when the Panama Canal is +opened. We'll have a crack at the Atlantic Seaboard market with our +Pacific Coast lumber, and the water freight will knock the rail rate +silly. Besides, I'm going to buy up a couple of large freighters, or +build them, and that stock of yours will pay dividends then. I'll +soak you four hundred per share for the Blue Star stock. Is that +satisfactory?" + +Nobody knew better than Mr. Skinner the fact that the Blue Star stock +at the book valuation was appraised very conservatively. He nodded. + +"Lumber market's up and down, down and up, and we never know where we +stand. Give you that at two-fifty a share. Want it?" + +"I should say I do!" Skinner gasped. + +"Then you owe me sixty-five thousand dollars. I'll take your +promissory note for it at five per cent., and you can pay the note out +of your salary and the dividends. You'll be in the clear in ten years +at the very latest; the stock I'm selling you now will be worth a +hundred thousand--with your management. Here's the contract, which +embodies a promissory note. Sign it, endorse the stock to me to +secure the payment of the note, and then clear out of here. Not a +peep out of you, sir, not a peep. If you say 'Thank you' I'll change +my mind about selling." + +Mr. Skinner's hand trembled a little as he wrote his name across the +backs of the stock certificates and appended the same clear, concise +signature to the note. Silently he wrung Cappy's hand. + +"Get out," rasped Cappy. Mr. Skinner got out. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +CAPPY'S PLANS DEMOLISHED + + +Four more months passed, and peace reigned in the offices of the Blue +Star Navigation Company. Matt Peasley's name had never been mentioned +in Mr. Skinner's presence since that dark day when he had ventured, +for the first time in his career, to lay down the law to Cappy Ricks. +The pick-handle still reposed behind Skinner's desk, but that was +merely because he had forgotten all about it, and nobody ever touched +any of his property without his permission. Not once had Matt +Peasley's cheerful countenance darkened the Skinner horizon. + +This, then, was the condition of affairs when the office boy carried +to Mr. Skinner a piece of disquieting information--to wit, that +Captain Matt Peasley was without and desired to hold speech with Mr. +Ricks. + +"Tell him Mr. Ricks is too busy to see him," Skinner ordered. Not +having heard anything of Matt for six months he concluded that the +latter's affair with the boss' daughter had languished and died a +natural death; hence he felt that he could defy Matt with impunity. +Judge of his surprise, therefore, when a heavy hand was laid on his +shoulder later and Matt Peasley stood glaring down at him. + +"Well, sir!" said Skinner coolly. + +"I heard you had a pick-handle waiting here for me," Matt replied +evenly, "so I just dropped in to tell you that if you ever pull a +pick-handle on me I'll take it away from you and ram it down your +throat. That's all I have to say to you, Mr. Skinner. If, the next +time I call, at Mr. Ricks' invitation, to see him, you intercept my +message and try to block my game--" + +The great Peasley hand closed over Mr. Skinner's neck and felt of it +tentatively. + +"Ouch!" gasped Mr. Skinner. + +"Admit the brother," Matt called to an imaginary sentry behind Cappy's +door. "He has given the password. The lodge has been duly opened and +we are now ready for business." + +He smiled at Mr. Skinner and passed on into Cappy Ricks' office. + +"Well, Matt," the latter hailed him pleasantly, "it's been a long time +since I've seen you in this office." + +"And it'll be a long time till you see me here again, sir," Matt +retorted pleasantly. "I was about to call on you when your message +reached me. So suppose you tell me your business first. Then I'll +tell you mine." + +"No, you won't, Matt," Cappy challenged him, "because hereafter you're +not going to have any business unless I have a finger in it too. +Matt, my son, do you recall the day you quit the Quickstep?" + +"With pleasure," Matt assured him whimsically. + +"You're vindictive; but no matter. Skinner declared you should never +again command a Blue Star ship while he was in my employ, and I said, +by George, that was right--you shouldn't. I said I was going to make +you our port captain, and eventually place you in charge of the +shipping after I had broken you in." + +"I have a curiosity, sir, to know why you didn't go through with that +program." + +"Skinner wouldn't let me--said he'd quit if I did, and I just couldn't +afford to lose him, Matt. However, I have all that fixed up now, so +you quit that tugboat job of yours and come to work here as soon as +you can. I could have put you to work three months ago, right after I +sewed Skinner up, but I thought I'd wait a little while just to save +poor Skinner's face." Cappy commenced to chuckle softly. "In-fer-nal +rascal!" he declared. "He had me where the hair is short, Matt; he +had me where I dassen't defy my own general manager! Yes, sir, that +was the long and short of it. I dassen't call his bluff, because he +doesn't bluff worth a cent, and I happen to know some of my +competitors would like to get him away from me. A good man is always +in demand, Matt; never forget that. You see, Skinner has been +carrying the burden of this business for the past ten years +practically, and he threatened to toss that burden back on me. Well, +if he had, Matt, I just couldn't have carried it without competent +help--and by the time I had competent help broken in they'd be +measuring me for a tombstone." + +"How did you whip him into line?" Matt demanded. + +"Just like spearing fish in a dry lake, boy," Cappy chuckled. "I just +sold Mr. Skinner part of that burden, and now he has to carry it all +until he dies, because if he drops it he loses what I sold him. Only +one way to whip that boy into line, Matt, and that is to pelt him with +dollars." + +"But I do not see how that affects me," Matt answered. + +"You don't, eh? Why, you're the port captain of the Blue Star +Navigation Company, you-you-you bonehead, and Skinner has to stand for +you now whether he likes it or not. He'll not sacrifice his future to +vent his grudge against you, because he is a business man, Matt, and +he knows it's mighty poor business to bite off his nose to spite his +face. So you just come to work." + +Matt Peasley beamed across at his future father-in-law. + +"That was well done, sir," he said, "and I wish I had known you were +going to do it. I would have saved you the trouble, because, you see, +I never intended to go to work for you in this office anyhow." + +"The devil you say!" Cappy interrupted. "Well, you just put some +reverse English on those intentions of yours, my boy. I know what's +good for you." + +But Matt Peasley only shook his head. + +"I can't do it, sir," he said. "While deeply appreciative of all you +want to do for me, the fact is, if I'm going to marry your +daughter--and I am--I'm not going to do it on your money and be +dependent upon you for a job. I'll be my own man, Mr. Ricks. I never +ask odds of any man, and I don't like to work for a relative." + +"Damn your Yankee independence," snapped Cappy angrily. "Why do you +oppose me?" + +"Because I'll not have anybody saying: 'There goes Matt Peasley. He +fell into a good thing. Yes, indeed! Used to be a common A. B. until +Alden P. Ricks' daughter fell in love with him--and of course after +that he went right up the line in the Blue Star Navigation Company. +He's a lucky stiff.'" + +"What do you care what people say? I know what I want." + +"I do care what they say, and I care what I feel. I want to fight my +own way. I want to make a wad of money and build up a business of my +own--" + +"You're crazy! Why, here's one ready-made, and it will stand all +kinds of building up--" + +"Then let Skinner build it. I'll build my own. I do not want anybody +to think I married your daughter for your money." + +"Matt, you poor, chuckleheaded boy, listen to me. I intend doing for +you--" + +"And that," roared Matt Peasley, smiting the desk, "is the very reason +why I shall not permit you to do anything for me. That's final, Mr. +Ricks. I hope you will realize it's useless to argue with me." + +"I ought to by this time," Cappy replied bitterly. "Very well, I've +told you my business with you. Suppose you state your business with +me." + +"I'd like to draw twenty thousand dollars from my credit on the Blue +Star books." + +"Huh! So you want to dig into that money the recharter of the Unicorn +is bringing you, eh, Matt?" + +"If you can spare it, Mr. Ricks." + +"Of course I can spare it--only I'll not. If you want that money, +Matt, sue for it; and since you haven't any documents to prove you +have it coming to you, I suppose you will agree with me that a suit +would be useless expenditure of time, money and energy." + +"Then you will not give me the money, sir?" Matt Peasley demanded. + +"Not a red," said Cappy calmly. "We've fought this whole matter out +before, so why argue?" + +"Why, indeed," Matt answered, and reached for his hat. He was +fighting mad and desired to go away before he quarreled with Cappy. + +"I'll go downstairs to the cigar stand and shake you the dice, one +flop, to see whether you go into business for yourself or come to work +for me," Cappy pleaded. + +Matt came to him and placed his great hands on the old man's +shoulders. + +"You're the finest man I ever knew, Mr. Ricks," he said, "and you're +the meanest man I ever knew, so I'll not shake dice with you. You're +too fond of having your own way--" + +"Yes, and you're the same, blast you!" Cappy shrilled, losing his +temper entirely. "Wait till you're my age. There won't be any +standing you at all. Get out!" + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +A GIFT FROM THE GODS + + +The barkentine Retriever, lumber laden from Astoria to San Francisco, +lay under the lee of Point Reyes in a dead calm. It was a beautiful, +moonlit night, with the sea as smooth as a fishpond, and Captain +Michael J. Murphy, albeit a trifle surprised at his proximity to the +California coast--the result of three days and nights of thick fog, +which had suddenly lifted--was not particularly worried. At eight +o'clock he turned in, after warning the mate to call him in case the +Retriever should drift inshore. + +"Never fear, sir," the mate replied. "We'll have a puff of wind about +daylight at the latest, and the current sets north and south here +rather than toward the beach." + +For two hours after Captain Murphy had retired the Retriever rose and +fell gently on the slightest swell, her booms and yards swinging idly +amidships, her sails and cordage slatting listlessly as the vessel +rolled. + +Suddenly the lookout shouted: "Steamer on the port bow!" and the +mate, following the direction indicated, made out the red and green +sidelights and the single white light at the short masthead of the +approaching vessel. + +"Tug," he announced to the man at the wheel. "Good enough! The +lookout at Point Reyes reported us, and the owners have sent a tug out +to snake us in." + +The mate's prognostication was correct in some particulars, for in +about half an hour the tug steamed slowly alongside the Retriever and +hailed her. + +"Barkentine, ahoy!" + +"Ahoy! Retriever, of the Blue Star, Astoria for San Francisco." + +"Sea Fox, of the Red Stack Line. Is Captain Murphy on deck?" + +"No, but I'll send for him," the mate shouted, and forthwith sent a +man below to rout out the skipper. When Murphy came on deck and +hailed the tug he nearly fainted at the information that came floating +across the water. + +"Murphy, this is Matt Peasley speaking." + +"Not Matt Peasley that used to command this old box--" + +"Don't speak disrespectfully of my first command, Mike--" + +"And you're only a tug captain--a dirty, thieving, piratical towboat +man, holding up every honest skipper that pokes his nose into San +Francisco Bay. Matt, I'm ashamed of you. How are you anyhow?" + +"Fine, Mike. Want a tow?" + +"I don't need one; I'll have a bit of breeze before long. I'm +independent of you!" + +The tug crept in closer. "Don't be foolish, Mike; better let me slip +you a line." + +"How much will it cost, Matt? None of your highway robbery now. Be +easy on the Retriever for old times' sake." + +"A thousand dollars," Matt Peasley answered pleasantly, and was +rewarded with a volley of oaths from Mike Murphy and his crew. + +"You're a thief!" yelled Murphy. + +"And you're a fool, Mike. You're not more than two miles off the +breakers, you're in a calm that may last two days, and when the tide +is at flood you'll set in on the beach as sure as death and taxes--and +then I'll have a salvage job that will cost your owners not one +thousand but ten." + +"You go to the devil!" was Murphy's reply to this, and the Sea Fox +dropped astern and came round on the starboard bow of the Retriever. +In she backed, a foot at a time, and Captain Murphy, up on the +topgallant fo'castle, was within easy conversational distance of Matt +Peasley, standing on the grating at the stern of the Sea Fox. + +"Better grab this heaving line, Mike," Matt suggested. + +"Come aboard and have a drink, Matt, but leave your line behind you," +Murphy answered hospitably. + +The Sea Fox drifted down fifteen or twenty feet, swung slowly, headed +out to sea, and then backed gingerly in until her stern was within a +few feet of the side of the Retriever. + +"Hey, you! What d'ye mean to do? Back into her?" yelled Matt Peasley +to his mate. "Full speed ahead! Quick!" + +A bell jangled in the bowels of the Sea Fox, her great screw churned +the water and she shot out from the Retriever. + +"That's right! Go clear over to China, and expect me to haggle with +this man through the megaphone, eh?" Matt roared. "Back up again!" + +"I tell you, Matt, there isn't the slightest use hanging round for +us," Murphy warned the towboat skipper. "I wouldn't let the ship be +held up by anybody, least of all a towboat man." + +"Well, when the lookout on Point Reyes telephoned into our office that +the Retriever was inside the Point, I made up my mind I'd come out and +get her, and I don't purpose being disappointed," Matt replied +jokingly. "I'll just wait until you drift into the breakers, and then +you'll do business with me, never fear." + +"G'wan!" snorted Murphy. "How's Cappy Ricks, the old villain?" + +"He's fine, Mike. He wanted me to work for him, but I don't like his +general manager--Mr. Olson, full speed ahead or you'll smash our stern +against this barkentine. Steady! That's better. Astern a trifle. +Steady! Mike, how've you been since I saw you last?" + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +A DIRTY YANKEE TRICK + + +"Skinner," said Cappy Ricks, "I was called out of my bed at five +o'clock this morning by the night operator at the Merchants' Exchange. +He told me our Retriever was in the breakers just south of Point +Reyes, but that a tug was standing by. What have you heard since?" + +"She drifted in there in a calm last night, sir," Mr. Skinner replied. +"Fortunately the Point Reyes lookout had reported her early yesterday +evening, and one of the Red Stack tugs--the Sea Fox--took a chance and +went out seeking. Lucky thing for us--" + +"The tug hauled her off then?" + +"Got a line aboard just in time. I had a telephone message from +Captain Murphy at Meiggs Wharf ten minutes ago. The Retriever is +anchored in the fairway." + +"What tug did you say it was?" Cappy queried. + +"The Sea Fox." + +"That's Matt Peasley's command," Cappy mused. "Lucky? I should say +we are! It's up to the master of the tug very frequently whether, +under such conditions, his task has been a mere towage job at the +going rates or a salvage proposition to be settled in court. I dare +say Matt will give us the benefit of the doubt and call it towage." + +"Don't deceive yourself!" Skinner snapped. "It's salvage; Murphy said +so. After he got close in Peasley refused to name a price and came +aboard and made Murphy sign a paper acknowledging that his ship was in +distress and dire peril, before he would even put a line aboard him--" + +"Wow! Wow! The tugboat company will libel the ship now, and sue us +for fifty thousand dollars' salvage on vessel and cargo," and Cappy +groaned, for he owned both. "By George!" he continued. "I didn't +think Matt would do anything like that to me. No, sir! If anybody +had told me that boy could be such an ingrate I'd have told him--" + +A youth entered Cappy's office uninvited. + +"Captain Peasley to see you, sir," he said. + +"Show the infernal fellow in," rasped Cappy, and Matt Peasley stalked +into the room. + +"I should like to see you privately, Mr. Ricks," he announced, and +cast a significant glance at Skinner, who took the hint and left the +room at once. + +Matt sat down. "Well," he said, "I guess the tug Sea Fox and owners, +together with her doughty skipper and crew, will finger some of your +hard-earned dollars before long, Mr. Ricks. I pulled your barkentine +Retriever out of the breakers this morning. In fifteen minutes she +would have been on the beach and a total loss--and I have a document, +signed by Captain Murphy and his mates, to prove it. I offered the +pig-headed fellow a tow at ten o'clock the night before, but he +declined it--trying to save a few dollars, of course--so when I had +him where he had to have my services--" + +"Well!" Cappy snapped, "send your owners round and we'll try to settle +out of court. If they're hogs we'll fight 'em, that's all." + +"And if you do you'll get licked. We'll get a quarter of the value of +that vessel and her cargo. She's easily worth fifty thousand dollars +and her cargo is worth thirty thousand more--that's eighty thousand, +and a quarter of eighty thousand dollars is twenty thousand." + +"You'll have to fight for it, I tell you," Cappy reiterated. + +"There is no necessity for a fight, Mr. Ricks. It all rests with me +whether this is a salvage job or just a plain towing job at the +customary rates." + +Cappy looked at his ex-skipper keenly. + +"Matt," he charged, "you've got a scheme. You want something." + +"I do; I want to save you a lot of fuss and worry and expense. In +return I want you to do something for me." + +"I'll do it, Matt. What is the program?" + +"Give me that twenty thousand dollars you justly owe me--twenty +thousand dollars I have to my credit on your books, which you are +withholding just because you have the power to withhold it." + +"And in return--" + +"I'll tear up the deadly document I extorted from Murphy and report a +mere towage job to my owners." + +Cappy pressed the push-button and a boy appeared. + +"Tell Mr. Skinner I want to see him," he ordered, and an instant later +Mr. Skinner entered. "Skinner," said Cappy, "draw a check for twenty +thousand in favor of Matt Peasley, and charge it to his account." + +"And then send it over to the bank and certify it," Matt added, +"because before I get through with you, Mr. Ricks, you'll be tempted +to stop payment on it, if I know you--and I think I do." + +Half an hour later Cappy handed Matt Peasley, a certified check for +twenty thousand dollars, and in exchange the latter handed Cappy the +only proof the Red Stack people would have had, over and above the +contradictory testimony of the crews of the respective vessels, that +the services of their tug constituted salvage and not towage. Cappy +read it, tore it into shreds and glared at Matt Peasley. + +"Matt," he said very solemnly, "I'm glad this thing happened. I've +always had a good opinion of you, but now I know that though you have +many excellent qualities you do not possess that quality which above +all others I require in an employee or a son-in-law. + +"You aren't loyal. You had the sweetest case of salvage against our +vessel that any man could go into court with, and you kicked it away +like that, just for your own selfish ends. You sacrificed your +shipmates, who would have been awarded a pro rata of the salvage, and +you were false to the trust your owners reposed in you." + +Cappy stood up, his face pale with fury, and shook an admonitory +finger under Matt Peasley's nose. + +"That act, sir, is an index of your true character," he thundered. "A +master who will deceive his owners, who will be false to their +interests, is a scoundrel, sir; do you hear me?--a scoundrel. You +will oblige me, sir, by refraining from any attentions to my daughter +in the future. To think that you have descended to such a petty, +miserable subterfuge to trick me and rob your owners! Thank God, I +have found you out in time!" + +"Yes, isn't it fortunate?" Matt answered humorously. "And if you get +any angrier you'll bust an artery and die." + +"Out of my office!" Cappy raved; for though he was a business man, and +never hesitated to do business in a businesslike way, he was the soul +of business honor, and in all his life he had never taken a mean or +unfair advantage of those who trusted him. The knowledge that Matt +Peasley had done such a thing filled him with rage not unmixed with +sorrow. + +"I'll be gone in a minute," Matt replied gently; "only before I go +permit me to tell you something, and on my honor as a man and a sailor +I assure you I speak the truth. That wasn't a salvage job at all." + +"What?" + +Matt repeated the statement. Cappy blinked and clawed at his +whiskers. + +"Oh," he said presently, "I had forgotten that you and Captain Murphy +were once shipmates. And so that fellow Murphy stood in with you to +work a hocuspocus game on me, eh?" he thundered. "By Godfrey, I'll +fire him for it!" and he rushed to the office door, opened it and +called to Skinner: "Skinner, Murphy is to be fired. Attend to it." +Then he closed the door again and faced Matt Peasley. + +"Murphy is to be reinstated," Matt assured Cappy, "for the reason that +Murphy was in deadly earnest when he signed that paper. In five +minutes he would have been a skipper without a ship, and he knew it. +If you fire Murphy you do a fine man a terrible injustice." + +"Well, how in blue blazes did he get so close to the beach and let +himself into your clutches?" Cappy raved. + +"He couldn't answer that question, sir. He doesn't know. He thinks +the current set him in there. It didn't. I set him in there." + +"You set him in?" Cappy queried incredulously. + +"I set him in. I kept backing up on his starboard counter, ostensibly +to dicker with him, and as soon as I had the stern of my tug within a +few feet of the Retriever I'd signal my mate at the wheel, he'd give +the engineer full speed ahead--why you have no idea of the force of +the quick water thrown back from that big towing propeller of the Sea +Fox. The rush of it just swung the Retriever's nose slowly toward the +beach and kicked her ahead fifteen or twenty feet, and then her sheer +momentum carried her thirty yards farther. By that time I was backed +up to her again, bargaining with Murphy, and ready for another kick. +It was easier after the flood tide set in, and I kept at her all night +long, and gradually kicked her into the breakers, where I wanted her. +I knew Murphy would listen to reason then. So you see, Mr. Ricks, it +wasn't a salvage job, and I didn't betray my owners at all--" + +"You Yankee thief!" Cappy yelled, and dashed at Matt, to enfold the +son-in-law-to-be in a paternal embrace. "Oh, Matt, my boy, why do you +want to be a tugboat man when I need a man with your brains? Why +don't you be sensible and listen to reason?" + +Matt held the old man off at arm's length and grinned at him +affectionately. + +"It's worth twenty thousand dollars to get the better of you, sir," he +said. + +Cappy sat down very suddenly. + +"Ah, yes," he said. "Speaking of money reminds me: What do you +intend doing with that twenty thousand dollars?" + +"Well, I thought at first I'd go into the shipping business for +myself--" + +"Skiffs or gasoline launches--which?" Cappy twitted him. + +"But you seem bent on having your way, and Florry is making such a +fuss, I suppose I'll have to give in to you after all." + +Matt stepped to the door, opened it and called: "Mr. Skinner!" + +Mr. Skinner looked up from his desk by the window. "Well, sir!" he +demanded haughtily. + +"Murphy is not to be fired," Matt answered. + +"Indeed! And by whose orders?" + +"Mine! I'm the port captain of the Blue Star Navigation Company, and, +beginning now, I'm going to do all the hiring and firing of captains." + +Mr. Skinner turned pale. He started from his chair and made two steps +toward Cappy Ricks' office, firmly resolved to present his resignation +then and there. At the door, however, he thought better of it, +hesitated, returned to his desk and sat down again, for he had +suddenly remembered, and, remembering, discovered that Cappy Ricks had +laid upon him a burden that must be reckoned with--the burden of his +own future. He flushed and bit his lips; then, feeling Matt Peasley's +eyes boring into the small of his back, he turned and said: + +"I have every reason to believe, Captain Peasley, that you are the +right man in the right place." + +Matt advanced upon him and held out his hand. + +"Mr. Ricks has always bragged that you could think quicker and act +quicker in an emergency than any man he ever knew. He's right, you +can. Suppose we bury that pick-handle, Mr. Skinner?" + +Mr. Skinner's lips twitched in a wry smile, but he took Matt Peasley's +hand and wrung it heartily, not because he loved Matt Peasley or ever +would, but because he had a true appreciation of Abraham Lincoln's +philosophy to the effect that a house divided against itself must +surely fall. "I'm sure we'll get along famously together," he said. + +"You know it," Matt answered heartily, and stepped back into Cappy's +office. + +"Well," said Cappy, "that was mighty well done, Matt. Thank you. So +you think you'll quit the Sea Fox and be my port captain, eh?" + +"I think so, sir." + +"Well, I do not, Matt. The fact of the matter is, your business +education is now about to commence, and about two minutes ago I +suddenly decided that you might as well pay for it with your own +money. I have no doubt such a course will meet with the approval of +your independent spirit anyhow. You're a little too uppish yet, Matt. +You must be chastened, and the only way to chasten a man and make him +humble is to turn him loose to fight with the pack for a while. +Consequently I'm going to turn you loose, Matt; there are some wolves +along California Street that will take your twenty thousand away from +you so fast that you won't know it's going till it's gone. But the +loss will do you a heap of good--and I guess Florry can wait a while." + +He paused and eyed Matt meditatively for fully a minute. + +"And you kicked my barkentine ashore with the quick water from your +tug's propeller," he mused aloud. "Got her where you wanted her--and +Murphy didn't suspect! He laid it to the current!" Cappy shook his +head. "A dirty Yankee trick," he continued, "and I love you for +it--in fact, it breaks my heart not to make good that grandstand play +you just pulled on Skinner, but I've changed my mind about hiring you +yet. I'm just going to sit back and have some fun watching you defend +that little old twenty-thousand dollars I just gave you. Do you know, +Matt, that I never knew a man to save up a thousand dollars, by +denying himself many things, that he didn't invest the thousand in a +wild-cat mine or a dry oil well? Ah, Matt, it's those first few +dollars that come so hard and go so easy that break most men's hearts; +but here you are with twenty thousand that came so easy I've just +naturally got to see how hard they go! You'll be worth more money to +me, Matt, and you'll be a safer man to handle this business when I'm +gone, if you go out and play the game for a while by yourself. You +have a secret itching to do it anyhow, Matt, and in surrendering to me +just now you went down with your colors flying. You just wanted to be +kind to the old man, didn't you? Well, I appreciate it, Matt, because +I'm an old man, and I know how hard it is for a boy to yield to an old +man's wishes; but youth must be served, and God forbid that I should +rob you of the joy of the conflict, my boy. When you're busted flat +and need some more money, you may have it up to the amount to your +credit on our books. And when that's gone I guess you'll make a +better port captain than you will this morning. Does that program +suit you better than the one I originally outlined?" + +Matt flushed and hung his head in embarrassment, but answered +truthfully: "Yes, sir." + +"Very well," said Cappy, relapsing into one of his frequent +colloquialisms, "go to it, boy. Eat it up." + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +CAPPY FORBIDS THE BANS--YET + + +Cappy Ricks sat at breakfast, tapping meditatively on the apex of a +boiled egg, when his daughter swished into the room, saluted her +interesting parent by depositing a light kiss on his bald and +ingenuous head, and took her place at the table. + +Florence Ricks was a radiant vision in a filmy pink breakfast gown and +cap, and as she smiled perkily at Cappy he returned her bright look +with one a trifle sad and yearning. + +"Florence, my love," said Cappy gently, "have you, by any chance, +talked with that big, two-fisted sailor of yours within the past +twelve hours?" + +She shook her head negatively, tilting her nose and pursing her lips +in an adorable grimace of disapproval. + +"Since Matt Peasley has been master of that tug I see him only when +his owners cannot find something more important for him to do. Why do +you pop that question at me so suddenly? Did you want to see him +about something?" + +"No. I saw him yesterday forenoon, and we went into a clinch and +fought each other all over my private office. Matt got the decision. +I thought he might have called you up to discuss with you his plans +for the future. When he left me yesterday he was on his way back to +the office of the Red Stack Tugboat Company to tell the port captain +he could stick some other skipper on the tug Sea Fox." + +Florence clapped her hands ecstatically. "Oh, goody, goody!" she +cried. + +"Well, it might be worse." + +"Why is he resigning? To go to work for you, as I wanted him to do +six months ago?" + +"Well, I'll tell you, Florry," Cappy began. "I know you're going to +be disappointed, but the fact of the matter is we've just got to let +that boy paddle his own canoe--though, to hear him talk, he's going to +operate his own line of steamers! Matt doesn't think in canoes when +the subject of the merchant marine is up for discussion any more than +I think in cent pieces when I'm wrestling with a banker for a loan. +He has resigned from the tug Sea Fox to go into business for himself!" + +"But how can he? He hasn't any money, you silly man!" + +"Oh, yes, he has. I gave him twenty thousand dollars yesterday. He +had that much credit on the Blue Star books from his share of the +recharter of the steamer Unicorn nearly two years ago." + +"But I thought you weren't going to give him any of that money," +Florence protested. + +"I thought so, too," Cappy answered dryly; "but the scoundrel put up a +low-down job on me and pried the twenty thousand loose," and Cappy +proceeded to relate to Florry the sad tale of the salvage of the +Retriever. + +Florence was gifted with the same lovable sense of humor that +distinguished her father; and, somewhat to his annoyance, she laughed +long and heartily at this tale of how her fiance had vanquished him. + +"And then what?" she queried with childish insouciance. + +"Why, then he made friends with Skinner and, to my complete amazement, +surrendered without firing a shot. He said he'd be my port captain +now; whereas six months ago he said it was against his religion to +work for a relative, and that he wanted to go into business for +himself. And only the day before he'd reiterated those sentiments." + +"Oh, I'm so glad!" said Florry, much relieved. + +"Wait!" said Cappy dramatically. "Don't cheer yet. I've upset your +apple cart, my dear. I rejected the young man's proposition and +condemned him to a business of his own." + +"But you wanted him for your port captain, Daddy dear. You wanted him +the very worst way." + +"And that's just how I got him, Florry. I don't want any man whose +heart is not in his job, and a business man should never surrender for +sentimental reasons. You cannot mix sentiment and business, daughter; +if you do you'll get chaos. Matt Peasley surrendered to me--not +because he wanted to, but to please you. You've been picking on him +rather hard lately, haven't you?" + +Florry admitted it. + +"I knew it," Cappy declared. "I knew it--and that's why I exercised +the veto on you, Florry." + +Florry's eyes dropped, and in the corners of them her father thought +he detected a glint of tears; whereupon he attacked his egg +vigorously. After a brief silence he said: + +"Of course that means a slight delay in your plans for a June +wedding--" + +A tear crept through Florry's long lashes and dropped unheeded into +her grapefruit. Cappy saw it drop, but resolved to be cruel and +ignore it. + +"The infernal schemer couldn't resist the temptation to take a fall +out of your old man, Florry; so naturally I had to take a fall out of +him; though, at that, I have doubts whether I succeeded. I think I +played into his hand; and now I'm telling you about it to save him the +trouble and grief of an explanation he couldn't make and which you +wouldn't understand--from him. Some day my affairs will all be yours, +Florry--yours and Matt's; and he'll have to manage them for you. To +manage them well, he must have experience; hence, I decided, in about +two flips of a humming-bird's tail, that it would be a mighty good +thing for you and Matt if I forced him into business for himself and, +as I informed him, let him pay for that experience with his own money; +for that is the only kind of money that will buy him any experience +worth while. No young man ever learned a great deal when some +sentimental old fool footed the bill for his tuition fees in the +college of hard knocks." + +"Poor Matt!" Florry sobbed. "He hasn't--had anything--except hard +knocks since he was--fourteen years--old." + +"Yes," shrilled Cappy; "and just look at the difference between him +and these la-di-da boys that never had any hard knocks! Hard knocks! +Why, hard knocks keep that devilish fellow in condition!" + +"But I'd planned--we didn't want to have too long an--engagement--" + +"I'll guarantee you, little daughter, you will not have to wait longer +than six months. Please wait--for my sake." And Cappy rose, made his +way round the breakfast table and placed his old arms about the light +and joy of his existence. "So, so, now!" he soothed. "Don't you cry, +honey, until you hear what the old man has to say. Why, haven't I +always given my little daughter everything she wanted? You wanted +that big sailor, Florry; I saw he wanted you; and he looked awful good +to me. I knew he was man, every inch of him; he was our kind of +people and he knew ships and loved them, and so I wanted him for you. +What if he was a big hunk of a sailor with hardly enough money saved +up to buy you half a dozen party dresses? None of the Ricks tribe was +ever born or bred in the purple--and I have money enough for all +practical purposes. So I went after him for you, Florry, and you're +going to get him; so don't cry about it." + +"Life is so filled with disappointments," Florry sobbed, +notwithstanding this was the first she had ever known. + +Cappy smiled a still small smile as he bent over her. + +"Fiddlesticks!" he replied. "Only the day before yesterday Matt told +me he didn't want to work for me; that he didn't want a relative +handing him any favors; and that he wasn't marrying you to ease +himself into a soft job for life. He said he wanted to make the fight +himself. And do you know, Florry, if he had been my own boy I +couldn't have been prouder of him than when he told me that! When old +What-you-may-call-him in Shakespeare's play said: 'Let me have men +about me that are fat,' it showed how blamed little Shakespeare knew +about men. He should have said: 'Let me have men about me who are +long and tough, and fairly thick in the middle; let me have scrappy +boys about me with backbone!' + +"Well, in a way, Florry, I was disappointed, and perhaps, in the heat +of the moment, I showed it, as I have a habit of doing; but after Matt +had left the office, and I got to thinking it over, away down low I +was proud of him. Consequently when he reversed his decision +yesterday I knew why, for I lived twenty-five years with your mother. +But a woman's love is selfish sometimes, and I knew that Matt had +surrendered, not to me, but to you; though he came across like a +sport, he didn't want to, for you'd roweled him and roped him with +your love, my dear--and, though you do not know it, that's a terrible +thing to do to a free-running colt like Matt Peasley. He has his +code, and it's a bully code; and I don't want you to tie knots in it, +Florry. Won't you be as spunky and independent as he is, and give him +his head for six months more? He'll probably call sometime to-day, or +ring up, to tell you how I picked holes in the program; and when he +does I want you to smile and tell him you're glad of it, and suggest a +postponement of the wedding until he has demonstrated to me that he is +a business man." + +Florence looked up and bravely smiled a forgiving smile through her +tears. + +"You're a dreadful Buttinsky, Daddy Ricks!" she protested. + +He kissed her hungrily. + +"Oh, I'm a devil in my own home town!" he replied, and trotted back to +his neglected breakfast. "If Matt hasn't made good as a business man +within six months, or has lost his bank roll--and I intend to see to +it that he does lose it, if I ever get a hack at him--we'll pull off +this wedding anyhow. I guess there's room enough in this house for +three." + +At nine o'clock Cappy Ricks, with a lilt in his heart, drove down to +his office behind his team of high-stepping bays. At the corner of +California and Drumm Streets he saw Matt Peasley and hailed him. The +latter came to the carriage door and looked in. + +"It's all right, Matt," Cappy said with a cunning wink. "I've fixed +Florry's clock for her. There won't be the slightest trouble." + +Matt Peasley wrung his hand gratefully. + +"I quit the Sea Fox last night," he announced gladly. + +"Going into business this morning, I suppose?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"What line?" + +"Ship, freight and marine insurance broker." + +"Well, that's a line that will keep you hustling for your wheatcakes +until you get well acquainted. However, just to give you a shove in +the right direction, you might scout round the market and see whether +you can dig up a cargo for our steamer Tillicum. Usual commission of +two and a half per cent." + +"Thank you, Mr. Ricks. I ought to be able to scare up something in +the way of a foreign lumber cargo for her." + +"We've tried and failed. Moreover, her fuel-oil tankage isn't +sufficient to take her too far foreign and back; added to which she is +under American registry, employing American seamen, and I'd rather lay +her up than put a coolie crew aboard and compete with the British +tramps, with their Lascar and Chinamen, at six and seven dollars a +month. We've been running her in our own trade; but the lumber market +is very dull and she has but one more cargo in sight; after that is +freighted, unless we can find outside business for her, she'll have to +lay up in Oakland Inner Harbor until the Panama Canal opens--when, of +course, we can load her for the Atlantic seaboard. She carries nearly +two million feet, and that's what makes it so hard for us to keep her +busy coastwise." + +"How about some Mexican or Central American business--general cargo?" +Matt suggested. + +"Pretty hard stuff to get. The Pacific Mail has most of the Central +American business; and, owing to the political situation in Mexico, +that trade is practically killed. Every vessel that gets in there has +trouble with one faction or the other; they're liable to confiscate, +and then we'd have to call on the navy to get our ship back for us." + +"I'll look round for a grain charter to Honolulu and return with sugar +or general cargo." + +"We might do that," Cappy suggested, brightening. "Good luck to you, +Matt--and don't be a stranger." + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +MATT PEASLEY BECOMES A SHIPOWNER + + +A youth thrust a wary nose into Cappy Ricks' private office and +announced Captain Matt Peasley was desirous of admittance. + +"Show him in," Cappy ordered, and Matt entered. + +"Well, young man," said Cappy briskly, "sit down and tell me of your +adventures during your first week as a business man. Of course, I +hear from Florry that you have opened a dink of an office +somewhere--got desk space with the Alaskan Codfish Corporation, +haven't you, with the use of their telephone, stenographer and general +office boy?" + +"Yes, sir. The manager, Slade, is a native of Thomaston--never knew +anything but fish all his life; and, inasmuch as I was raised on the +Grand Banks, I got in the habit of drifting round there occasionally, +and Slade offered me the privilege of making it my headquarters. Ten +dollars a month--cheap enough." + +"Yes, considering the aroma of codfish that goes with it, +free-gratis," Cappy admitted dryly; "but then I suppose that's what +attracted you in the first place. But have you done any real +business, Matt?" + +"Well, I've arranged with several good old-line insurance companies to +accept any marine-insurance business I may bring in, though I haven't +sold any yet; neither have I been able to find a load for your +Tillicum. By the way, you have a little old three-legged schooner +laid up in Oakland Inner Harbor." + +"I have three of them--more's the pity!" Cappy replied--"the Ethel +Ricks, the Nukahiva and the Harpoon. Which one do you mean?" + +"The Ethel Ricks. She's the only one I examined closely. Would you +consider selling her?" + +"Ah," said Cappy, "I perceive. Your friend Slade wants her for a +codfisher, eh?" + +"That's all she's good for now, Mr. Ricks. She has had her day in the +lumber trade; the steam schooners have relegated her to a final +resting place in the ooze of Oakland Inner Harbor; her class of +windjammers is a thing of the past for general cargo. She's been laid +up now for three years. True, her bottom is coppered and you dry-dock +her every year; but that's an expense. And then you must consider +taxes and depreciation, and sooner or later, if she lies in the mud +long enough, the Teredo will eat her up; so it occurred to me that you +might be glad to sell. She was built in 1883, but she was built to +last--" + +"Never built a cheap ship in my life and never ran 'em cheap," Cappy +challenged proudly. "The Ethel Ricks is in the discard, but she's as +sound a little packet as you'll find anywhere. She's had the best of +care. The same is true of the Harpoon and the Nukahiva." + +"What do you want for her?" + +"Four thousand dollars," Cappy answered promptly. + +"I was offered the Dandelion for three thousand; she's ten years +younger than the Ethel Ricks and in very good condition. Sorry, but I +guess you'll have to keep the Ethel--and let me tell you, the longer +you keep her the less she's worth. However, I guess she doesn't owe +you anything." + +"No; she paid for herself more'n twice," Cappy replied. + +"Then if you get three thousand for her it's like finding the money +and losing a worry." + +"Sold!" said Cappy. + +"I didn't say I'd buy," Matt warned him. "What do you want for the +Harpoon and the Nukahiva?" + +"They're all sister ships. Three thousand each." + +"I am empowered to make you an offer of twenty-seven hundred and fifty +dollars each for the three!" Matt shot at him. + +"Net? The three of them?" Cappy was all attention now; for selling +schooners in lots of three was decidedly new and interesting. + +"Hardly! Five per cent to me. Remember I'm a ship, freight and +marine insurance broker, and I'm not working for my health. Why, I +haven't even suggested any other vessels to my clients--and, by the +way, they are not codfish people either. I knew you'd want to get rid +of these little hookers, so I'm giving you first crack at the +bargain." + +"Who wants them?" Cappy demanded craftily. + +"If I told you that you'd do me the way you did that Seattle broker +who tried to put through the charter of the Lion and the Unicorn. +When you knew who his clients were you were in position to defy +him--and you did!" + +"No offense," Cappy retorted innocently. "Don't be so touchy! Is +this a cash proposition, Matt?" + +"In the hand." + +"I accept." + +"Then give me a written option," Matt warned him. "No more +word-of-mouth business for me with you." + +Cappy laughed; and, calling in a stenographer, he dictated the option. + +"Now, then, Matt," he said as he signed the option five minutes later +and handed it to Matt, "who shall we make out the bills of sale to?" + +"To the Pacific Shipping Company. When you're ready telephone me and +I'll bring the check round." + +"Go get your check now," Cappy ordered. "Skinner will have the bills +of sale ready by the time you return. And I do wish to heaven," he +added, "that you had called round with this proposition four days ago. +I've just had those three schooners dry-docked, cleaned and painted." + +"Which is the very reason why I didn't call round until to-day, Mr. +Ricks. You can afford that dry-dock bill so much better than--er--the +Pacific Shipping Company." + +He left, laughing, and proceeded to the office of the Pacific Shipping +Company, where he procured a check for eighty-two hundred and fifty +dollars and returned to the Blue Star Navigation Company's office. +Mr. Skinner had in the meantime prepared proper bills of sale; a +notary, with offices in the building, had been called in to attest the +signatures of Cappy Ricks and Mr. Hankins, president and secretary +respectively of the Blue Star Navigation Company; and when Cappy Ricks +handed over the bills of sale to Matt Peasley, together with the Blue +Star check for four hundred and twelve dollars and fifty cents--Matt's +commission--the latter handed him the certified check of the Pacific +Shipping Company. + +"Who is the Pacific Shipping Company, Matt?" Cappy queried. "I never +heard of them before." + +"It's a new company, sir," Matt replied; and, gathering up his bills +of sale and the check for his commission, he fled precipitately, +leaving Cappy Ricks to adjust his spectacles and examine the check. +It was signed: "Pacific Shipping Company, by Matthew Peasley, +President." + +For a long time Cappy Ricks sat staring at that check. Finally he +looked up and saw Mr. Skinner gazing at him. He held out the check +and tapped Matt Peasley's signature. + +"Get on to that, Skinner, my boy," he said; "get on to that! Matt's +gone into the shipping business, and he's making an humble start with +three little old antiquated schooners, for which he has paid me more +than eight thousand dollars. Now he will go broke!" + +"I do not agree with you, Mr. Ricks," Mr. Skinner replied dryly, "for +I notice he didn't forget to stick us four hundred and twelve dollars +and fifty cents for the privilege of selling him those three +schooners! This is the first time I ever heard of anybody's paying +the purchaser a commission!" + +"The infernal scoundrel!" Cappy shrilled angrily, for Mr. Skinner's +assertion carried the hint that Cappy had been outgeneraled. "The +Yankee thief!--acting as broker for a company in which he owns all the +capital stock! In business a week and he's made over four hundred +dollars already, neat and nice, and as clean as a hound's tooth! Can +you beat it?" + +"It's better than being a port captain for the Blue Star Navigation +Company at three hundred a month," Mr. Skinner suggested wistfully. + +He had worked for a salary all his days, and after passing the thirty +mark he had lost the courage to leap into the commercial fray and be +his own man. He wished he might have been endowed at birth with a +modicum of Matt Peasley's courage and reckless disregard of +consequences. