"She's fully big for us three; it would be
all the better if we had another hand, though it's a
pity too, when you can pick up natives for half
nothing. Then we must have a cook. I can fix raw
sailor-men, but there's no going to sea with a new-chum
cook. I can lay hands on the man we want for that: a
Highway boy, an old shipmate of mine, of the name of
Amalu. Cooks first-rate, and it's always better to
have a native; he ain't fly, you can turn him to as you
please, and he don't know enough to stand out for his
rights."
From the moment that Captain Wicks joined in the
conversation Carthew recovered interest and confidence;
the man (whatever he might have done) was plainly good-
natured, and plainly capable; if he thought well of the
enterprise, offered to contribute money, brought
experience, and could thus solve at a word the problem
of the trade, Carthew was content to go ahead. As for
Hadden, his cup was full; he and Bostock forgave each
other in champagne; toast followed toast; it was
proposed and carried amid acclamation to change the
name of the schooner (when she should be bought) to the
CURRENCY LASS; and the "Currency Lass Island
Trading Company " was practically founded before dusk.
Pages:
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577