The only trouble is, that all this FLYING
SCUD affair got in the papers with the rest;
everybody's wide awake in Honolulu, and the sooner we
get the stuff in and the dollars out, the better for
all concerned."
"Gentlemen," said I, "you must excuse me. My friend,
the captain here, will drink a glass of champagne with
you to give you patience; but as for myself, I am unfit
even for ordinary conversation till I have read these
letters."
They demurred a little, and indeed the danger of delay
seemed obvious; but the sight of my distress, which I
was unable entirely to control, appealed strongly to
their good-nature, and I was suffered at last to get by
myself on deck, where, by the light of a lantern
smuggled under shelter of the low rail, I read the
following wretched correspondence:--
"MY DEAR LOUDON," ran the first, "this will be handed
you by your friend Speedy of the CATAMOUNT. His
sterling character and loyal devotion to yourself
pointed him out as the best man for our purposes in
Honolulu--the parties on the spot being difficult to
manipulate.
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