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +WORKING CAPITAL + + +It was nearly ten weeks before Cappy Ricks laid eyes on Matt Peasley +again. Inquiry from Florry elicited the information that Matt had +gone to Mexico as skipper of his own schooner, the Harpoon, bound on +some mysterious business. + +"He's taken the old Harpoon down there to stick a Mexican--I'll bet a +hat on that!" Cappy reflected. "I'll bet he'll have a tale to tell +when he gets back." + +There came a day when Matt, looking healthy and happy, dropped in for +a social call. + +"Well, young man," Cappy greeted him, "give an account of yourself. +How do you find business?" + +"The finest game in the world," Matt replied heartily. "I had the +Ethel Ricks snaked out of the mud and hauled out on the marine +railway, where I bossed a gang of riggers and sailmakers for a week, +getting her gear in shape while she was having a gas engine and tanks +for the distillate installed. Then I gave her a dab of paint here and +there, sweetened her up, and sold her to Slade, of the Alaska +Codfishing Corporation, at a net profit of fifteen hundred dollars +over her total cost to me. Nearly two thousand for my first month in +business. Not so bad, eh?" + +"You'll do better after a while," Cappy remarked dryly. "I hear you've +been to Mexico. How about it, boy?" + +"I took the Harpoon down myself, and hired a skipper to take the +Nukahiva. Before doing so, however, I overhauled their gear and +installed gas engines in them also--only I'd learned something by this +time. I bought second-hand engines, rebuilt, but with a guaranty, and +they cost me a thousand dollars less than new engines. In +conversation with Captain Kirk, of the steamer San Blas, I had heard +that a company in Guaymas was thinking of buying a couple of little +coasting schooners, putting gas engines in them, and adding these +crafts to their fleet running out of Guaymas to Mazatlan, Topolobampo, +and way ports. So I went down, put my schooners under the Mexican +flag, and started opposition. The old-established company went to the +local military commander and tried to get him to commandeer my vessels +for the use of the government, which pays in depreciated shinplasters +that may be worth something some day a hundred years from now." + +"Whew-w-w!" Cappy whistled. "That was a narrow squeak, Matt. How did +you dodge it?" + +"I had the local military commander on my payroll, with good American +gold, before I ever started anything. I knew he'd come to shake me +down; so I anticipated him and made a monthly donation to the cause of +liberty. I do not know for certain, but I imagine he went south with +it himself, though I do not begrudge the amount. I only paid him for +one month anyhow. By that time I had an offer to sell out; and I did, +reluctantly, but for real money and at a much better figure than if I +had not made it an object for them to buy. I got out with a net +profit of seventy-four hundred and fifty dollars on the two schooners. +Not so bad, eh, Mr. Ricks? Over nine thousand dollars in less than +three months? Of course, I realize I could not have made that much if +I hadn't had the funds with which to speculate." + +Cappy nodded. Words were beyond him for the time being. Finally he +said: + +"Matt, that was pure gambling, though you think it was a speculation. +It was mighty poor business, even if you did emerge with a fancy +profit. You might have been cleaned out." + +"Yes; and if the hare hadn't stopped to take a nap the tortoise would +not have won the race," Matt replied. "So far as I can see, all +business is a gamble and every investment is a bet; hence, a good +business man is a good gambler." + +Cappy Ricks sighed. + +"There is a special providence," he said, "that looks after fools, +drunken men and sailors." + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +EASY MONEY + + +Captain Matt Peasley's first act after consummating his first +successful deal was to purchase for the Pacific Shipping Company a +membership in the Merchants' Exchange, on the floor of which he knew +he would meet daily all the shipping men of San Francisco, and thus be +enabled to keep in touch with trade conditions. + +He had been a member less than a week when the wisdom of spending five +hundred dollars for his membership was made delightfully apparent. +While he stood watching the secretary chalk on the blackboard the +record of the latest arrivals and departures, he heard a man behind +him speaking: + +"Heyfuss, I'm in the market to charter another freighter for the +Panama run. You might look round and see whether you can line +something up for us. I'd like about a two-thousand-ton boat; and we +could charter her for a year." + +"There's only one vessel available," the man addressed as Heyfuss +answered; "and that's the Tillicum. Cappy Ricks had her laid up in +Oakland Creek--" + +Matt moved away and approached a clerk at the desk. + +"That dark-haired man with the thick glasses, talking with Mr. +Heyfuss," he said--"who is he?" + +"That is Mr. Henry Kelton, manager of G. H. Morrow Company," the clerk +answered. "They operate a line of sailing vessels foreign and half a +dozen steamers to South American ports." + +Matt thanked him, entered a telephone booth and on consulting the +telephone directory, discovered that J. 0. Heyfuss was a broker. + +"I'll have to step lively to beat Heyfuss to it," he soliloquized, and +forthwith hastened down to the office of the Blue Star Navigation +Company. + +"Well, young man!" Cappy greeted him genially. "How about you?" + +"Never mind me. How about the Tillicum?" + +"Laid up in Oakland Inner Harbor waiting for better times." + +"I think I can give her some business. Would you charter her to the +Pacific Shipping Company?" + +"Well," Cappy replied, "I might be induced to take a chance in these +hard times. How much money have you in bank to-day?" + +"In a pinch I could lay my hands on thirty thousand, cash." + +"Well," said Cappy thoughtfully, "that little roll, plus an +established credit and a reputation for business experience, might +carry you far with some people--but not with me. You're not a safe +bet--yet; but we can make it safe." + +"How?" + +"You can pay the charter money in advance," Cappy answered smilingly. + +"I have decided not to do any more gambling, Mr. Ricks. Hereafter, as +near as such a thing may be humanly possible, I'm going to play a sure +thing. Therefore, all things being equal, if I can guarantee you your +price for the steamer, on a year's charter, you do not care what I do +with the vessel, provided that I do not injure her?" + +"Certainly." + +"Well, then, in order to play safe and protect you, suppose I charter +her from you, contingent on my ability to recharter her to some +responsible shipping firm. Under those conditions would you exact the +charter money in advance? You know very well that when I collect my +money from the charterers you'll get yours right away." + +"Without question, Matt; but sometimes a fellow cannot collect his +money from the charterers, and then the owner has to wait. I'm taking +no chances to speak of on you, Matthew, my son; but for the sake of +making it a sporting proposition I'll talk business on the basis of +fifty per cent. of the charter money, payable monthly in advance." + +"That's cold-blooded, but I can stand it. What is the Tillicum going +to cost me a day?" + +"What kind of charter do you want--government form or bare boat?" + +"You might give me an option with a price based on each form. I +haven't the slightest idea what form my prospective victim prefers, +though I prefer a bare-boat charter. I will close with you on +whatever basis he prefers, if that is satisfactory." + +"I'll make many concessions to get that vessel out of the mud and to +sea, and paying a reasonable rate on the money invested in her. I +hate to keep a good skipper and a good chief engineer on the beach, +and I want them to begin drawing their salaries again." + +Cappy reached into his desk and produced a little loose-leaf +memorandum book, and from certain figures therein contained he +commenced to figure what he should charge Matt for the ship. On his +part, Matt, whose apprenticeship under the Blue Star had made him +tolerably familiar with every steamer in the fleet, got out a pad and +pencil and commenced to figure the cost of operation himself. Not +knowing the cost of the steamer or the ratio of profit Cappy might +expect on the investment, however, he was more or less at sea until +Cappy had named his figures; whereupon Matt pretended to do some more +figuring. Finally he frowned and said: + +"Fifty dollars a day too much." + +He did not know a thing about it, but he knew Cappy Ricks well enough +to know that Cappy would first decide on his minimum price and then +add a hundred dollars a day for good measure; hence, Yankeelike, Matt +commenced to chaffer, with the result that before he left the office +Cappy had abated his price fifty dollars a day and given Matt a +forty-eight-hour option on the vessel, agreeing to charter her to him +at the figures specified, contingent on Matt's ability to recharter +her to a responsible firm. + +Cappy chuckled as Matt Peasley left the office. + +"You're taking a pretty big bite, Matt," he soliloquized; "so I'll +handicap you. And if anything goes wrong, and you fail to collect +from your people, I'll give you a lesson in high finance that you'll +never forget, young man! I'll bet my immortal soul you're going to +try to do business with Morrow & Company; and if that outfit isn't +scheduled for involuntary bankruptcy, then I'm a Chinaman. A charter +for a year, eh? They'll never last a year. They'll bust, owing you a +month's charter money, Matthew, and the vessel will be at sea, most +likely, or in a South American port, when that happens; and you can't +throw her back on me until you deliver her in her home port. And +meantime your charter to me keeps rambling right along, and I'll +attach your bankroll if you're a day late with your payment in +advance. Yes, sir; I'll break you in two for the good of your +immortal soul. Matt--Matt, my son--something tells me you're +monkeying with fire and liable to get burned." + +From Cappy Ricks' office Matt Peasley called on Kelton of Morrow & +Company. Kelton, a shrewd, double-action sort of person and the +smartest shipping man on the street, looked with frank curiosity at +Matt's modest card. + +"Pacific Shipping Company, eh? That's a new one on me, Captain +Peasley," he said. + +"It's a new one on me also," Matt replied humorously; "in fact, it is +too recent to be very well known. We've been operating a fleet of +windjammers, with auxiliary power, down on the Mexican Coast," he +added truthfully, calm in the knowledge that two schooners constitute +a fleet if one be not inclined to split conversational hairs; "but we +sold them and decided to go into the steamship business. We hope to +buy or build a line of freighters to run to Atlantic Coast ports via +the Panama Canal." + +"What steam vessels have you got now?" Kelton queried interestedly. + +"Only one at present, Mr. Kelton. We've acquired the Tillicum, late +of the Blue Star fleet." + +"Indeed!" replied Kelton. + +He was all attention now; for, though Matt Peasley did not know it, +less than ten days previous Kelton had tried to charter the Tillicum +direct from Cappy Ricks, who, knowing something of the financial +condition of Morrow & Company, had declined to consider a charter +unless under a guaranty of payment other than that of Morrow & +Company. Kelton was in urgent need of a steamer to cope with the +congestion of freight, and the Tillicum suited the purpose of his +company admirably; hence, the news that he might still be able to +acquire her filled him with sudden hope. + +"Indeed!" he reiterated. "I had no idea Cappy Ricks contemplated +selling her, though it has been common talk on the street that he made +a mistake in building such a big boat as the Tillicum for the +coastwise lumber trade. She was too hard to find business for, and I +dare say he was sick of his bargain." + +"Well, I thought we'd take a chance on her," Matt replied, not taking +the trouble to disabuse Kelton of the impression to which he had +apparently jumped--to wit, that the Pacific Shipping Company had +purchased the Tillicum. + +"What do you intend doing with her?" Kelton continued. + +"They tell me business is good on the Panama run, and it will be +better when the Canal is opened. However, until the Canal does open, +we would prefer to keep out of the Pacific Coast trade. Competition +always means a rate war, with consequent loss to both parties to the +struggle; so we'd rather charter the Tillicum for a year if we could. +I heard you were in the market for a boat." + +"I think we might use the Tillicum," Kelton replied. "What are you +asking for her?" + +Matt named a figure considerably in advance of what he expected to +receive and stipulated a bare-boat charter--that is to say, Kelton's +company should pay the entire cost of operating the vessel, and select +her crew and officers with the exception of the captain and chief +engineer, it being customary among many owners, when chartering a +vessel, to stipulate that their own captain, in whom they have +confidence, shall command her. Cappy Ricks always specified his own +skipper and chief engineer. + +When Matt named his figure Kelton promptly shouted "Thief!" but made +the mistake of shouting too loud--whereat Matt Peasley knew he was not +sincere and promptly decided to outgame him. At the end of half an +hour of argument and much futile figuring, which deceived nobody, Matt +abated his price twenty-five dollars a day and Kelton said he would +think it over. Matt knew the charter was as good as closed, and when +he left Morrow & Company's office he repaired straight to that of +Cappy Ricks. + +"I think I'll be able to recharter, Mr. Ricks," he said confidently. +"Have you any objection to Morrow & Company as recharterers?" + +Cappy started slightly, hesitated a fraction of a second, and replied +that he had no objection whatsoever. + +"Very well, sir," Matt replied. "Will you please have Mr. Skinner +prepare the charter parties right away, sign them, and send them over +to my office for my signature? I can't wait to sign them now. And +about the captain--I suppose you'll want to put in your own skipper, +of course. Who is he?" + +"Captain Grant." + +"Have you any objection to inserting a clause in the charter party +stipulating that, if for any reason Captain Grant proves objectionable +to the charterers, I may take command of the vessel myself? As +charterer I will have a very vital interest in the vessel and I might +feel called on to protect that interest personally." + +"Matt," said Cappy earnestly, "I'll trust you in preference to most +men with any ship of mine. Still, Grant is a very able man." + +"He might be too slow for me, Mr. Ricks. I prefer to have a spare +anchor in case of necessity." + +"Well, have it your own way," Cappy acquiesced, and summoned Mr. +Skinner to prepare the charter parties, while Matt went back to his +own office and gave instructions that he was not to be called to the +telephone. + +Something told him that Kelton would be ringing up before the day was +over to accept his price on the Tillicum, and he did not want to be +placed in the position of having to give a yes or no answer until he +had seen Cappy Ricks' charter parties, with Cappy's signature +attached. He would then close up his deal with Morrow & Company, +after which he would sign Cappy's charter parties and turn two copies +over to Cappy. In this way he would be enabled to play safe and save +his face in case any hitch occurred at the last minute. + +The charter parties, duly signed and in triplicate, arrived from Cappy +Ricks in the morning's mail, with a request from Cappy for Matt to +append his signature to two copies and return them to the Blue Star +Navigation Company. Matt, after first assuring himself that the +instrument was in order, called up Kelton, who informed him that he +would accept Matt's offer for a year's charter of the Tillicum. +Within half an hour Matt had his charter parties ready for Kelton's +signature and the deal was closed; whereupon Matt signed the charter +party Cappy Ricks had sent him and handed it to Cappy, together with a +check for nine thousand dollars--one half the monthly rental of the +Tillicum. + +Cappy whistled softly through his teeth as he handed the documents to +Mr. Skinner and instructed him to put the Tillicum in commission at +once. + + + +CHAPTER XL + +THE CATACLYSM + + +For two voyages all went well. The Tillicum was engaged in carrying +general cargo to Panama for reshipment over the Panama Railroad to +Colon, at which point it was reshipped in steamers to ports along the +Atlantic seaboard. Following the universal custom, Matt's charter +with Morrow & Company stipulated settlement in full every thirty days, +whereas his charter with Cappy Ricks, for reasons best known to Cappy, +stipulated payment in full every fifteen days; which arrangement +operated to keep nine thousand dollars of Matt's money in Cappy's +hands continuously. This fact graveled Matt whenever he reflected +that money was worth at least seven per cent.; but, since he was +making sixty dollars a day profit as the result of his deal, he +concluded not to mention this point to Cappy Ricks. + +Morrow & Company met the first monthly payment with cash on the nail. +At the second settlement, however, when Matt called for his check, +Kelton requested, as a special favor, that Matt allow him four days' +time. A clever talker, with a peculiarly winning way about him, he +disarmed suspicion very readily, and Matt assured him he would be very +glad indeed to extend him such a slight courtesy. + +Meantime, however, Cappy Ricks had to be reckoned with; so, in order +not to keep him waiting, Matt sent him another check for nine thousand +dollars. Cappy now had eighteen thousand dollars of Matt's money; and +on the fourth day, when the latter called on Kelton for his check, the +latter actually made him feel ashamed of himself for calling and sent +him away with one-half of the sum now overdue! This perturbed Matt +somewhat, but when he showed some slight indication of it Kelton +playfully picked up a glass paper weight and threatened to destroy him +if he did not get out of the office at once; so, because it is +difficult to be serious with a man who declines to take one seriously, +Matt forced a grin and departed, with the light intimation that he +would return in three days, and if the check was not forthcoming then +he would fresco Kelton's office with the latter's life-blood. + +"Get out!" shouted Kelton laughingly. "I know money is tight and I +don't blame you for being Fido-at-the-rat-hole; but if you bother me +about that check for a week I'll not speak to you." + +So Matt waited a week, and then the check reached him by mail, with a +courteous note from Kelton thanking him for his leniency. It seemed +to Matt he had scarcely acknowledged the receipt of that check before +he had to give Cappy Ricks another nine thousand dollars! + +Morrow & Company were late again on the third month, but this time +they did not wait to be dunned. On the day before the payment was due +Kelton took Matt Peasley to luncheon and in the course of the meal he +informed Matt, quite casually, that he would be a little late with his +check. With two dollars' worth of his genial host's food under his +belt, Matt felt that it would be rude, to say the least, if he +insisted on settlement; so he said: + +"Oh, don't worry about that, old man! Give it to me as soon as you +can, because I'm a little pinched myself." + +Nevertheless, Matt was beginning to worry, for his acquaintance +throughout the trade had extended rapidly, due to his propensity for +making friends, and he had heard one or two little rumors that Morrow +& Company had bitten off more than they could chew in a few big deals +of late and had been badly pinched; in fact, to such an extent did +Matt ponder on the possibility of the company's going into the hands +of the receiver, leaving his thirty thousand dollars to disappear into +the ravening maw of the Blue Star Navigation Company, that he forgot +to send Cappy his check for nine thousand dollars the day it was due. +And the next morning Cappy himself called up and, in a voice that +seemed to come straight from a cold-storage plant, asked him what he +meant by it, and requested him--though to Matt it sounded like a +peremptory demand--to send the check over at once. So angry and +humiliated did Matt feel as a result of this dun, he could not trust +himself to call with the check but sent it by special delivery. + +The Tillicum had returned from her second voyage to Panama and was +about to commence loading her third cargo when another payment fell +due. To Matt's chagrin Kelton again pleaded for delay; and again Matt +settled with Cappy Ricks prior to collecting from Morrow & Company. +Kelton had promised a check on the following Wednesday, and on the +appointed day Matt called, only to be met with a request for further +delay. Kelton explained that Mr. Morrow had been taken very ill and +things were at sixes and sevens in the office as a result. Could not +Matt wait until Saturday, when Mr. Morrow would be back to sign a +check? + +"What's wrong with Morrow?" Matt demanded pointedly. "Has he got +paralysis of the right hand?" + +"Worse than that," Kelton answered seriously. "He's on the verge of +nervous prostration." + +"But can't you sign a check?" + +"Y-e-s; but Mr. Morrow generally attends to all financial details." + +"Well, we'll excuse him from attending to this detail," Matt replied. +"I want a check and I want it now, because it is a week overdue; the +vessel is nearly loaded and about to go to sea, and if I do not get my +money--" + +"Well, suppose I give you half of it now and the other half in a day +or two?" Kelton suggested. + +He looked worried and unhappy, and Matt felt sorry for him; for, +indeed, Kelton was a likable chap and perfectly trustworthy, and Matt +sensed some of the worry that was falling on the manager in his +desperate efforts to run a business on short capital. However, Matt's +own financial shoestring was too short for him to afford any +sentiment, though, for the reason that he was naturally kind-hearted +and considerate, he consented to accept a check for half the amount +due and left Kelton to the society of the many devils which seemed to +be tormenting him. + +On the sidewalk he paused suddenly. So Morrow was on the verge of +nervous prostration, eh? That was bad. It had been Matt's experience +that, as a usual thing, but two things conduce to bring about nervous +prostration--overwork and worry; and in Morrow's case it must be +worry, for Kelton did all the work! Kelton, too, looked haggard and +drawn. + +"I must be very careful," Matt told himself, "for if that concern +should go broke while the Tillicum is en route to Panama my charter to +Morrow & Company may be considered to have terminated automatically; +and if they go under owing me from ten to twenty thousand dollars, I'm +still responsible to Cappy Ricks for my charter of the Tillicum until +I can bring her back to her home port and turn her back to him. Thank +God for that clause in the charter which gives me the privilege of +terminating my charter with Cappy in case Morrow & Company terminate +their charter with me! It will be all right if they terminate it +while the vessel is in San Francisco; but if she's very far from home +I'll most certainly be eaten alive while I'm getting her back to +Cappy!" + +He returned to his office and went into a long executive session with +himself, from which he aroused presently and went down to the dock +where the cargo was pouring into the hold of the Tillicum. Here he +consulted with the captain and the purser, and obtained a list of all +persons, firms or corporations which had furnished supplies of any +kind to the deck department