en engaged by Morrow & Company, and the firm of Morrow & Company
was in the bankruptcy court; so the prospects of cash from that quarter
did not seem encouraging. The Pacific Shipping Company had made a
bare-boat charter from the Blue Star Navigation Company, and had then
made a similar charter to Morrow & Company; consequently the Pacific
Shipping Company would repudiate payment, and, as president and
principal stockholder of that company, I took it on myself to repudiate
any responsibility then and there.

"Then the crew wanted to know what they should do, and I said: 'Why,
seek the protection of the law, in such cases made and provided. A
seaman is not presumed to have any knowledge of the intricate deals his
owners may put through. All he knows is that he is employed aboard
a ship, and if he doesn't get his money from the charterers at the
completion of the voyage he can libel the ship and collect from the
owners. This is a fine new steamer, men, and I, for one, believe she is
good for what is owing you all; and if you will assign your claims to
the Pacific Shipping Company I will pay them in full and trust to the
Blue Star Navigation Company to reimburse me.' So they did that.

"Now go ahead, Mr. Skinner, and lift the libel I put on the vessel for
my first mate's account, and the instant you get it lifted I'll slap
another libel on her for account of the second mate. Get rid of the
second mate's claim and up bobs the steward, and so on, ad libitum, e
pluribus unum, now and forever, one and inseparable. I care not what
course others may pursue, but as for me, give me liberty or give me
death!"

Mr. Skinner quietly hung up the telephone receiver.

"And, by the way," Matt continued, "I forgot to mention that I
requested the steward to stay aboard and make the United States Marshal
comfortable as soon as he arrived. In these little matters one might
as well be courteous, and I should hate to have the Tillicum acquire a
reputation for being cheap and inhospitable."

"You dirty dog!" cried Cappy Ricks hoarsely.

"Really, my dear Peasley, this matter has passed beyond the joke stage,"
Mr. Skinner began suavely.

"Let me get along with my story," said he. "The worst is yet to come. My
attorney informs me--"

"Matt Peasley," said Cappy Ricks, "that's the first lie I ever knew you
to tell. You don't have to hire an attorney to tell you where to head
in, you infernal sea lawyer!"

"I thank you for the compliment,"