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 ord