of the steamer. From the chief engineer +he procured a similar list of those who had furnished supplies to the +engine department; and, armed with this information, he returned to +his office and dictated the following form letter: + + Gentlemen:--Please take notice that we as charterers of the + steamer Tillicum from the Blue Star Navigation Company, and as + recharterers to Messrs. G. H. Morrow & Company, will not be + responsible for the payment to you of any bills for supplies or + stores, of any nature whatsoever, furnished to the said steamer + Tillicum since she has been under charter to said G. H. Morrow + & Company. Any bills contracted with you by G. H. Morrow & + Company for account of the Tillicum must be paid to you by + G. H. Morrow & Company. This notice is hereby given you in order + that we may go on record as disclaiming any responsibility as + charterers prior to the departure of the said steamer Tillicum + on her next voyage. + + Yours very truly, + PACIFIC SHIPPING COMPANY, + By Matthew Peasley, President. + +A copy of this letter Matt sent by registered mail, with a request for +a return registry receipt, to each of the creditors of the Tillicum of +whom he could get track. He had all the receipts in hand by the last +mail delivery the next day, and at eight o'clock that night the +Tillicum, having cleared the customs the same afternoon, departed for +Panama. Two days later Matt again called on Morrow & Company for the +money due him and, after much argument, succeeded in getting it. He +hastened at once to the bank on which it was drawn and asked the +paying teller to certify it. This the latter declined to do--neither +would he cash the check; so Matt took it back to Kelton. + +"Kelton," he said, "the bank will not honor your check." + +Kelton looked desperate. + +"Confound you!" he growled. "I stalled you until five minutes before +the bank closed, thinking you would deposit it in your own bank +to-morrow morning and I'd have a deposit to cover it by that time. It +will be all right first thing in the morning, Peasley." + +"It had better be!" Matt told him bluntly. "Your charter provides for +cancellation in the event that payments are not made as stipulated, +and I'm not in a position to carry you or to take any chances on +you--and I'm not going to." + +"I can't blame you a bit," Kelton answered regretfully. "I tell you, +with the money market as tight as it is, we're beating the devil round +the stump these days. Confound it, Peasley, a man has to do some +scheming and stalling when everybody is crowding him for money, +doesn't he?" + +The check was not paid when Matt presented it the next morning. As he +came out of the bank a newsboy, crying his daily sensation, accosted +him with the first afternoon edition, and Matt's glance caught a smear +of red ink seven columns wide across the front page: + + SHIPPING MAN A SUICIDE! + +It was Morrow! + +For about a minute Matt Peasley stood on the corner, doing some of the +fastest thinking he had ever done. Morrow had taken a short cut out +of his financial worries, and Matt realized that the tragedy would +undoubtedly bring an avalanche of creditors down on the unhappy Kelton +and ruin the firm. At any rate, the concern would doubtless go into +the hands of a receiver, and Matt Peasley might or might not hope for +his in the sweet by and by, according to the amount of salvage +reported. The Tillicum was seventy-six hours at sea! + +"Matthew," Matt Peasley murmured to himself, "'theirs not to reason +why, theirs but to do and die'--and all in one thundering big hurry!" + + + +CHAPTER XLI + +WHEN PAIN AND ANGUISH WRING THE BROW + + +Cappy Ricks was having his siesta, with his feet on top of his desk, +when Matt Peasley came bounding in, seized him by the shoulder and +shook him wideawake. + +"Well, young man," Cappy snapped querulously, "what's all the +excitement about?" + +"Morrow has committed suicide, and I know the firm is in financial +difficulties. I'll not be able to collect now--I'll have to wait with +the rest of the creditors; and meantime the Tillicum, fully loaded, is +somewhere down off the Mexican coast. Good gracious, Mr. Ricks, +there's the very devil to pay!" + +"We will, if you please, not include outsiders in this argument for +the present, Matt," Cappy retorted dryly. "The unfortunate devil does +not pay! You do, Matt. I should worry!" + +"But you can help me save something from the wreck!" Matt pleaded +desperately. "It's going to clean me of my last dollar to make good +with you on my charter, even if Morrow & Company do not make good with +me on theirs; and--" + +Cappy Ricks held up his hand. + +"My dear boy," he said with maddening calm, "listen to me! I had a +hunch this would happen. As a matter of fact, I declined to charter +to Morrow & Company direct ten days before you came prancing in with +your head all swelled up with a brand-new idea for making a lot of +easy money in a hurry. Me charter to them--me!" In his superb scorn +Cappy waxed ungrammatical. "I should kiss a pig! Why, if sawmills +were selling for six bits each I wouldn't trust that concern with a +hatful of sawdust--not that they weren't honest and capable, but they +haven't got any money to speak of any more!" + +"But--but--Why, dad burn it, sir, you said it was perfectly agreeable +to you to have me charter the Tillicum to them!" Matt roared, angry, +hurt and amazed. + +"Why should I worry what you do? I have all I can do to attend to my +own business. Why should I tell you yours?" + +"But--" + +"No ifs or buts, Matt. I played safe; but you're caught away off +third base and now you're out! You've got to settle with me for every +day you have that vessel under charter until you deliver her back here +in San Francisco Bay and formally surrender her to me. You've got to +pay me--and what's more, I'm going to see to it that you do! Business +is business, my boy." + +"Well, I'll pay you all the cash I can and give you my note for the +remainder." + +"Your note!" Cappy jeered. "Your note! What do I want with your +note! Is it hockable at any bank? Huh! Answer me that." + +"You needn't insult me!" Matt growled wrathfully. + +"Bah!" Cappy sneered. "You think you're mighty smart, don't you, +Matt? Do you remember what I told you when you declined to go to work +for me and insisted on going into business for yourself? I told you +you'd go bust--and you're going right now. All you'll have left in +thirty days will be the clothes you stand in and the corporation seal +of the Pacific Shipping Company. Ho-ho! Isn't that funny? The idea +of a man's paying thirty thousand dollars for a dinky old corporation +seal worth two and a half!" + +Matt Peasley's face went white with suppressed fury. + +"Yes," he said quietly. "I seem to remember some such prophecy; also, +some conversation to the effect that I'd be a better business man if I +purchased my business experience with my own money. You said there +were wolves along California Street that would take my roll away from +me so fast it'd surprise me. I must confess, however, that I had no +idea you would lead the pack! However, I didn't come here to argue, +Mr. Ricks--" + +"What did you come for? Sympathy?" Cappy queried. "Because, if you +did, you've come to the wrong shop, my boy. Business is business, +Matt; I never mix sentiment with it and I advise you never to do it +either. Pay your way and take your beating like a sport--that's my +policy, Matt." + +"Do you want to save the Blue Star Navigation Company some money?" +Matt managed to articulate. + +"Certainly! Now you're talking business; so I'll listen." + +"As charterer of your steamer Tillicum, I find that Captain Grant, the +master you installed there, is offensive to me. I object to the way +he parts his hair and knots his necktie, and I want a new skipper on +the ship." + +Cappy Ricks slid out to the edge of his swivel chair, placed a hand on +each knee and eyed Matt suspiciously over the rims of his spectacles. +After a long silence he shook his head negatively. + +"Then I'll sue you!" Matt replied. "There's a clause in the charter +party. You've got to do it." + +Cappy's mouth flew open. + +"Oh, by Judas Priest, that's right," he said, and laughed. "So you're +providing a job for yourself after the smoke clears away, eh?" he +quizzed. "Well, you can skipper the Tillicum while you keep up the +payments of the charter money, Matt; but I give you my word that the +day you slip up on a payment, out you go and back Captain Grant goes +into the ship. Meantime, however, I think I see now why you inserted +that clause. In the event of just such a contingency as the present +you wanted the privilege of jumping in and taking command yourself." + +Matt nodded. + +"Captain Grant is a good man, but old. He can't drive a crew like I +can, Mr. Ricks--and, with me on the job, that steamer will be +discharged and back in San Francisco Bay from three to five days +sooner that she would ordinarily. It means six hundred dollars a day +to me, sir, and every day saved is worth that much cash in hand to +you, since you profess to think so lightly of my promissory note." + +"Enough!" Cappy commanded. "I'll admit that the thought does you +credit. It was a mighty bright idea, Matt, and showed fine +forethought. Now, then, what are you going to do to save your roll?" + +"The City of Para leaves for Panama to-morrow. Give me a letter to +Captain Grant, commanding him to turn his ship over to me on +presentation of this letter. I will furnish him the funds to pay his +transportation back to San Francisco." + +"Fair enough," said Cappy; and, calling in a stenographer, he dictated +the desired letter. + +Ten minutes later Matt Peasley had left the office without the +formality of saying good-by to Cappy Ricks, and was in a taxicab en +route to his lodgings to pack his steamer trunk and hand baggage. +Cappy Ricks chuckled as Matt went angrily out. + +"Ah--that first time a man goes broke!" he soliloquized. "What a blow +to one's pride! What a shock to the nervous system!" He sighed. +"Poor old Matt! Nobody knows better than Cappy Ricks how you feel, +because he's been there twice and it blamed near broke his heart each +time it happened." + +He shook his head with an air of satisfaction, for things were going +well with him. He had made a prophecy and it was in a fair way of +being fulfilled--nay, its fulfillment was inevitable; whereat Cappy, +after the habit of the aged in their conflict with Youth, felt very +much like shaking hands with himself. Indeed, so pleased was he that +presently he called in Mr. Skinner and related the story in meticulous +detail to the general manager. + +Mr. Skinner was delighted. More--he was overcome. He sat down and +permitted himself the most soul-satisfying laugh he had had in years. + + + +CHAPTER XLII + +UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS + + +Mr. Skinner thrust his head into Cappy Ricks' office and said: + +"I've just had a telephone message from the Merchants' Exchange. The +Tillicum is passing in." + +"Then," said Cappy Ricks, "in about two hours at the latest we may +expect a mournful visit from Captain Matt Peasley." + +"If you don't mind, Mr. Ricks," said Skinner with a smirk, "I should +dearly love to be present at the interview." + +Cappy smiled brightly. + +"By all means, Skinner, my dear boy; by all means, since you wish it. +It just about breaks my heart to think of the cargo of grief I'm going +to slip that boy; but I have resolved to be firm, Skinner. He owes us +eighteen thousand dollars and he must go through with his contract to +the very letter, and pay the Blue Star Navigation Company every last +cent due it. He will, doubtless, suggest some sort of settlement--ten +cents on the dollar--" + +"Don't agree to it," Mr. Skinner pleaded. "He has more than a +thousand dollars a month going to his credit on our books from the +Unicorn charter, and if that vessel stays afloat a year longer we'll +be in the clear. Be very firm with him, Mr. Ricks. As you say, it is +all for his own benefit and the experience will do him a whole lot of +good." + +"I love the boy," said Cappy; "but in the present case, Skinner, I +haven't any heart. A chunk of anthracite coal is softer than that +particular organ this morning. Be sure to show Matt in the minute he +comes up from the dock." + +Mr. Skinner needed no urging when, less than two hours later, Captain +Matt Peasley arrived. Mr. Skinner greeted him courteously and +followed him into Cappy's office. + +"Well, well, well!" Cappy began unctuously. "How do you do, Matt, my +dear boy? Glad to see you; in fact, we're extra glad to see you," he +added significantly and winked at Mr. Skinner, who caught the hint and +murmured loud enough for Matt Peasley to hear: + +"Eighteen thousand dollars to-morrow!" + +Cappy extended a hand, which Matt grasped heartily. + +"You're looking fit as a fiddle," Cappy continued. "Doesn't look a +bit worried--does he, Skinner?" + +"I must admit he appears to carry it off very well, Mr. Ricks. We had +thought, captain," Skinner continued, turning to Matt Peasley, "that, +when Mr. Ricks agreed to permit you to assume command of the Tillicum +when she reached Panama, we might have been treated to an exhibition +of speed; but the fact of the matter is that instead of economizing on +time you are about ten days in excess of the period it would have +taken for Captain Grant to have discharged his cargo and gotten back +to San Francisco." He winked at Cappy Ricks, who returned the wink. + +"You mean in ballast," Matt suggested. Skinner nodded. "Oh, well, +that accounts for it," Matt continued serenely. "I came home with a +cargo of steel rails." + +Cappy Ricks slid out to the extreme edge of his swivel chair; and, +with a hand on each knee, he gazed at Matt Peasley over the rims of +his spectacles. Mr. Skinner started violently. + +"You came home with a cargo of steel rails?" Cappy demanded +incredulously. + +"Certainly! Do you suppose I would go to the expense of hiring +somebody else to skipper the Tillicum while I was there with my +license? Not by a jugful! I was saving every dollar I could. I had +to." + +"Er--er--Where is Captain Grant?" Skinner demanded. + +"Captain Grant is free, white and twenty-one. He goes where he +pleases without consulting me, Mr. Skinner. He means nothing in my +life--so why should I know where he is?" + +"You infernal scoundrel!" shrilled Cappy Ricks. "You whaled hell out +of him and threw him out on the dock at Panama--that's what you did to +him! You took the Tillicum away from him by force." + +"Captain Grant is a fine, elderly gentleman, sir," Matt interrupted. +"I would not use force on him. He left the ship of his own free will +at San Diego, California." + +"At San Diego?" Cappy and Skinner cried in unison. + +"At San Diego." + +"But you said you were going to Panama on the City of Para, the +regular passenger liner," Cappy challenged. + +"Well, I wasn't committed to that course, sir. After leaving your +office I changed my mind. I figured the Tillicum was somewhere off +the coast of Lower California; so I wirelessed Captain Grant, +explained to him that the ship was back on my hands by reason of the +failure of Morrow & Company, and ordered him to put into San Diego for +further orders. He proceeded there; I proceeded there; we met; I +presented your letter relieving him of his command. Simple enough, +isn't it?" + +"But what became of him?" + +"How should I know, sir? I've been as busy as a bird dog down in +Panama. Please let me get on with my story. I had just cleared Point +Loma and was about to surrender the bridge to my first mate when an +interesting little message came trickling out of the ether--and my +wireless boy picked it up, because it was addressed to 'Captain Grant, +Master S. S. Tillicum.'" + +Cappy Ricks quivered and licked his lower lip, but said nothing. + +"That message," Matt continued, "was brought to me by the operator, +who really didn't know what to do with it. Captain Grant had left the +ship and Sparks didn't know what hotel in San Diego the late master of +the Tillicum would put up for the night; so I read the message to see +whether it was important, for I felt that it had to do with the ship's +business and that I was justified in reading it." + +Again Cappy Ricks squirmed. Mr. Skinner commenced to gnaw his thumb +nail. + +"That message broke me all up," Matt continued sadly. "It destroyed +completely my faith in human nature and demonstrated beyond a doubt +that there is no such thing in this world as fair play in business. +It's like a waterfront fight. You just get your man down and +everything goes--kicking, biting, gouging, knee-work!" Matt sighed +dolorously and drew from his vest pocket a scrap of paper. "Just +listen to this for a message!" He continued. "Just imagine how nice +you'd feel, Mr. Ricks, if you were skippering a boat and picked up a +message like this at sea: + + "'Grant, Master Steamer Tillicum: Gave Captain Matt Peasley a + letter to you yesterday ordering you to turn over command of + Tillicum to him on presentation or demand. This on his request + and on his insistence, as per clause in charter party, copy of + which you have. Peasley leaves to-day for Panama on City of + Para. This will be your authority for declining to surrender + the ship to him when he comes aboard there. Stand pat! Letter + with complete instructions for your guidance follows on City of + Para. + + Ricks.'" + +Cappy Ricks commenced tapping one foot nervously against the other, +Mr. Skinner coughed perfunctorily, while Matt withered each with a +rather sorrowful glance. + +"Of course you can imagine the shock this gave me. I give you my word +that for as much as five seconds I didn't know what to do; but after +that I got real busy. I swung the ship and came ramping back to San +Diego harbor, slipped ashore in the small boat and found Captain Grant +at the railroad station buying a ticket for San Francisco. I had to +wait and watch the ticket office for an hour before he showed up, and +when he did I made him a proposition. I told him that if he would +agree to keep away from the office of the Blue Star Navigation Company +you might think he was peeved at being relieved of his command so +peremptorily, and hence would not attach any importance to his failure +to report at the office. + +"In consideration of this I gave him my word of honor that he would be +restored to his command as soon as I could bring the Tillicum back +from Panama, and meantime his salary would continue just the same--in +proof of which I gave him a check for two months' pay in advance. He +said he thought it all a very queer proceeding; but, since he was no +longer in command of the Tillicum, it wasn't up to him to ask +questions, and he agreed to my proposition. However, he said he +thought he ought to wire the company acknowledging receipt of their +instructions with reference to surrendering his command--and I agreed +with him that he should. 'But,' I said, 'why bother sending such a +message, collect, ashore, when we pay a flat monthly rate to the +wireless company for the plant and operator aboard the ship, no matter +how many messages we send? Give me your message to Mr. Ricks and when +I get back aboard the Tillicum I'll wireless it to him for you, and it +won't cost the ship a cent extra.' + +"Well, you know your own captains, Mr. Ricks. They'll save their +ships a dollar wherever they can; and simple, honest Old Man Grant +agreed to my suggestion. Before he had an opportunity to consider I +stepped to the telegraph office and wrote this message for him." Matt +produced another telegram and read: + + "'Blue Star Navigation Company, + "'258 California Street, San Francisco. + + "'Instructions with reference to change of masters received. + + Would feel badly if I thought any act of mine necessitated + change; but since my conscience is clear I shall not worry. I + always have done and always shall do my duty to my owners + without thought of my personal interests, and you may rely + fully on that in the present emergency.' + +"Well, sir, that sounded so infernally grandiloquent to Old Man Grant +that his hand actually trembled with emotion as he signed it--at my +suggestion. You know I'd hate to be tried for forgery. Then I shook +hands with him and started for Panama once more--only this time I kept +right on going; and I didn't spare the fuel oil either. Why should I? +It wasn't costing me anything." + +Both Cappy and Mr. Skinner winced, as from a blow. Matt waited for +them to say something, but they didn't; so after a respectful interval +he resumed: + +"Off the Coronado Islands I sent you Captain Grant's diplomatic +message. I was very glad to send it to you, Mr. Ricks, because I knew +its receipt would make you very happy, and I like to scatter happiness +wherever I can. The Scriptures say we should return good for evil." + +Cappy Ricks bounded to his feet and shook a skinny fist under Matt +Peasley's nose. + +"You're a damned scoundrel!" he piped, beside himself with rage. "Be +careful how you talk to me, young man, or I'll lose my temper; and if +I ever do--" + +"That would be terrible, wouldn't it?" Matt laughed. "I suppose you'd +just haul off and biff me one, and I'd think it was autumn with the +leaves falling!" + +Cappy choked, turned purple, sat down again, and glanced covertly at +Mr. Skinner, who returned the glance with one that seemed to shout +aloud: "Mr. Ricks, I smell a rat as big as a Shetland pony. +Something has slipped and we're covered with blood. Incredible as it +may seem, this rowdy Peasley has outthought us!" + +"Did you get the letter we sent Captain Grant at Panama?" Skinner +managed to articulate presently. + +Matt nodded affirmatively. + +"Opened it, I suppose!" Cappy accused him. + +Matt nodded negatively, produced the letter from his pocket and handed +it to Cappy. + +"Where I was raised," he said gently, "they taught boys that it was +wrong to read other people's private correspondence. You will note +that the seal is unbroken." + +"Thank God for that!" Cappy Ricks murmured, sotto voice, and tore the +letter into tiny bits. "Now, then," he said, "we'll hear the rest of +your story." + +"When did a doctor look you over last?" Matt queried. "I'm afraid +you'll die of heart disease before I finish." + +"I'm sound in wind and limb," Cappy declared. "I'm not so young as I +used to be; but, by Jupiter, there isn't any young pup on the street +who can tell me where to head in! What next?" + +"Of course, Mr. Ricks, very shortly after I had rechartered the +Tillicum to Morrow & Company I began to suspect they were shy of +sufficient capital to run their big business comfortably. I found it +very hard to collect; so, fully a month before they went up the spout, +I commenced to figure on what would happen to me if they did. +Consequently, I wasn't caught napping. On the day Morrow committed +suicide the company gave me a check that was repudiated at the bank. +I protested it and immediately served formal notice on Morrow & +Company that their failure to meet the terms of our charter party +necessitated immediate cancellation; and accordingly I was cancelling +it." + +"Did you send that notice by registered mail?" Skinner demanded. + +"You bet!