gree 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-