conference
was an angry one, Wilbur and Moran insisting that they be put aboard the
steamship, Charlie refusing with calm obstinacy.

"I have um chin-chin with China boys las' nigh'. China boy heap flaid,
no can stop um steamship. Heap flaid too much talkee-talkee. No stop; go
fish now; go fish chop-chop. Los' heap time; go fish. I no savvy sail
um boat, China boy no savvy sail um boat. I tink um you savvy (and he
pointed to Moran). I tink um you savvy plenty heap much disa bay. Boss
number two, him no savvy sail um boat, but him savvy plenty many all
same.'

"And we're to stop on board your dough-dish and navigate her for you?"
shouted Moran, her face blazing.

Charlie nodded blandly: "I tink um yass."

"And when we get back to port," exclaimed Wilbur, "you think, perhaps
I--we won't make it interesting for you?"

Charlie smiled.

"I tink um Six Company heap rich."

"Well, get along," ordered Moran, as though the schooner was her
property, "and we'll talk it over."

"China boy like you heap pretty big," said Charlie to Moran, as he went
out. "You savvy sail um boat all light; wanta you fo' captain. But," he
added, suddenly dropping his bland passivity as though he wore a mask,
and for an instant allowing the wicked malevolent Cantonese to come to
the surface, "China boy no likee funnee business, savvy?" Then with a
smile of a Talleyrand he disappeared.

Moran and Wilbur were helpless for the present. They were but two
against seven Chinamen. They must stay on board, if the coolies wished
it; and if they were to stay it was a matter of their own personal
safety that the "Bertha Millner" should be properly navigated.

"I'll captain her," concluded Moran, sullenly, at the end of their talk.
"You must act as mate, Mr. Wilbur. And don't get any mistaken idea into
your head that, because I'm a young girl and alone, you are going to run
things your way. I don't like funny business any better than Charlie."

"Look here," said Wilbur, complaining, "don't think I'm altogether a
villain. I think you're a ripping fine girl. You're different from any
kind of girl I ever met, of course, but you, by jingo, you're--you're
splendid. There in the squall last evening, when you stood at the wheel,
with your hair--"

"Oh, drop that!" said the girl, contemptuously, and went up on deck.
Wilbur followed, scratching an ear.

Charlie was called aft and their decision announced. Moran would
navigate the "Bertha Millner," Wilbur