--with a return registry receipt requested." + +Cappy nodded at Skinner approvingly, as though to say: "Smart of him, +eh?" Matt continued: + +"After sending my wireless to Captain Grant aboard the Tillicum I sent +a cablegram to the Panama Railroad people informing them that, owing +to certain circumstances over which I had no control, the steamer +Tillicum, fully loaded and en route to Panama to discharge cargo, had +been turned back on my hands by the charterers. I informed them I had +diverted the steamer to San Diego for orders, and in the interim, +unless the Panama Railroad guaranteed me by cable immediately sixty +per cent. of the through-freight rate for the Tillicum, and a return +cargo to San Francisco, I would decline to send the Tillicum to +Panama, but would, on the contrary, divert her to Tehuantepec and +transship her cargo over the American-Hawaiian road there. I +figured--" + +"You infernal scoundrel!" Cappy Ricks murmured. "You--slippery--devil!" + +"Of course," Matt went on calmly, "I had no means of knowing what +freight rate Morrow & Company received; but I figured that they ought +to get about forty per cent., the Panama Railroad about twenty per +cent., and the steamer on the Atlantic side the remaining forty. So I +decided to play safe and ask sixty per cent. of the through rate, +figuring that the Panama Railroad would give it to me rather than have +the Tillicum's cargo diverted over their competitor's road at +Tehuantepec. In the first place they were depending on business from +Morrow & Company's ships; and, with Morrow & Company gone broke and a +new company liable to take over their line, it would be a bad +precedent to establish, to permit one cargo to go to the competitor. +Future cargoes might follow it! + +"Then, too, the schedule of the ships on the Atlantic side of the +Canal doubtless had been made up already, with a view to handling this +cargo ex-Tillicum, and to lose the cargo would throw that schedule out +of joint; in fact, from whatever angle I viewed the situation, I could +see that the railroad company would prefer to give up its twenty per +cent. rather than decline my terms. They might think their competitor +had already made me an offer! Of course, it was all a mighty bluff on +my part, but bluffs are not always called, particularly when they're +made good and strong; and, believe me, my bluff was anything but weak +in the knees. I told the Panama people to wire their reply to me at +San Diego, and when I got to that city, twenty-four hours later, their +answer was awaiting me." + +"They called your bluff?" Mr. Skinner challenged. + +"Pooh-pooh for you!" Matt laughed. "God is good and the devil not +half bad. I got the guaranties I asked for, old dear! Don't you ever +think I'd have been crazy enough to go to Panama without them." + +Cappy jerked forward in his chair again. + +"Matt," he said sternly, "you have defaulted in your payments to the +Blue Star Navigation Company to the tune of eighteen thousand dollars, +and I'd like to hear what you have to say about that." + +"Well, I couldn't help it," Matt replied, "I was shy ten thousand +dollars when Morrow & Company defaulted on me, and I was at sea when +the other payment fell due. However, you had your recourse. You +could have canceled the charter on me. That was a chance I had to +take. + +"Why didn't you grab the ship away from me? If you had done that you +would be in the clear to-day instead of up to your neck in grief." + +"We'll grab her away from you to-day--never fear!" Cappy promised him. +"I guess we'll get ours from the freight due on that cargo of steel +rails you came home with." + +"You have another guess coming, Mr. Ricks. You'll not do any grabbing +to-day, for the reason that somebody else has already grabbed her." + +"Who?" chorused Cappy and Skinner. + +"The United States Marshal. Half an hour ago the Pacific Shipping +Company libeled her." + +"What for, you bonehead? You haven't any cause for libel, so how can +you make it stick?" + +"The Pacific Shipping Company has cause, and it can make the libel +stick. The first mate of the Tillicum assigned to the Pacific +Shipping Company his claim for wages as mate--" + +"Matt, you poor goose! The Pacific Shipping Company OWE him his +wages. Your dink of a company chartered the boat, and we will not pay +such a ridiculous claim." + +"I do not care whether you do or not. That libel will keep you from +canceling my charter, although when you failed to cancel when I failed +to make the payments as stipulated, your laxity must be regarded in +the eyes of the law as evidence that you voluntarily waived that +clause in the charter; and after you have voluntarily waived a thing +twice you'll have a job making it stick the third time." + +"If I had only known!" groaned Skinner miserably. + +"Besides," Matt continued brightly, "I have a cargo in that vessel, +and she's under charter to my company at six hundred dollars a day. +Of course you know very well, Mr. Ricks, that while the United States +Marshal remains in charge of her I cannot discharge an ounce of that +cargo or move the ship, or--er--anything. Well, naturally that will +be no fault of the Pacific Shipping Company, Mr. Ricks. It will be up +to the Blue Star Navigation Company to file a bond and lift that libel +in order that I may have some use of the ship I have chartered from +you. If you do not pull the plaster off of her of course I'll have to +sue you for heavy damages; and I can refuse to pay you any moneys due +you." + +"We'll lift the libel in an hour," Mr. Skinner declared dramatically; +and he took down the telephone to call up the attorney for the Blue +Star. + +"Wait!" said Matt. "I'm not through. Before I entered the harbor I +called all hands up on the boat deck and explained matters to them. +They had been engaged by Morrow & Company, and the firm of Morrow & +Company was in the bankruptcy court; so the prospects of cash from +that quarter did not seem encouraging. The Pacific Shipping Company +had made a bare-boat charter from the Blue Star Navigation Company, +and had then made a similar charter to Morrow & Company; consequently +the Pacific Shipping Company would repudiate payment, and, as +president and principal stockholder of that company, I took it on +myself to repudiate any responsibility then and there. + +"Then the crew wanted to know what they should do, and I said: 'Why, +seek the protection of the law, in such cases made and provided. A +seaman is not presumed to have any knowledge of the intricate deals +his owners may put through. All he knows is that he is employed +aboard a ship, and if he doesn't get his money from the charterers at +the completion of the voyage he can libel the ship and collect from +the owners. This is a fine new steamer, men, and I, for one, believe +she is good for what is owing you all; and if you will assign your +claims to the Pacific Shipping Company I will pay them in full and +trust to the Blue Star Navigation Company to reimburse me.' So they +did that. + +"Now go ahead, Mr. Skinner, and lift the libel I put on the vessel for +my first mate's account, and the instant you get it lifted I'll slap +another libel on her for account of the second mate. Get rid of the +second mate's claim and up bobs the steward, and so on, ad libitum, e +pluribus unum, now and forever, one and inseparable. I care not what +course others may pursue, but as for me, give me liberty or give me +death!" + +Mr. Skinner quietly hung up the telephone receiver. + +"And, by the way," Matt continued, "I forgot to mention that I +requested the steward to stay aboard and make the United States +Marshal comfortable as soon as he arrived. In these little matters +one might as well be courteous, and I should hate to have the Tillicum +acquire a reputation for being cheap and inhospitable." + +"You dirty dog!" cried Cappy Ricks hoarsely. + +"Really, my dear Peasley, this matter has passed beyond the joke +stage," Mr. Skinner began suavely. + +"Let me get along with my story," said he. "The worst is yet to come. +My attorney informs me--" + +"Matt Peasley," said Cappy Ricks, "that's the first lie I ever knew +you to tell. You don't have to hire an attorney to tell you where to +head in, you infernal sea lawyer!" + +"I thank you for the compliment," Matt observed quizzically. "Perhaps +I deserve it. However, 'we come to bury Caesar, not to praise him;' +so, if you will kindly hold over your head, Mr. Ricks, I'll be pleased +to hit it another swat." + +"Well, I'll admit that the failure of Morrow & Company and the Pacific +Shipping Company to pay the crew of the Tillicum puts the buck up to +me, and I dare say I'll have to pay," Cappy admitted, his voice +trembling with rage. + +"Well, that isn't the only bill you'll have to pay. Don't cheer until +you're out of the woods, Mr. Ricks. You'll have to pay for a couple +of thousand barrels of fuel oil, and a lot of engine supplies, and sea +stores, and laundry, and water--why, Lord bless you, Mr. Ricks, I +can't begin to think of all the things you're stuck for!" + +"Not a bit of it!" Cappy cried triumphantly. "It was an open-boat +charter, my son, and you rechartered on the same basis; and, though +Morrow & Company were originally responsible you'll find that the +creditors, despairing of collecting from them, will come down on the +Pacific Shipping Company like a pack of ravening wolves, by thunder! +Don't YOU cheer until YOU'RE out of the woods!" + +"Well, I have a license to cheer," Matt replied, "because I got out of +the woods a long time ago. Before the vessel sailed from this port, I +sent this letter to all her creditors!" And Matt thrust into Cappy +Ricks' hand a copy of the letter in question. + +"That will not help you at all," Mr. Skinner, who had read the letter +over Cappy's shoulder, declared. + +"It wouldn't--if I hadn't sent it by registered mail and got a return +receipt," Matt admitted; "but, since I have a receipt from every +creditor acknowledging the denial of responsibility of the Pacific +Shipping Company, I'm in the clear. It was up to the creditors to +protect their hands before the vessel went to sea! They had ample +warning--and I can prove it! I tell you, Mr. Ricks, when you begin to +dig into this matter you will find these creditors will claim that +every article furnished to the Tillicum while Morrow & Company had her +was ordered on requisitions signed by Captain Grant, your employee, or +Collins, your chief engineer. They were your servants and you paid +their salaries." + +"All right then," Cappy challenged. "Suppose we do have to pay. How +about that freight money you collected in Panama--eh? How about that? +I guess we'll have an accounting of the freight money, young man." + +"I submit, with all due respect, that what I did with that freight +money I collected in Panama is none of your confounded business. I +chartered a vessel from you and she was loaded with a cargo. The only +interest you can possibly have in that cargo lies in the fact that the +Pacific Stevedoring Company stowed it in the vessel and hasn't been +paid some forty-five hundred dollars for so stowing it, and +eventually, of course, you'll have to foot the bill as owner of the +vessel. That vessel and cargo were thrown back on my hands, not on +yours; so why should you ask questions about my business? You've got +your nerve with you!" + +"But you'll have to render an accounting to Morrow & Company," Cappy +charged. + +"I'll not. They gave me a check that was returned branded 'Not +sufficient funds;' they didn't keep their charter with me, and if I +hadn't been a fly young fellow their failure would have ruined me, and +then a lot they'd care about it! If I spoke to them about it they'd +say: 'Well, these things will happen in business. We're sorry; but +what can we do about it?' No, Mr. Ricks; I'm in the clear with Morrow +& Company, and their creditors will be lucky if I do not present my +claim for ten thousand dollars because of that worthless check I hold. +When I collected from the Panama Railroad Company for the freight on +that southbound cargo I paid myself all Morrow & Company owed me, and +the rest is velvet if I choose to keep it. If I do not choose to keep +it the only honorable course for me to pursue will be to send a +statement and my check for the balance to the receiver for Morrow & +Company." + +"What!" demanded Mr. Skinner. "And leave the Blue Star Navigation +Company to pay the crew?" + +"Yes--and the fuel bill, and the butcher and the baker and the +candlestick maker, and the stevedoring firm, and the whole infernal, +sorry mess!" + +Cappy Ricks motioned to Mr. Skinner to be silent; then he rose and +placed his hand on Matt's shoulder. + +"Matt," he said kindly, "look me in the eyes and see if you can have +the crust to tell me that, with all that freight money in your +possession, you do not intend to apply the residue to the payments of +these claims against the Tillicum." + +Matt bent low and peered fiercely into Cappy's face, for all the world +like a belligerent rooster. + +"Once more, my dear Mr. Ricks," he said impressively, I desire to +inform you that, so far as the steamer Tillicum is concerned, I +venerate you as a human Christmas tree. I'm the villain in this +sketch and proud of it. You're stabbed to the hilt! Why should I be +expected to pay the debts of your steamer?" + +"But you used all the materials placed aboard her for your own use and +benefit." + +"That, Mr. Ricks, constitutes my profit," Matt retorted pleasantly. +"She had fuel oil aboard when she was turned back on me sufficient to +last her to Panama and return--she had engine supplies, gear, beef in +the refrigerator, provisions in the storeroom, and clean laundry in +the linen lockers; in fact, I never went to sea in command of a ship +that was better found." + +"Matt Peasley," said Cappy solemnly, "you think this is funny; but it +isn't. You do not realize what you are doing. Why, this action of +yours will be construed as highway robbery and no man on the Street +will trust you. You must think of your future in business. If this +leaks out nobody will ever extend you any credit--" + +"I should worry about credit when I have the cash!" Matt retorted. +"I'm absolutely within the law, and this whole affair is my picnic and +your funeral. Moreover, I dare you to give me permission to circulate +this story up and down California Street! Yes, sir, I dare you--and +you aren't game! Why, everybody would be cheering for me and laughing +at you, and you'd get about as much sympathy as a rich relative with +arterial sclerosis. I haven't any sympathy for you, Mr. Ricks. You +got me into this whole mess when a kind word from you would have kept +me out of it. But, no; you wouldn't extend me that kind word. You +wanted to see me get tangled up and go broke; and when you thought I +was a dead one you made fun of me and rejoiced in my wretchedness, and +did everything you could to put me down and out, just so you could +say: 'Well, I warned you, Matt; but you would go to it. You have +nobody to blame but yourself.' + +"Of course I realize that you didn't want to make any money out of me; +but you did want to manhandle me, Mr. Ricks, just as a sporting +proposition. Besides, you tried to double-cross me with that wireless +message. I knew what you were up to. You thought you had pulled the +same stunt on me I pulled on you, and that letter to Captain Grant +contained full instructions. However, you wanted to be so slick about +it you wouldn't get caught with your fingers in the jam; so you +forbore to cancel my charter. You figured you'd present me with my +troubles all in one heap the day I got back from Panama. I'm onto +you!" + +"Well, I guess we've still got a sting in our tail," Cappy answered +pertly. "Slap on your libels. We'll lift 'em all, and to-morrow +we'll expect eighteen thousand dollars from you, or I'm afraid, +Matthew, my boy, you're going to lose that ship with her cargo of +steel rails, and we'll collect the freight." + +"Again you lose. You'll have to make a formal written demand on me +for the money before you cancel the charter; and when you do I'll hand +you a certified check for eighteen thousand dollars. Don't think for +a minute that I'm a pauper, Mr. Ricks; because I'm not. When a fellow +freights one cargo to Panama and another back, and it doesn't cost him +a blamed cent to stow the first cargo and cheap Jamaica nigger labor +to stow the second, and the cost of operating the ship for the round +trip is absolutely nil--I tell you, sir, there's money in it." + +Cappy Ricks' eyes blazed, but he controlled his temper and made one +final appeal. + +"Matt," he said plaintively, "you infernal young cut-up, quit kidding +the old man! Don't tell me that a Peasley, of Thomaston, Maine, would +take advantage of certain adventitious circumstances and the legal +loopholes provided by our outrageous maritime laws--" + +"To swindle the Blue Star Navigation Company!" Mr. Skinner cut in. + +"Swindle is an ugly word, Mr. Skinner. Please do not use it again to +describe my legitimate business--and don't ask any sympathy of me. +You two are old enough and experienced enough in the shipping game to +spin your own tops. You didn't give me any the best of it; you +crowded my hand and joggled my elbow, and it would have been the +signal for a half holiday in the office if I had gone broke." + +"But after all Mr. Ricks has done for you--" + +"He always had value received, and I asked no favors of him--and +received none." + +"But surely, my dear Matt," Skinner purred, for the first time calling +his ancient enemy by his Christian name--"surely you're jesting with +us." + +"Skinner, old horse, I was never more serious in my life. Mr. Alden +P. Ricks is my ideal of a perfect business man; and just before I left +for Panama he informed me--rather coldly, I thought--that he never +mixed sentiment with business. Moreover, he advised me not to do it +either. To surrender to him now would mean the fracturing, for the +first time in history, of a slogan that has been in the Peasley tribe +for generations." + +"What's that?" Cappy queried with shaking voice. + +"Pay your way and take your beating like a sport, sir," Matt shot at +him. He drew out his watch. "Well," he continued, "I guess the +United States Marshal is in charge of the Tillicum by this time; so +get busy with the bond and have him removed from the ship. The minute +one of those birds lights on my deck I just go crazy!" + +"Yes, you do!" screamed Cappy Ricks, completely losing his +self-control. "You go crazy--like a fox!" + +And then Cappy Ricks did something he had never done before. He +swore, with a depth of feeling and a range of language to be equalled +only by a lumberjack. Matt Peasley waited until he subsided for lack +of new invective and then said reproachfully: + +"I can't stand this any longer, Mr. Ricks. I'll have to go now. Back +home I belonged to the Congregational Church--" + +"Out!" yelled Cappy. "Out, you vagabond!" + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +CAPPY PLANS A KNOCK-OUT + + +The morning following Matt Peasley's triumphant return from Panama +with the steamer Tillicum, Cappy Ricks created a mild sensation in his +offices by reporting for duty at a quarter past eight. Mr. Skinner +was already at his desk, for he was a slave driver who drove himself +fully as hard as he did those under him. He glanced up apprehensively +as Cappy bustled in. + +"Why, what has happened, Mr. Ricks?" he queried. + +"I have an idea," said Cappy. "Skinner, my boy, a word with you in +private." + +Mr. Skinner rose with alacrity, for instinct warned him that he was in +for some fast and clever work. Cappy sat in at his desk, and Skinner, +drawing up a chair, sat down beside him and waited respectfully for +Cappy to begin. + +"Skinner," Cappy began impressively, "for many years you and I have +been harboring the delusion that we are business men, whereas, if we +can stand to hear the truth told about ourselves, we handle a deal +with the reckless abandon of a pair of bear cubs juggling hazel nuts." + +"I have sufficient self-esteem," Skinner replied stiffly, "not to take +that pessimistic view of myself. If you refer to the inglorious rout +we suffered yesterday in our skirmish with Captain Matt Peasley, +permit me to remind you, in all respect, that you handled that entire +deal yourself." + +"Bah!" said Cappy witheringly. "Why, you aided and abetted me, +Skinner. You told me my strategy was absolutely flawless." + +"I am not the seventh son of a seventh son, sir. I did not see the +flaw in your strategy. You lost by one of those strange accidents +which must be attributed to the interference of the Almighty in the +affairs of men." + +"Lost!" Cappy jeered. "Lost! Skinner, you infuriate me. I haven't +lost. Like John Paul Jones, I haven't yet commenced to fight. +Skinner, listen to me. When I get through with that Matt Peasley you +can take it from me he'll be sore from soul to vermiform appendix." + +"If I may be permitted a criticism, sir, I would suggest that you let +this matter rest right where it is. Surely you realize the delicate +position you are in, quarreling with your future son-in-law--" + +"Agh-h-h! Pooh!" snapped Cappy. "That's all outside office hours. I +haven't any grudge against the boy and he knows it. I don't want his +little old bank roll--that is, for keeps. When I went into this deal, +Skinner, I was actuated by the same benevolent intentions as a man +that desires to cure a hound pup of sucking eggs. He fills an egg +with cayenne pepper and leaves it where the pup can find it--and after +that the pup sucks no more eggs. I love this boy Matt like he was my +own son, but he's too infernally fresh! He holds people too cheap; +he's too trustful. He's made his little wad too easily, and easy +money never did any man any good. So I wanted to teach him that +business is business, and if I could take his roll away from him I was +going to do it. Of course, Skinner, I need not remind you that I +would have loaned him the next minute, without interest and without +security, every cent I'd taken from him in this deal--" + +"But why peeve over it, Mr. Ricks? If Captain Matt--" + +"At my age--to take a beating like that?" Cappy shrilled. +"Impossible! Why, he'll tell this story on the Merchants' Exchange, +and I can't afford that. Not at my age, Skinner, not at my age! I +have a reputation to sustain, and, by the Holy Pink-toed Prophet, I'm +going to sustain it. I'm going down fighting like a bear cat. I know +he scalded us yesterday, Skinner, but every dog must have his day--and +that dog-gone Matt's day dawned this morning." + +"The only tactical error, if I may appear hypercritical," Skinner said +suavely, "was your failure to cancel the charter on the very day that +Matt slipped up on his first advance payment. If you had done that +you would have had him. Don't say I didn't call your attention to the +fact that his payment was overdue!" + +"Yes, if I had done that I would have had him, but how much would I +have had him for? Paltry nine thousand dollars! I wanted him to get +into the financial quicksands up to his chin--and then I'd have had +him! Besides, Skinner, I had to go slow. Just think what would have +happened if Florry found me out! Why, I would have had to call off +the dogs before I was half through the job." + +"He's probably told her all about it by now," Skinner suggested. + +"Don't get him wrong," Cappy protested. "He's no tattle-tale. He'll +fight fair. However, as I was saying, I couldn't do anything raw, +Skinner. I had planned, when Matt reached Panama and discovered he +had been double-crossed to pass the buck up to you!" + +Mr. Skinner started, but Cappy continued serenely: + +"I planned to be away from the office when the blow-off came, and you +were to have borne the brunt of Matt's fury and despair. Why, what +the devil do I have a general manager for if not to help me out in +these little affairs? And besides, Skinner, when he blew in here the +day Morrow & Company hit the ceiling, he was so excited and worried I +felt positive he was busted then; so what was the use calling him for +his overdue payment when if I let him run on I'd have his young soul +in hock for the next ten years?" Cappy leaned forward and laid an +impressive hand on Mr. Skinner's knee. "You know, Skinner, we really +need that boy in this office, and it would have been a fine thing to +have gotten him and gotten him right. Then he wouldn't be leaving the +reservation to chase rainbows. However, as the boys say, I overlooked +a bet, but I'll not overlook another." + +"You said you had an idea," Mr. Skinner suggested. + +"I have. Just at present there is a libel on the Tillicum, and when +we lift it Matt Peasley is prepared to plaster another libel on her, +and another, and still another. Now, as a result of our conversation +with Matt yesterday, he thinks we'll lift the libel to-day--in fact, +settle with him for what he paid