u have given it."

"What's the matter?" quickly snapped Hallam.

"It binds you to more than I think you intend."

"Go on! Explain!"

"Why, I cannot help seeing that if you send this dispatch you will make
yourself legally responsible, not only for the claim for which the boat
is now attached, but also for every claim against her that may exist
anywhere. There may be none such, or there may be many. In any case I do
not think you intend to assume them all."

"Go on! The boat must be got away. What do you advise?"

"That you go on her bond for this claim--which seems to me so clearly
illegal that I think you can never be held upon the bond--and----"

"Remind me, when this is over, that you are to come to my house to-night
for consultation on that point. Now go on."

"Well, by going on her bond for this claim, instead of asking the
creditors to release the boat on your promise as made in the telegram,
you can secure her immediate release, making yourself liable, at worst,
for no more than the six hundred dollars claimed."

"But if I do that, what is to prevent another tie-up at Memphis and
another at Vicksburg and others wherever the boat may happen to land.
She's in debt up to the top of her smokestacks, all along the river."

"As you own the cargo, and she can't carry another ton, why should you
let her stop at all? I suppose the captain would do as you desire in
that matter. You might request him to run through without any
landings."

"Request be hanged. I'll tell him what to do and he'll do it. He knows
where cargoes come from. Can you get the papers ready?"

"I can, sir."

"All right. Do it at once." Then turning to a shipping clerk he sent for
the captain of the steamer, to whom he said:

"Get up steam at once. You are to leave in less than an hour. How much
coal have you?"

The captain told him.

"Take two light barges of coal in tow, one on each side, and draw on
them for fuel. When they're empty cast them loose with two men on each
to land them. You can pick them up on your return trip. You are to steam
to New Orleans without a landing anywhere. You understand?"

The captain understood. By this time the papers were ready and after
half an hour spent in legal formalities the released steamboat cast
loose from the wharf and backed out into the river.

Then Captain Hallam turned to Guilford Duncan and said:

"I've an idea that you'll do. If you like I'll put you at regular work
at a monthly sa