Ask Billy here. He knows how it was."
Carthew breathed long; he had a strange, half-
pleasurable sense of wading deeper in the tide of life.
"Well," said he, "you were going on to say?"
"I was going on to say this," said the captain
sturdily. "I've overheard what Mr. Hadden has been
saying, and I think he talks good sense. I like some
of his ideas first chop. He's sound on traderooms;
he's all there on the traderoom, and I see that he and
I would pull together. Then you're both gentlemen, and
I like that," observed Captain Wicks. "And then I'll
tell you I'm tired of this cabbing cruise, and I want
to get to work again. Now, here's my offer. I've a
little money I can stakeup--all of a hundred anyway.
Then my old firm will give me trade, and jump at the
chance; they never lost by me; they know what I'm worth
as supercargo. And, last of all, you want a good
captain to sail your ship for you. Well, here I am.
I've sailed schooners for ten years. Ask Billy if I
can handle a schooner."
"No man better," said Billy.
"And as for my character as a shipmate," concluded
Wicks, "go and ask my old firm.
Pages:
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574