the crew when they assigned their +wage claim to his company, and thus prevent any further libels. Now, +if we do that it leaves Matt in the clear to commence discharging his +cargo, but at the same time it makes it incumbent upon him to slam a +certified check for eighteen thousand dollars down on the Blue Star +counter, in order to hold the vessel long enough to discharge her and +collect the freight. Then he'll turn the vessel back on our hands +with many thanks--rot him!" + +"I have no doubt that such are his intentions, Mr. Ricks; in which +event he will, of course, be ready with the certified check the +instant we make formal, written demand upon him for our money. I +believe I have already warned you, sir, that we cannot cancel the +charter without first making formal, written demand for our charter +money." + +"Well," said Cappy, "we'll get round that all right." + +"Pray, how?" + +"What time did Matt Peasley leave this office after the battle +yesterday?" + +"I should say in the neighborhood of half after three." + +"Hum! Ahem! Harump-h-h! The banks close at three, and they do not +reopen for business until ten this morning. It is now exactly a +quarter of nine. Has Matt Peasley had time to procure a certified +check since he arrived from Panama--or has he not?" + +"The situation admits of no argument," Mr. Skinner admitted. + +"Exactly! He didn't have time yesterday, and he sha'n't have time +to-day, and to-morrow will be too late, because his money is due us +to-day! We shall lift all those libels and free the Tillicum for him; +then we shall make formal demand upon him for eighteen thousand +dollars, in cash or certified check--we can legally decline his check +unless certified--and when he fails to make good we formally cancel +the charter. Then what happens? I'll tell you. We grab the boat +with a full cargo from him as he grabbed it from Morrow & Company with +a full cargo. Then we collect the freight on that northbound cargo as +he collected the freight on the southbound cargo, and," Cappy +continued calmly, "I dare say that freight money will put us in the +clear on all those bills we're stuck for." + +"And to do all this," Skinner remarked sententiously, "it is necessary +to tie up Matt Peasley's bank account the instant the bank opens this +morning." + +"Skinner," said Cappy feelingly, "you get me almost before I get +myself. Now listen, while I give you your orders: Go right up to our +attorney's office, take our copy of the charter with you, explain that +Matt has defaulted in his payments, and instruct our attorney to enter +suit to collect. Tell him to get the complaint out and filed within +three-quarters of an hour, and then, the instant he has filed the +suit, he is to get out a writ of attachment on the Pacific Shipping +Company's bank account." + +"But we cannot do that, Mr. Ricks. We must make formal, written +demand for the payments in arrears before we can proceed to force +collection--" + +"Certainly. We'll do that after we've tied up his bank account." + +"But when we get into court we'll be nonsuited because we didn't do +that first." + +"I sincerely hope so. But in the meanwhile we've tied up Matt's bank +account, and while we're arguing the merits of our action in so doing, +another sun will have set, and when it rises again"--Cappy kissed his +hand airily into space--"the good ship Tillicum will be back under the +Blue Star Flag--" + +"But Matt Peasley will allege conspiracy and a lot of things, and he +can sue us and get the boat back and force us to render an accounting +of that freight money." + +"That situation will admit of much argument, Skinner. However, Matt +will not sue me. Florry wouldn't let him! He'll make us lift the +attachment on his bank account, and then he'll protect himself and +tell us to whistle for the eighteen thousand dollars he owes us. +Whichever way the cat jumps he wins. What I want to do is break even +and with a modicum of my self-respect left intact." + +"He'll promptly file a bond to lift the attachment--" + +"Will he? Who in this city will go on his bond? Who does he know?" + +"There are bonding companies in business, and for a cash +consideration--" + +"Rot! They will investigate and ponder before granting his +application for a bond. It takes a day or two to get a bond through a +bonding house, and all I want to do is to tie Matt up for a day. Now, +listen! You see to it that the suit is filed and an attachment levied +on Matt Peasley's bank account in the Marine National. That's where +he keeps his little wad, because I took him over and introduced him +there myself. Well, sir, in the meantime I'll call up Matt and +precipitate a devil of a row with him over the phone. I'll tell him +I've made up my mind to fight him to the last ditch and that those +libels will not be lifted until he lifts them himself. Of course, +he'll figure right away that he won't need a certified check to-day, +and maybe he'll neglect to provide himself with one; or he may be +chump enough to figure we'll take his check uncertified, and if he +does that will teach him something." + +"Well, I'm betting he'll not be caught napping," Mr. Skinner declared, +"and if you want my opinion of this new proceeding I will state +frankly that I am not in favor of it. It savors too much of +assination. Of course, you may do it and get away with it--" + +"Pooh!" snorted Cappy. "Forget it. At ten minutes of three this +afternoon the libel on the Tillicum will be lifted, and Matt Peasley +will be paid in cash the sum he advanced his crew for wages. That +will block him from slapping any more libels on her and holding us up. +Then we'll make formal, written demand upon him for eighteen thousand +dollars; he won't have it where he can lay his hands on it, and he'll +be up Salt Creek without a paddle." + +"I am not in favor of it," Mr. Skinner reiterated firmly. + +"Neither am I, Skinner, but I've got to do something. Can't let that +young pup cover me with blood. No, sir, not at my age, Skinner. I +can't afford to be laughed off California Street. And by the way, +since when did you become a champion of Matt Peasley?" + +Mr. Skinner did not answer. + +"Since when?" Cappy repeated. + +"Since he administered such a thorough thrashing to the Blue Star +Navigation Company," Mr. Skinner answered, "and did it without +prejudice. He swatted us, and we deserved it, but he didn't get +angry. Every time he banged us, he'd look at me as much as to say: +'I hate to swat you two, but it's got to be done.' Bang! 'This hurts +me more than it does you.' Biff! And then he went out smiling. I +used to think he was an--an--interloper, I thought he had designs on +the Blue Star Navigation Company and the Ricks Lumber and Logging +Company, but he hasn't. He doesn't give a hoot for anything or +anybody except for what he can be to them; not for what they can be to +him. He's brainy and spunky and, by thunder, I'm for him, and if +you're going to hand him a clout when he isn't looking you'll have to +do it yourself." + +"Skinner," said Cappy Ricks impressively. "Look me square in the eye. +Do you refuse orders?" + +"I do, sir," Skinner replied, and looked Cappy in the eye so fiercely +that the old schemer quailed. "This is an unworthy business, Mr. +Ricks. You're trying to teach Matt Peasley some business tricks, and +he's taught you a few, so be a sport, sir, and pay for your +education." + +"All right," Cappy replied meekly. "When my own general manager goes +back on me, I suppose there's nothing to do but quit. The program +appears to be impracticable, so we'll say no more about it." + +"I am glad to hear you say that, Mr. Ricks," Skinner answered +feelingly, and forthwith repaired to his own office. + +Cappy Ricks gazed after him almost affectionately, and as the door +closed behind the general manager, Cappy murmured sotto voce: + +"Skinner, I've been twenty-five years wondering why the devil I liked +you, and now I know. Why, you cold-blooded, efficient, human +automaton, you've actually got a heart! Bow! wow! Faithful Fido +Skinner was just a-tugging at the chain and dragging the dog house +after him in his efforts to eat me up! I hope I go bankrupt if I +don't raise his salary!" + +He turned to a pigeonhole in his desk and drew forth the charter he +had negotiated months before with Matt Peasley for the Tillicum. He +read it over carefully, tucked it in his breast pocket and slipped +quietly out the door. One hour later a suit against the Pacific +Shipping Company was filed in the county clerk's office, and at five +minutes after ten a deputy-sheriff appeared at the paying-teller's +window in the Marine National Bank and filed a writ of attachment on +the funds to their credit. + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +SKINNER DEVELOPS INTO A HUMAN BEING + + +Cappy Ricks was having his mid-afternoon siesta in his office when +Captain Matt Peasley appeared at the counter of the general office +and, without awaiting an invitation to enter, swung through the office +gate and made straight for Cappy's office. En route he had to pass +through Mr. Skinner's lair, and the general manager looked up as Matt +entered. + +"Well, Captain," he said pleasantly, "how goes it?" + +"Fine," Matt answered with equal urbanity. "That was a slick piece of +work tying up my bank account. I can't get a bond to-day, the bank is +closed, and I suppose you're going to insist upon payment of that +eighteen thousand dollars before midnight to-night or take the +Tillicum and her cargo away from me." + +Mr. Skinner started in genuine amazement. + +"Attached your bank account, Matt? I give you my word of honor I had +nothing to do with it." + +"Well, it's tied up by the Blue Star Navigation Company, and Cappy +Ricks has served notice on me to call here and pay up or suffer +cancellation of my charter. Of course, for all the good my bank +account is to me this minute he might as well ask me to give him the +moon." + +"I'm truly sorry," said Skinner. "I protested to Mr. Ricks against +this action. I assure you I would not have taken such a course +myself--under the circumstances." + +"Cappy wants cash or a certified check," Matt complained, "and he's +made it impossible for me to go to my bank and get either--to-day. +What am I going to do?" + +"I'm afraid you're going to lose the Tillicum and her cargo. The Blue +Star Navigation Company will doubtless collect the freight on that +northbound cargo. Besides, Mr. Ricks has some business offered for +the Tillicum and wants her back--" + +"But I was going to give her back to him as soon as I discharged her +cargo. Now, just for that he'll not get her back. I'll keep her the +full year." + +"But how?" Mr. Skinner queried kindly. + +"By paying the Blue Star Navigation Company eighteen thousand dollars +in good old U. S. yellow-backs." Matt laughed and drew from his hip +pocket a roll that would have choked a hippopotamus. "Skinner, this +is so rich I'll have to tell you about it, and then if you're good +I'll let you be present when I put the crusher on Cappy. His plan was +without a flaw. He had me right where he wanted me--only something +slipped." + +"What?" Mr. Skinner demanded breathlessly. + +"Why, as soon as my account was attached, the bank called me up and +told me about it. I was just about to start for the bank to make a +deposit of all that freight money I had collected in Panama--about +twenty-four thousand dollars, more or less--the Panama Railroad gave +it to me in a lump--exchange on San Francisco, you know--" + +"So you cashed that draft at the bank upon which it was drawn--" + +"And I'm here with the cash to smother Cappy Ricks! I'll cover him +with confusion, the old villain! Skinner, I give you my word, if he +hadn't tried to slip one over on me I would never have stuck him with +all those bills Morrow & Company didn't pay, but now that he's gone +and attached my bank account--" + +Mr. Skinner rose and took Matt Peasley by the arm. + +"Matt," he said in the friendliest fashion imaginable. "You and I +have clashed since the first day I learned of your existence, but +we're not going to clash any more." He pointed to the door leading to +Cappy Ricks' office. "One of these days, Matt, whether you want to or +not, you're going to be occupying that office and giving orders to me, +and when you do I want to tell you here and now I shall accord you the +same measure of respect I now accord Mr. Ricks. I've worked +twenty-five years for Mr. Ricks. I--I'm--absurdly fond of him, for +all his er--er--" + +"Why, so am I, Skinner. I'd do anything to please him--" + +"Then do it," Skinner pleaded. "Give him a cheap victory. He's an +old man and he'll enjoy it. He didn't sleep a wink last night, just +scheming a way to get a strangle hold on you--it's hard for the old to +give way to the young, you know--and now he's inside there, just +hungering for you to arrive so he can jeer at you and lecture you and +make fun of you. He doesn't want your money. Why, he loves you as if +you were his own boy--" + +"But how can I let him get away with this deal?" Matt queried soberly. + +"By rushing in on him now and simulating a terrific rage. Just +imagine you're on the bridge of a steamer making up to a dock against +a strong flood tide, with stupid mates fore and aft, and rotten lines +that won't hold when you get them over the dolphins, and the tide has +grabbed you and slammed you into the dock and done five hundred +dollars' worth of damage--just feel like that, Matt--" + +"If I do I'll cuss something scandalous," Matt warned him. + +"The harder the better." + +"And I'm to keep this money in my pocket, and let him cancel my +charter, and take that northbound cargo away from me, and collect the +freight on me--" + +"Exactly that! He'll withdraw his suit against you to-morrow and +release your bank account, and then you decline to pay him the +eighteen thousand dollars you owe him until he gives an accounting of +the freight money he's collected. He'll tell you to go to Halifax, +but you mustn't mind. It's going to make him as happy as a fool to +think he beat you in the end." + +A slow smile spread over Matt's face. + +"Skinner," he said. "You're a good old wagon, that's what you are. +I'm sorry we ever had any mix-up, and we'll never have another--after +this one--and this is going to be a fake. You see, Skinner, if we're +going to put one over on Cappy let's have it one worth while--so this +is the program. I've just arrived, with blood in my eye, to clean out +the Blue Star office, and I'm starting in with the general manager. +Clinch me now, and we'll wrestle all over the office and bang against +the furniture and that door there--" + +As Cappy Ricks was wont to remark, Mr. Skinner could "get" one before +one could "get" one's self. + +"Get out of my office, you infernal rowdy," he yelled loud enough to +awaken Cappy Ricks next door. Then he clinched with Matt Peasley. + +"A good fight," said Cappy Ricks half an hour after Matt Peasley had +been pried away from Mr. Skinner and forced to listen to reason, "is +the grandest thing in life. Now there's that crazy boy gone out in a +rage just because he had the presumption to tangle with me in a +business deal and get dog-gone well licked! He put it all over me +yesterday, thinking I couldn't protect myself. Well, he knows better +now, Skinner; he knows better now! In-fer-nal young scoundrel! Wow, +but wasn't he a wild man, Skinner? Wasn't he though?" And Cappy +Ricks chuckled. + +"You have probably cured him of sucking eggs," Mr. Skinner observed +enigmatically. + +"Well, I handed the young pup a dose of cayenne pepper, at any rate," +Cappy bragged, "and I wouldn't have missed doing it for a cool hundred +thousand. Why, Skinner, a man might as well retire from business when +he gets so weak and feeble and soft-headed he doesn't know how to +protect himself in the clinches and break-aways." + +Mr. Skinner smiled. "The old dog for the cold scent," he suggested. + +"You bet," Cappy cackled triumphantly. "Skinner, my dear boy, what +are we paying you?" + +"Ten thousand a year, sir." + +"Not enough money. Hereafter pay yourself twelve thousand. Tut, tut. +Not a peep out of you, sir, not a peep. If you do, Skinner, you'll +spoil the happiest day I've known in twenty years." + + + +CHAPTER XLV + +CAPPY PULLS OFF A WEDDING + + +About a week later, Captain Matt Peasley was studying the weather +chart at the Merchants' Exchange when he heard behind him a +propitiatory "Ahem! Hum-m-m! Harump-h-h-h!"--infallible evidence +that Cappy Ricks was in the immediate offing, yearning for Matt to +turn round in order that he might hail the boy and thus re-establish +diplomatic relations. Matt, however, elected to be perverse and pay +no attention to Cappy; instead, he moved closer to the chart and +affected greater interest in it. + +"Hello, you big, sulky boob!" Cappy snapped presently, unable to stand +the silence any longer. "Come away from that weather chart. It's +blowing a fifty-mile nor'west gale off Point Reyes, and that's all any +shipping man cares to know to-day. You haven't got any ships at sea!" + +"No; but you have, sir," Matt replied, unable longer to simulate +indifference to Cappy's presence. "The Tillicum is bucking into that +gale this minute, wasting fuel oil and making about four miles an +hour. I'm glad you're paying for the oil. Where are you loading +her?" + +"At Hinch's Mill, in Aberdeen, Grays Harbor; discharge at Honolulu and +back with sugar." Cappy came close to Matt and drew the latter's +great arm through his. "Say, Matt," he queried plaintively, "are you +still mad over that walloping I gave you?" + +"Well-l, no. I think I've recovered. And I'm not willing to admit I +was walloped. The best you got out of our little mix-up with the +Tillicum was a lucky draw." + +"I'm still out a lot of money," Cappy admitted. "You owe me eighteen +thousand dollars on that charter I canceled on you, Matt, and you +ought to pay it. Really, you ought." + +"That being tantamount to an admission on your part you cannot go into +court with clean hands and force me to pay it," Matt flashed back at +him, "I'll make you a proposition: You render me an accounting of the +freight you collected on the cargo you stole from me, and I'll render +you an accounting for the freight on the cargo I stole from you; then +we'll get an insurance adjuster in and let him figure out, by general +average, how much I would owe you if I had a conscience; then I'll +give you my note, due in one year, at six per cent. for whatever the +amount may be." + +"Why not give me the cash?" Cappy pleaded. "You've got the money in +bank." + +"I know; but I want to use it for a year." + +"Your note's no good to me," Cappy protested. "I told you once before +it wasn't hockable at any bank." + +"Then I'll withdraw my proposition." + +"And present a substitute?" + +"No, sir." + +"I guess I'll take your note," Cappy said eagerly. + +"I thank you for the compliment," Matt laughed; and Cappy, no longer +able to dissemble, laughed with him--and their feud was over. +Consequently, post-mortems being in order, Matt went on: "I feel +pretty sneaky about sticking you with all those bills on the Tillicum +that Morrow & Company defaulted on, just because the law enabled me to +do so--but you did your best to ruin me; you wouldn't have showed me +any pity or consideration." + +"Not a dog-goned bit!" Cappy declared firmly. "I was out to bust you +wide open for the good of your immortal soul. I would have taken your +roll away from you, my son, by fair means--or--er--legal, if I could." +He looked up at Matt, with such a smile as he might have applied to a +lovable and well-beloved son. "I hope you've got sporting blood +enough in you to realize I didn't really want your little bank roll, +Matt," he said half pleadingly. "I don't know just why I did +it--except that I'm an old man and I know it; and I hate to be out of +the running. I suppose, just because I'm old, I wanted to take a fall +out of you--you're so young; and--oh, Matt, you do make a scrap so +worth while! + +"And, because I've lived longer in this world and fought harder for +what I've got than you'll ever have to fight, I wanted to put about +six feet of hot iron into your soul. You're a little bit too +cocksure, Matt. I tell you it's a mistake to hold your business +competitor cheap. I want you to know that the fine gentleman who +plays cribbage with you at your club to-night will lift the hair off +your head down here on the Street to-morrow, because that's the game; +and nobody shakes hands with you before giving you the poke that puts +you to sleep. There are a lot of old men out in the almshouse just +because they trusted too much in human nature; and I wanted to show +you how hard and cruel men can be and excuse their piracy on the plea +that it is business! I tell you, Matt Peasley, when you've lived as +long as I have you'll know men for the swine they are whenever they +see some real money in sight." + +"Well, I shouldn't be surprised if you got the lesson over after all," +Matt replied gravely. "You certainly made me step lively to keep from +getting run over. You scared me out of a year's growth." + +Cappy laughed contentedly. + +"And what are you going to do with all this money you admit you owe me +and decline to let me see the color of for a year?" + +"Do you really want to know?" Matt queried. + +"I'll take you to luncheon up at the Commercial Club if you'll tell +me." + +Matt bent low and whispered in Cappy's ear: + +"I'm going to marry your daughter. I'll have to furnish a home and--" + +"No excuse!" said Cappy fiercely. "Son, all you've got to buy is the +wedding ring and the license, and some clothes. I'm stuck for the +wedding expenses and you don't have to furnish a home. My house is +big enough for three, isn't it?" + +"But this thing of living with your wife's relations--" Matt began +mischievously, until he saw the pain and the loneliness in Cappy's +kind old eyes. "Oh, well," he hastened to add, "pull it off to suit +yourself; but don't waste any time." + +"In-fer-nal young scoundrel!" Cappy cried happily. "We've waited too +long already." + +Florry was a June bride, and the proudest and happiest man present, +not excepting the groom, was old Cappy Ricks. He looked fully two +inches taller as he walked up the church aisle, with Florry on his +arm, and handed her over to Matt Peasley, waiting at the altar. And +when the ceremony was over, and Matt had entered the waiting limousine +with his bride, Cappy Ricks stood on the church steps among a dozen of +his young friends from the wholesale lumber and shipping trade and +made a brief oration. + +"Take a good look at him, boys," he said proudly. "You fresh young +fellows will have to tangle with him one of these bright days; and +when you do he'll make hell look like a summer holiday to you. See if +he doesn't!" + +Later, when Matt and Florry, about to leave on their honeymoon, were +saying good-bye, Matt put his huge arm round Cappy and gave him a +filial hug. Cappy's eyes filled with tears. + +"I guess we understand each other, sonny," he said haltingly. "I've +wanted a son like you, Matt. Had a boy once--little chap--just seven +when he died--might have been big like you. I was the runt of the +Ricks' tribe, you know--all the other boys over six feet--and his +mother's people--same stock. I--I--" + +Matt patted his shoulder. Truly he understood. + + + +CHAPTER XLVI + +A SHIP FORGOTTEN + + +The Blue Star Navigation Company's big steam schooner Amelia Ricks, +northbound to load lumber at Aberdeen in command of a skipper who +revered his berth to such an extent that he thought only of pleasing +Mr. Skinner by making fast time, thus failing to take into +consideration a two-mile current setting shoreward, had come to grief. +Her skipper had cut a corner once too often and started overland with +her right across the toe of Point Gorda. Her wireless brought two +tugs hastening up from San Francisco; but, before they could haul her +off at high tide, the jagged reef had chewed her bottom to rags, and +in a submerged condition she was towed back to port and kicked into +the dry dock at Hunters Point. + +Cappy Ricks, feverishly excited over the affair, was very anxious to +get a report on the condition of the vessel as soon as possible. He +had planned to hire a launch and proceed to Hunters Point for a +personal appraisal of the damage to the Amelia Ricks, but the +northwest trades were blowing half a gale that day and had kicked up +just sufficient sea to warn Cappy that seasickness would be his +portion if he essayed to brave it in a launch. It occurred to him, +therefore, to stay in the office and send somebody in whose knowledge +of ships he had profound confidence. He got Matt Peasley on the phone +at once. + +"Matt," he said plaintively. "I want you to do the old man a favor, if +you will. You heard about our Amelia Ricks, didn't you? Well, she's +in dry dock at Hunters Point now, and they'll have the dock pumped out +in two hours so we can see what her bottom looks like. I know she's +ripped out clear up to the garboards and probably hogged, and I can +hardly wait to make sure. The marine surveyor for the Underwriters +will go down this afternoon to look her over, and then he'll take a +day to present his long, typewritten report--and I can't wait that +long. Will you skip down to Crowley's boathouse, hire a launch and +charge it to us, and go down to see the Amelia? She'll be shored up +by the time you get down there. Make a good quick examination of the +damage and hurry back so I can talk it over with you. I go a heap on +your judgment, Matt." + +"I'll start right away, sir," Matt promised, glad of any opportunity +to favor Cappy. + +Two hours later, on his way back to the Mission Street bulkhead, he +passed, in Mission Bay, a huge, rusty red box of a steel freighter, +swinging at anchor. Under ordinary weather conditions Matt would have +paid no attention to her; but, as has already been stated, the +northwest trades were blowing a gale and had kicked up a sea; hence +the steamer was rolling freely at her anchorage, and as the launch +bobbed by to windward of her she rolled far over to leeward--and Matt +saw something that challenged his immediate attention and provoked his +profound disgust. The sides of the vessel below the water line were +incrusted with barnacles and eelgrass fully six inches thick! + +No skipper that ever set foot on a bridge could pass that scaly hulk +unmoved. Matt Peasley said uncomplimentary things about the owners of +the vessel and directed the launchman to pass in under her stern, in +order that he might read her name. She proved to be the Narcissus, of +London. + +He stood in the stern of the launch, staring thoughtfully after the +Narcissus, and before his mind there floated that vision of the +barnacles and eelgrass, infallible evidence that the years had been +long since the Narcissus had been hauled out. + +"Do you know how long that steamer has lain there?" he queried of the +launchman. + +"I been runnin' launches to and from Hunters Point for seven years an' +she was there when I come on the job," the latter answered. + +"It's no place for a good ship," Matt Peasley murmured musingly. "She +ought to be out on the dark blue, loaded and earning good money for +her owners. I must find out why she isn't doing it." + +Having rendered a meticulous report to Cappy on the condition of the +Amelia Ricks, Matt, his brain still filled with thoughts of that +lonely big steamer swinging neglected in Mission Bay among the rotting +oyster boats and old clipper ships waiting to be converted into coal +hulks, proceeded to the Merchants' Exchange where Lloyds' Register +soon put him in possession of the following information: + +The steamer Narcissus had been built in Glasgow in 1894 by Sutherland +& Sons, Limited. She was four hundred and fifty-five feet long, +fifty-eight feet beam and thirty-one feet draft. She had +triple-expansion engines of two thousand indicated horse power, two +Scotch boilers, and was of seventy-five hundred tons net register. + +"Huh!" Matt murmured. "She'll carry forty per cent. more than her +registered tonnage; if I had the loading of her she'd carry fifty per +cent. more, at certain seasons of the year. I wonder why her owners +have let her lie idle for eight years? I'll have to ask Jerry Dooley. +He knows everything about ships that a landsman can possibly know." + +Jerry Dooley had presided over the desk at the Merchants' Exchange for +so many years that there was a rumor current to the effect that he had +been there in the days when the water used to come up to Montgomery +Street. Before Jerry's desk the skippers of all nations came and +went; to him there drifted inevitably all of the little, intimate +gossip of the shipping world. If somebody built a ship and she had +trouble with her oil burners on the trial trip, Jerry Dooley would +know all about it before that vessel got back to her dock again. If +somebody else's ship was a wet boat, Jerry knew of it, and could, +moreover, give one the name of the naval architect responsible; if a +vessel had been hogged on a reef, Jerry could tell you the name of the +reef, the date of the wreck, the location of the hog, and all about +the trouble they had keeping her cargo dry as a result. To this human +encyclopedia, therefore, did Matt Peasley come in his still-hunt for +information touching the steamer Narcissus. + +He opened negotiations by handing Jerry Dooley a good cigar. Jerry +examined it, saw that it was a good cigar, and said: "I don't smoke +myself, but I have a brother that does." He fixed Matt Peasley with +an alert, inquisitive eye and said: "Well, what do you know, +Captain?" + +"Nothing much. What do you know about the steamer Narcissus?" + +Jerry Dooley scratched his red head. + +"Narcissus!" he murmured. "Narcissus! By George, it's a long time +since I heard of her. Has she just come into port?" And he glanced +apprehensively at the register of arrivals and departures, wondering +if he hadn't overlooked the Narcissus. + +"She's been in port eight years at least," Matt answered; "tucked away +down in Mission Bay, with a watchman aboard." + +"Oh, I remember now," Jerry replied. "She belongs to the Oriental +Steamship Company. Old man Webb, of the Oriental Company, got all +worked up about the possibilities of the Oriental trade right after +the Spanish War. He had a lot of old bottoms running in the combined +freight and passenger trade and not making expenses when the war came +along, and the Government grabbed all his boats for transports to rush +troops over to the Philippines. That was fine business for quite a +while and the Oriental got out of the hole and made a lot of money +besides. About that time Old Webb saw a vision of huge Oriental trade +for the man who would go after it, and in his excitement he purchased +the Narcissus. She carried horses down to the Philippines, and to +China during the Boxer uprising; and when that business was over, and +while old Webb was waiting for the expected boom in trade to the +Orient, he got a lumber charter for her from Puget Sound to Australia. +But she was never built for a lumber boat, though she carried six +million five hundred thousand feet; she was so big and it took so long +to load and discharge her that she lost twenty-five thousand dollars +on the voyage. Run her in the lumber trade and the demurrage would +break a national bank. + +"Well, sir, after that lumber charter, old man Webb had a fit. He +tried her out on a few grain charters, but she didn't make any money +to speak of; and about that time the P. & S. W., with a view to +grabbing some Oriental freight for their road, got the control of the +steamship company away from Webb. The Oriental trade boom never +developed, and the regular steamers, carrying freight and passengers, +were ample to cope with what business the company was offered; so they +didn't need the Narcissus. + +"As I remember it, she was expensive to operate. She had a punk pair +of boilers or she needed another boiler--or something; at any rate, +she was a hog on coal, and they laid her up until such time as they +could find use for her. I suppose after she was laid up a few years +the thought of all the money it would cost to put her in commission +again discouraged them--and she's been down in Mission Bay ever +since." + +"But the Canal will soon be open," Matt suggested. "One would suppose +they'd put her in commission and find business for her between Pacific +and Atlantic coast ports." + +"You forget she's a foreign-built vessel and hence cannot run between +American ports." + +"She can run between North and South American ports," Matt replied +doggedly. "I bet if I owned her I'd dig up enough business in Brazil +and the Argentine to keep her busy. I'd be dodging backward and +forward through the Canal." + +"You would, of course," Jerry answered placidly; "but the Oriental +Steamship Company cannot." + +"Why?" + +"Fifty-one per cent. of their stock is owned by a railroad--and under +the law no railroad-owned ship may use the Canal." + +Matt's eyebrows arched. + +"Ah!" he murmured. "Then that's one of the reasons why she's a white +elephant on their hands." + +"Got a customer for her?" Jerry queried shrewdly. "A fellow ought to +be able to pick the Narcissus up rather cheap." + +Matt shook his head negatively. + +"Happened to pass her in a launch a couple of hours ago, and the sight +of the barnacles on her bottom just naturally graveled me and roused +my curiosity. Much obliged for your information." And Matt excused +himself and strolled over to the counter of the Hydro-graphic Office +to look over the recent bulletins to masters. + +The information that the whistling buoy off Duxbury Reef had gone +adrift and that Blunt's Reef Lightship would be withdrawn for fifteen +days for repairs and docking interested him but little, however. In +his mind's eye there loomed the picture of that great red freighter, +with her foul bottom, rusty funnel and unpainted, weather-beaten upper +works. + +"Her bridge is pretty well exposed to the weather," he murmured. "I'd +build it up so the man on watch could just look over it. I noticed +they'd had the good sense to house over her winches, so I dare say +they're in good shape; her paint will have prevented rust below the +water line, and I'll bet she's as sound as the day she was built. I +think I'd paint her dead black, with red underbody and terra-cotta +upper works." He pondered. "Yes, and I'd paint her funnel dead +black, too, with a broad red band; and on both sides of the funnel, in +the center of this red band, I'd have a white diamond with a black P +in the center of it. By George, they'd know the Peasley Line as far +as they could see it!" + +He would have dreamed on had he not bethought himself suddenly of his +modest capital--fifty thousand-odd dollars, out of which he owed Cappy +Ricks a considerable sum on a promissory note due in one year. On +such a meager bank balance it would not do to dream of buying a vessel +worth nearly four hundred thousand dollars. Why, it would require +twenty thousand dollars to put her in commission after all these years +of idleness, and she had to have another boiler because she was a hog +on coal; and, in addition, her operating cost would be between nine +and ten thousand dollars a month. + +Matt shook his head and looked round the great room as though in +search of inspiration. He found it. His wandering glance finally +came to rest on Jerry Dooley's alert countenance. Jerry crooked a +finger at him and Matt strolled over to the desk. + +"I've been watching you milling the idea round in your head," said +Jerry. "I saw you reject it. You're crazy! It can be done." + +"How?" Matt queried eagerly. + +"Go get an option on her for the lowest price you can get--then form a +syndicate and sell her to them at a higher price; or, if you don't +want to do that, form your syndicate to buy her at the option price, +and if you work it right you can get the job of managing owner. I +want to tell you that two and one-half per cent. commission on her +freight earnings would make a nice income." + +"I wonder whom I could get into the syndicate?" Matt queried. + +Jerry scratched his head. + +"Well," he suggested, "you're mighty close to old Cappy Ricks. If you +could hook him for a piece of her, the rest would be easy. Any +shipping man on the Street will follow where Cappy Ricks leads. I'd +try Pollard & Reilly; Redell, of the West Coast Trading Company; Jack +Haviland, the ship chandler; Charley Beyers, the ship's grocer and +butcher; A. B. Cahill & Co., the coal dealers; Pete Hansen, of the +Bulkhead Hotel down on the Embarcadero--he's always got a couple of +thousand dollars to put into a clean-cut shipping enterprise. Then +there's Rickey, the ship-builder, and--yes, even Alcott, the crimp, +will take a piece of her. I'd look in on Louis Wiley, the chronometer +man, and Cox, the coppersmith--why I'd take in every firm and +individual who might hope to get business out of the ship; and, you +bet, I'd sell 'em all a little block of stock in the S. S. Narcissus +Company." + +"It might be done," Matt answered evasively. "I'll think it over." + +He did think it over very seriously the greater portion of that night. +As a result, instead of going to his office next morning he went to +Mission Street bulkhead and engaged a launch, and forty minutes later, +in response to his hail, the aged watchman aboard the Narcissus came +to the rail and asked him what he wanted. + +"I want to come aboard!" Matt shouted. + +"Got a permit from the office?" + +"No." + +"Orders are to allow nobody aboard without a permit." + +"How do you like the color of this permit?" Matt called back, and +waved a greenback. + +The answer came in the shape of a Jacob's ladder promptly tossed +overside and Matt Peasley mounted the towering hulk of the Narcissus. + +"What do you want?" the watchman again demanded as he pouched the bill +Matt handed him. + +"I want to examine this vessel from bilge to truck," Matt answered. +"I'll begin with a look at the winches." + +As he had surmised, the winches had been housed over and fairly buried +in grease when the ship laid up; hence they were in absolutely perfect +condition. The engines, too, had received the best of care, as nearly +as Matt could judge from a cursory view. Her cargo space was littered +up with a number of grain chutes, which would have to come out; and +her boats, which had been stored in the empty hold aft, away from the +weather, were in tiptop shape. She had a spare anchor, plenty of +chain, wire cable and Manila lines, though these latter would +doubtless have to be renewed in their entirety, owing to deterioration +from age. + +Her crew quarters were commodious and ample, and the officers' +quarters all that could be desired; her galley equipment was complete, +even to a small auxiliary ice plant. What she needed was cleaning, +painting and scraping, and lots of it, also the riggers would be a few +days on her standing rigging; but, so far as Matt could discern, that +was all. From the watchman he learned that one Terence Reardon had +been her chief engineer in the days when the Oriental Steamship +Company first owned her. + +From the Narcissus, Matt Peasley returned to the city and went at once +to the office of the Marine Engineers' Association, where he made +inquiry for Terence Reardon. It appeared that Terence was chief of +the Arab, loading grain at Port Costa; so to Port Costa Matt Peasley +went to interview him. He found Reardon on deck, enjoying a short +pipe and a breath of cool air, and introduced himself. + +"I understand you were the chief of the Narcissus at one time, Mr. +Reardon," Matt began abruptly. "I understand, also, that under your +coaxing you used to get ten miles out of her loaded." + +Parenthetically it may be stated that Matt Peasley had never heard +anything of the sort; but he knew the weaknesses of chief engineers +and decided to try a shot in the dark, hoping, by the grace of the +devil and the luck of a sailor, to score a bull's-eye. He succeeded +at least in ringing the bell. + +"Coax, is it?" murmured Terence Reardon in his deep Kerry brogue. +"Faith, thin, the Narcissus niver laid eye on the day she could do +nine an' a half wit' the kindliest av treatment. Wirrah, but 'tis +herself was the glutton for coal. Sure, whin I'd hand in me report to +ould Webb, and he'd see where she'd averaged forty ton a day, the big +tears'd come into the two eyes av him--the Lord ha' mercy on his +sowl!" + +"You never had any trouble with her engines," Matt suggested. + +"I had throuble keepin' shteam enough in the b'ilers to run thim; but +I'll say this for her ingines: Give them a chancet an' they'd run +like a chronometer." + +"Would you consider an offer to leave the Arab and be chief of the +Narcissus?" Matt queried. "I'm thinking of buying her, and if I do +I'll give you twenty-five dollars a month above the regular +Association scale." + +"I'll go ye," murmured Reardon, "on wan condition: Ye'll shpend some +money in her ingine room, else 'tis no matther av use for ye to talk +to me. I'll not be afther breakin' me poor heart for the sake av +twenty-five dollars a month. Sure, 'twould be wort' that alone to see +the face av ye, young man, afther wan look at the coal bill." + +"What repairs would you suggest? Do you think she needs another +boiler? I noticed she has two. We could move those two over and make +room for another." + +"Do nothing av the sort, sir. Before ould Webb got her she'd been +usin' bad wather down on the East African Coast, I'm thinkin', and it +raised hell wit' her. 'Tis the expinse av retubin' her condensers +that always frightened ould Webb, and whin he lost conthrol the +blatherskite booby av a port ingineer the new owners app'inted come +down to the ship, looked her over, wit' niver a question to me that +knew the very sowl av her, and reported to the owners that what she +needed was another b'iler." And Terence Reardon laughed the short, +mirthless chuckle of the man who knows. + +"Then," Matt continued, "the money should be spent--" + +"In retubing her condensers," declared the engineer emphatically. "Do +that an' do a good job on her, an' she'll have shteam enough for thim +fine big ingines av hers on thirty-two ton a day, an' less. An' have +a care would ye buy her until she ships a new crank shaft. She's a +crack in the web av the afther crank shaft ye could shtick a knife +blade into. She may run for years, but sooner or later some wan'll +have a salvage claim agin ye if ye neglect it now. An', for the love +av heaven, have nothin' to do wit' her big motor. 'Twas bur-rnt out +by him that had her ahead av me--bad cess to him, whereiver he is! +An' they did a poor, cheap job av windin' the armature agin. Ye'll be +in hot wather wit' the electric-light system until ye put in a new +motor. + +"The rheostat on the searchlight niver was any good; and she may or +may not need a new whistle--I dunno. Sure, the skipper niver blew it +good an' long but the wanst; an', so help me, young man, I was lookin' +at the shteam gauge whin he shtarted that prolonged blast--an' whin he +finished the gauge had dhropped tin pounds! So up I go on the bridge +to the ould man, an' says I to him, says I: 'Clear weather or thick +fog, I'm tellin' ye to lave that whistle alone if ye expect to finish +the voyage. Wan toot out av it means a ton av coal gone to hell an' a +dhrop av blood out av the owner's heart!" An' from that time on the +best I iver hearrd out av that whistle was a sick sort av a sob." + +Matt laughed as Terence Reardon's natural propensity for romancing +came to the front. He thanked the chief for the latter's invaluable +information, and, with a mental resolve to have Terence Reardon +presiding over the engines of the Narcissus at no distant date, he +returned to the city. + + + +CHAPTER XLVII + +THE TAIL GOES WITH THE HIDE + + +The following morning Matt called upon MacCandless, the general +manager of the Oriental Steamship Company. Mr. MacCandless was a cold +individual of Scotch ancestry, with a scent for a dollar a trifle +keener than most; and Matt Peasley, young and inexperienced in +business fencing, was never more aware of his deficiencies than when +he faced MacCandless across the latter's desk. Consequently, he +resolved to waste no words in vain parley. MacCandless was still +looking curiously at Matt's card when the latter said: + +"I called with reference to that big freighter of the Oriental +Steamship Company--the Narcissus. Is she for sale?" + +MacCandless smiled with his lips, but his eyes wore the eternal +Show-me! look. He nodded. + +"Foolish of me to ask, I know," Matt continued complacently, "since it +is a matter of common gossip that you would have been delighted to +have sold her any time these past eight years." + +Since MacCandless did not deny this Matt assumed that it was true and +returned to the attack with renewed vigor. + +"What do you want for her?" + +"Are you acting as a broker in this matter or do you represent +principals who have asked you to interview me? In other words, before +I talk business with you I want to know that you mean business. I +shall waste no time discussing a possible trade unless you assure me +that you have a customer in sight. I am weary of brokers. I've had +forty of them after that vessel from time to time, but no business +ever resulted." + +"Which is not at all surprising, considering the circumstances," Matt +retorted. "If you cannot use her yourself you mustn't expect other +people to be over-enthusiastic about owning her. However, I think I +can find business for her, and I've come to buy her myself. You seem +to think a lot of your time, so I'll conserve it for you. I'm the +principal in this deal, and if you really want to get rid of her we'll +do business in two minutes." + +"Three hundred thousand dollars," MacCandless answered promptly. + +"Listen," said Matt Peasley. "I have fifty thousand dollars of my own +in bank this minute, but I will have to raise two hundred and fifty +thousand more before I can afford to buy your vessel, even if we agree +on that price, which does not seem probable. I'll give you two +hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the steamer Narcissus; but when +you turn her over to me I want a ship, not a piece of floating junk. +You'll have to ship a new crank shaft, rewind the main motor, renew +the Manila lines, overhaul the standing rigging, retube the condensers +and dock her before handing her over to me. She's as foul as any hulk +in Rotten Row." + +"Why, that will cost in the neighborhood of forty thousand +dollars--nearer fifty!" MacCandless declared. + +"I know. But for three hundred thousand dollars I can go to Sweden, +build a smaller vessel than the Narcissus, have her right up to date, +with two-thousand-horsepower oil-burning motors in her; and the saving +in space due to motor installation, with oil tanks instead of coal +bunkers, will enable me to carry fully as much cargo as the Narcissus. +Also, I'll burn six tons of crude oil a day to your forty tons of +coal a day in the Narcissus. I'll employ eight men less in my crew, +and have a cleaner, faster and better ship. The motor ship is the +freighter of the future, and you know it. Your Narcissus is out of +date, and I'm only offering you two hundred and fifty thousand dollars +because I can use her right away." + +"Young man," said MacCandless, "you talk like a person that means +business, but you overlook the fact that this company is neither +bankrupt nor silly. The directors will, I feel assured, agree to do +all the work you specify, but the price must be three hundred +thousand. That will leave us two hundred and fifty thousand dollars +net." + +"I'll split the difference with you." + +MacCandless shook his head. + +"Well, that ends our argument," Matt answered pleasantly, and took up +his hat. "You can keep your big white elephant another eight years, +Mr. MacCandless. Perhaps some principal will come along then and make +you another offer; and in the interim you can charge off about one +hundred and fifty thousand dollars interest on the money tied up in +the Narcissus. Fine business--I don't think!" He nodded farewell and +started for the door. + +"But you say you have but fifty thousand dollars," MacCandless +protested. + +"I said I'd have to get two hundred and fifty thousand dollars more. +Well, I'll do it." + +"Quite a sum to raise these days," MacCandless remarked doubtfully. + +"Well, if you'll give me a sixty-day option on the Narcissus at two +hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars and agree to do the repairs +on her, including dry-docking, cleaning and painting her up to the +water line, I'll take a ten-thousand-dollar chance, Mr. MacCandless, +that I can raise the money." + +"Do you mean you'll give the Oriental Steamship Company ten thousand +dollars for a sixty-day option?" + +"I do; and I'll pay for the vessel as I raise the remainder of the +money. Ten thousand dollars down for the option, to apply on the +purchase price, of course, if the deal goes through, and to be +forfeited to you if I fail to make the next payment on time." + +"What will the next payment be?" the cautious MacCandless demanded. + +"Twenty thousand dollars a month, with interest at six per cent. in +deferred payments. You might as well be earning six per cent. on her +as have her rusting holes in her bottom down there in Mission Bay. As +she lies, you're losing at least six per cent. interest on her." + +"There's reason in that," MacCandless answered thoughtfully. "You to +insure the vessel as our interest may appear, bill of sale in escrow; +and if you default for more than thirty days on any payment before we +have received fifty per cent. of the purchase price you lose out and +we get our ship back." + +"Sharp business, but I'll take it, Mr. MacCandless. After I've paid +half the money I can mortgage her for the remainder and get out from +under your clutches. Put the buck up to your directors, get their +approval to the option and contract of sale, notify me, and I'll be +right up with a certified check for ten thousand dollars." And, +without giving MacCandless time to answer, Matt took his departure. + +"If I talked ten minutes with that man," he soliloquized, "he'd have +the number of my mess. He'd realize what a piker I was and terminate +the interview. But--I--think he'll meet my terms, because he sees I'm +pretty young and inexperienced, and he figures he'll make ten or +twenty thousand dollars out of me before I discover I'm a rotten +promoter. And, at that, his is better than an even-money bet!" + +At five o'clock that same day MacCandless telephoned. + +"I have called a special meeting of our directors, Captain Peasley," +he announced, "and put your proposition up to them. They have agreed +to it, and if you will be at my office at ten o'clock to-morrow I +think we can do business." + +"I think so," Matt answered. "I'll be there." + +He hung up, reached for a telegraph blank and wrote the following +message: + + San Francisco, July 28, 1914. + + Terence Reardon, + Chief Engineer, S. S. Arab, + Port Costa, California. + + Have bought Narcissus. Offer you one hundred seventy-five a + month quit Arab now and supervise installation new crank shaft, + retubing condensers, and so on; permanent job as chief. Do you + accept? Answer immediately. + + PACIFIC SHIPPING COMPANY, + Matthew Peasley, President. + +Having dispatched this message, Matt Peasley closed down his desk, +strolled round to the Blue Star Navigation Company's offices, and +picked up his newly acquired father-in-law. On their way home in +Cappy's carriage the old gentleman, apropos of the afternoon press +dispatches from Europe, remarked that the situation abroad was +anything but encouraging. + +"Do you think we'll have a war in Europe?" Matt queried. + +"Germany seems determined to back up Austria in her demands on Serbia, +and I don't think Serbia will eat quite all of the dish of dirt +Francis Joseph has set before her," Cappy answered seriously. +"Austria seems determined to make an issue of the assassination of the +Archduke Ferdinand and his wife. If she does, Matt, there'll be the +most awful war in history. All Europe will be fighting." + +Matt was silent and thoughtful all the way home, but just before they +left the carriage he turned to Cappy. + +"If there's war," he remarked, "England will, doubtless, control the +seas because of her superior navy. German commerce will absolutely +cease." + +"The submarine will have to be reckoned with, also," Cappy suggested. +"England's commerce will doubtless be knocked into a cocked hat." + +"There'll be a shortage of bottoms, and vessels will be in brisk +demand," Matt predicted. "There'll be a sharp rise in freight rates +on all commodities the instant war breaks out, and the American +mercantile marine ought to reap a harvest." + +"My dear boy," said Cappy acidly, "why speak of the American +mercantile marine? There ain't no such animal." + +"There will be--if the war in Europe ever starts," Matt retorted; +"and, what's more, I'm going to bet there will be war within thirty +days." + +He did not consider it advisable to mention to Cappy that he was going +to bet ten thousand dollars! + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII + +VICTORY + + +At ten o'clock the following morning Matt Peasley, accompanied by an +attorney, an expert in maritime law, presented himself at the Oriental +Steamship Company's office. MacCandless and the attorney for his +company were awaiting them, with a tentative form of contract of sale +already drawn up, and after a two-hour discussion on various points +the finished document was finally presented for the signatures of both +parties, but not, however, until Matt Peasley had been forced to do +something that brought out a gentle perspiration on the backs of his +sturdy legs. Before the shrewd MacCandless would consent to begin the +work of placing the vessel in commission, according to agreement, he +stipulated a payment of twenty-five thousand dollars down! He +estimated the cost of the docking and repair work at fifty thousand +dollars, and, desiring to play safe, insisted that Matt Peasley should +advance at least fifty per cent. of this preliminary outlay in cash. + +Matt thereupon excused himself from the conference on the plea that he +had to consult with others before taking this step. He was gone about +fifteen minutes, during which time he consulted with the "others." +They happened to be two newsboys selling rival afternoon editions. +Matt Peasley did business with each, and after a quick perusal of both +papers, he decided that war was inevitable and resolved to take the +plunge. In no sense of the word, however, did he believe he was +gambling. His conversation with Terence Reardon had convinced him +that the Narcissus was a misunderstood ship--that she had been poorly +managed and was the victim of a false financial policy. + +Hence, even though the war should not materialize, he would be making +no mistake in tying her up. She was a bully gamble and a wonderful +bargain at the price; with Terence Reardon presiding over her engines +at a salary twenty-five dollars in excess of the union scale, the +orders to keep her out of the shop would be followed, so far as lay in +Terence's power. Even should he not succeed in financing the +enterprise Cappy Ricks would be glad to take his bargain off his +hands--perhaps at a neat profit. Consequently, Matt went over to his +bank, procured an additional certified check for fifteen thousand +dollars and returned to MacCandless' office, where he signed the +contract of sale and paid over his twenty-five thousand dollars. He +trembled a little as he did it. + +"I'll have the insurance on her placed this afternoon," MacCandless +suggested as he handed Matt his copy of the sale contract; whereat the +latter came to life with galvanic suddenness. + +"Oh, no, you'll not, Mr. MacCandless," he suggested smilingly. "I'll +place that insurance myself. My company has to pay for it, so I'll +act as agent and collect my little old ten per cent. commission. But, +passing that, do you want to know the latest--the very latest news?" + +"I don't mind," MacCandless replied. + +"Well, there's going to be a devil of big war in Europe and I wouldn't +take four hundred thousand dollars for the Narcissus this minute. May +I use your telephone? Thanks!" He called up his office. "Is there a +telegram there for me?" he queried, and on being answered in the +affirmative he directed his stenographer to read it to him. He turned +to MacCandless. + +"Mr. Terence Reardon will have entire charge of the work of retubing +those condensers, and so on," he explained. "I'll give him a letter +to you, which will be his authority to superintend the job. I'm going +to New York tonight, but I think I'll be back in time to accept the +vessel when she's ready for commission." He looked at his watch. It +was just twelve-thirty o'clock. "The Overland leaves at two-thirty," +he murmured. "I'll have just time to pack a suit case." And he +picked up his hat and fled with the celerity and singleness of purpose +of a tin-canned dog. + +Cappy Ricks woke from his mid-afternoon doze to find his son-in-law +shaking him by the shoulder. + +"Well, young man," Cappy began severely, "so you're back, are you? +Give an account of yourself. Where the devil have you been for the +past two weeks? Why did you go, and why did you have the consummate +nerve to leave Florry behind you? Why, you hadn't been married two +months--" + +"I couldn't take her with me, sir," Matt protested. "I wanted to, but +she would have been in the way. You see, I knew I was going to be +busy night and day." + +Cappy Ricks slid out to the edge of his swivel chair; with a hand on +each knee he gazed at his smiling son-in-law over the rims of his +spectacles. For fully a minute he remained motionless. + +"Matt," he demanded suspiciously, "what the devil have you been up +to?" + +Matt raised a huge forefinger. + +"Number one," he began: "I bought the Oriental Steamship Company's +freighter Narcissus, seventy-five hundred tons' register, for two +hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars, and in a month she'll be in +tiptop shape and ready for sea. I've paid twenty-five thousand +dollars down on her and I'll have to make a payment of twenty thousand +dollars on the twenty-sixth of September and twenty thousand dollars a +month on her thereafter until she, is paid for. And if I default on a +payment for more than thirty days before I've paid off half of the +purchase price the Oriental Steamship Company may, at its option, take +the vessel away from me." + +Cappy Ricks smiled. + +"Ah!" he breathed softly. "So you want help, eh? You finally did +manage to get into deep water close to the shore, and now you're +yelling to father to come through and save you, eh? Well, I'll do it, +my boy, because I think you made a bully buy; and she's worth it. +I'll take over your bargain for you and give you, say--er--ahem! +we--harumph-h-h--say twenty-five thousand dollars profit. Not so bad, +eh? When I was your age--" Cappy paused, open-mouthed. He had +suddenly remembered something. "Oh, no," he contradicted himself; +"this isn't my foolish day--not by a jugful! You owe me a lot of +money on that promissory note you gave me when we settled up for that +Tillicum business--so I'll not give you any money after all. I'll +just take the contract of sale off your hands, give you back the money +you risked in the deal--and your promissory note, cancelled." And +Cappy Ricks sat back and clawed his whiskers expectantly. + +"Oh, I'm not in distress," Matt answered cheerfully. "On the +contrary, I'm going to take up that note before the week is out." + +Once more Cappy slid out to the edge of his chair. + +"Where are you going to get the money?" he demanded bluntly. + +"I'm going to sell the Narcissus. The day I purchased her it was a +moral certainty that Europe was to be plunged into a terrible war; so +the ink wasn't dry on the contract before I was streaking it for New +York. War was declared by England on Germany on the fifth of August, +and while you'd be saying Jack Robinson every German freighter went +into neutral ports to intern until the war should terminate. The +German raiders are still out after the British and French commerce, +and the deep-water shipping out of Eastern ports isn't a business any +more. It's a delirium--a night-mare! Why, I was offered any number +of charters for my Narcissus, but I didn't bother trying to charter +her until just before I started for home; and, moreover, the longer I +waited the better charter I could make. Besides, she isn't in +commission yet--and I had other fish to fry." + +"For instance?" Cappy inquired wonderingly. + +"It is an undisputed fact that the early bird gets the worm," Matt +Peasley replied brightly, "and I was the early bird. I was in New +York a few days before the war became general, and for a week +thereafter everybody was so blamed interested in the fighting they +neglected business. But I didn't. I went to New York to charter, +under the government form, as many big steel freighters as I could lay +hands on-- + +Cappy Ricks raised his clasped hands and gazed reverently upward. + +"Oh, Lord!" he murmured. "How many? How many?" + +"Fifteen," Matt Peasley murmured complacently. "I got about half of +them real cheap, because business was rotten when I landed in the +East. Why, I chartered the entire fleet of one shipping firm in +Boston. I had to pay a stiffer rate for the others; but--" + +"How long did you charter them for?" Cappy yelled. "Quick! Tell me!" + +"All for a year, with the privilege of renewal at a ten per cent. +advance. I had no difficulty in rechartering to the men who had been +asleep on the job. I shall average a profit of two hundred dollars a +day on each of the fifteen even if I do not charter them longer--" + +"A day!" Cappy's voice rose to a shrill scream. + +"A day! Any American bottom that will float and move through the +water is worth five times what it was before war was declared, and the +freight rates are going up every day. Three thousand dollars a day +income--three hundred and sixty-five days in the year! Man, if the +war lasts a year I'll make a million dollars net!" + +"But--but--about this Narcissus?" Cappy sputtered. + +"Just before I left for home I chartered her at fourteen hundred +dollars a day--forty-two thousand dollars a month--on the Government +form of charter." + +"Impossible!" Cappy shrieked, losing all control of himself. +"Dog-gone you, Matt Peasley, don't tell me such stories. You're +driving me crazy!" + +"It will cost me nine thousand a month to run her--and she doesn't +even go near the war zone. I'm going to run her to South American +ports." + +"How long?" + +Matt Peasley smiled. "How long?" he echoed. "Why, she's only +chartered for one trip just now. You don't suppose I'd charter her +for several voyages or for a year, on a freight market that's growing +over-night?" + +"And those fifteen vessels you chartered. You rechartered them. For +what period?" + +"Three months, with privilege of renewal at the going rates." + +"Matt," Cappy murmured, "you're great. Damn me, sir, I could kiss +you." + +Matt grinned at this earnest commendation. + +"Of course I can operate the Narcissus and meet my monthly payments to +the Oriental Steamship Company and still be ahead of the game," he +continued. "But I'm going to sell her, Mr. Ricks. I've had an offer +of four hundred and fifty thousand dollars for her already--and she's +still waiting to be hauled out on the marine railway and put in +commission! I'll just wait one week and by that time she'll bring +half a million. At that I hate to sell, but I've got to. I figure a +bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." + +"Why have you got to?" Cappy shrilled. "You're crazy! You don't have +to." + +"But the next payment will come due on her before I receive any +charter money from the Steel people, and that will clean me for fair. +I can't help myself. Besides, I've got these other fifteen vessels +chartered; I'll have to have capital--and I've got to have it quickly +or I'll be a pauper while you'd be saying Jack Robinson." + +"But, Matt, you old dunderhead, you mustn't sell a good thing. Why, +man, you've got a million and a half profit right in the hollow of +your hand; and, oh, we mustn't let it get away, Matt--we mustn't let +it get away! + +"It was magnificent, Matt--perfectly magnificent. I'll help you, +sonny. By golly, I'll go to the bat for you and back you for the last +dollar I have. No more monkeyshines between us now, boy! We've had a +lot of fun in our day, playing nip and tuck with each other; but this +is real business. You've got to be saved." + +"I had an idea that you would see it in that light, sir," Matt +suggested smilingly. I knew you'd back me up; so I didn't worry. But +you'll have to take half the profit on the deals I've made--that's +only fair." + +"Profits!" Cappy Ricks sneered. "Why, what the devil do I care for +profits? You keep the profits. You and Florry are young and you'll +know how to enjoy them. Why, what do you think I am? A human hog? +Let me sit in the game with you--let me play the game of business with +you, son, down to my last buffalo nickel. I can't take the blamed +money with me when I die, can I? But don't ask me to make any money +out of you, my boy. I'm going to get my fun watching you in action." + +Matt Peasley came close and took old Cappy Ricks' hand in both of his. + +"I want to be your partner," he said wistfully. "I couldn't come into +this office and sponge off you, and so I've waited until I could buy +in! I wanted to bring some assets besides myself when I should come +to manage the Blue Star. May I, sir? I want to turn in this big deal +I've put over for stock in the Ricks Lumber and Logging Company and +the Blue Star Navigation Company; and, then, with Skinner managing the +lumber end, I'll sit in and run the fleet--and you just sit round and +help and offer advice, Mr. Ricks. Let me turn in the Narcissus for +what I have been offered--four hundred and fifty thousand dollars--and +take stock. + +"I don't want to be an employee; I don't want to be just your +son-in-law, waiting for your shoes. I want to be your partner--to be +more than a cog in the machine. And those freighters I've +chartered--why, I could never have chartered them without your help. +Who was I? Would I have had any credit or standing with those big +Eastern shipping firms? Not much! I represented myself as the +general manager of the Blue Star Navigation Company. And they knew +about you--you were rated A-1 in financial circles." + +"You what?" yelled Cappy. "General manager! You infernal duffer, why +didn't you cut the whole hog and call yourself president?" + +"I had my cards printed to read: Vice President and General Manager," +Matt replied with a twinkle. "I didn't feel any qualms of conscience +about cutting that much of the hog, because I knew you would make me +vice president and general manager as soon as I got back with the +bacon! So I signed all the charters, 'Blue Star Navigation Company, +by Matthew Peasley, V. P. and G.M.'--drew a raft of sight drafts on +you also. They'll be putting in an appearance in a day or two. I got +home just about two jumps ahead of them." + +"You're a devil!" said Cappy Ricks. "But--I'll pay the drafts." Matt +laughed happily. "You're bringing about a million and a half into the +company--at least, if everything goes well, you will; and you've got a +half interest in what you have brought in," Cappy continued. + +He touched a push button. An instant later Mr. Skinner appeared. + +"Skinner, my dear boy," said Cappy, "Matt has a flock of charters he +has made for us in the East--also, a flock of recharters of the same +boats--also, a contract of sale on the steamer Narcissus. Make out a +form of assignment of that contract from the Pacific Shipping Company +to the Blue Star Navigation Company and Matt will sign it. We'll keep +that boat ourselves. Then give Matt a check for the next payment due +that man MacCandless on the Narcissus and after you've cleaned up with +Matt, Skinner, have Hankins issue him seven hundred and fifty thousand +dollars' worth of stock--half in the Blue Star and half in the Ricks +Lumber & Logging Company. Tell Hankins, also, to call a special +meeting of the board of directors of both companies for ten o'clock +tomorrow--and to be sure to have a quorum present. And in the +meantime put the Narcissus under provisional American registry." + +"Why, what are you going to do?" Mr. Skinner demanded wonderingly. + +Cappy walked tip to his general manager and affectionately placed his +hand on Skinner's arm. + +"Skinner, my dear boy," he said, "we're going to elect you president +of the lumber company and Matt is to be president of the Navigation +Company. I'm going to resign and be a sort of president emeritus of +both companies and advisory director to both boards. Matt, you might +tell Skinner what your plans are for the Blue Star." + +"Well," said Matt, "I'm going to leave the president emeritus on the +job a few months longer." + +"Not by a jugful! I quit tomorrow. Hereafter I'm just scenery. I'm +old and I must give way to youth. I've had my day; I'm out of the +running now," Cappy answered sadly. + +"We're going to leave the president emeritus on the job," Matt +repeated, "while I go to Europe and pick up a couple of big British +tramps, under the provisions of the recent Emergency Shipping Act, and +stick 'em under the American flag. Regardless of what the other +fellows may do or think, the fact is we're American citizens; and +we're going to do our duty and help establish an American mercantile +marine. Skinner, we'll make the Blue Star flag known on the Seven +Seas." + +Cappy Ricks sprang into the air and got one thin old arm round Matt +Peasley's neck; with the other he groped for Skinner, for there were +tears in his fine old eyes. + +"What a pair of lads to have round me!" he said huskily. +"Matt--Skinner, my boy--by the Holy Pink-toed Prophet!--we'll do it; +not because we need the money or want it, or give a particular damn to +hoard up a heap of it, but because it's the right thing to do. It's +patriotic--it's American--our activities shall enrich the world--and +oh, it's such a bully game to play!" + +Mr. Skinner glanced at Cappy Ricks with the closest approach to +downright affection he considered quite dignified to permit during +business hours. + +"I notice you were going to quit a minute ago to become president +emeritus--and now you're including yourself in the new program of +activity," he reminded Cappy Ricks. "I seem to remember that for the +past few years you've been talking of the happy day when you could +retire and learn to play golf." + +"Golf!" Cappy glanced at Mr. Skinner witheringly. "Skinner," he +continued, "don't be an ass! Golf is an old man's game--and I belong +with the young fellows. Why, don't you remember the day, three years +ago, when we discovered we had a sailor named Matt Peasley before the +mast in the old Retriever? Why, ever since I've been having so much +fun--" + +"And that reminds me," Matt interrupted: "We must send a new skipper +to Aberdeen to relieve Mike Murphy in the Retriever. He has his +ticket for steam and I've hired him at two hundred and fifty a month +to skipper the Narcissus. Mike is one of the best men under the Blue +Star; he has come up from before the mast." + +"The only kind I ever gave a whoop for," Cappy declared. "In effect, +he once told me to go chase myself." + +"But," Skinner persisted, "how about playing golf?" + +Cappy Ricks raised his eyes reverently upward. "Please God," he said, +"I'll die in the harness!" + +"Amen!" said Mr. Skinner; and Matt Peasely re-echoed the sentiment. + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, CAPPY RICKS *** + +This file should be named cpyrk10.txt or cpyrk10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, cpyrk11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, cpyrk10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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