Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast

"I am sending Mr. Boyne with you on a tour of inspection, captain.

Please give him quarters and use him right."

"Nothing doing till I get orders from the owners," declared Captain

Wass.

"Haven't I told you that I shall be general manager of this line

to-morrow, or next day, at the latest?"

"When you're general manager come around and give off your orders, sir."

"I'll do it. I'll come aboard in New York--"

"I'm ordered to Philadelphia," prompted Captain Wass. "That's where

you'll find me."

"Philadelphia, then! I'll come aboard and fire you."

"Do just as you feel like doing."

"You refuse to take along this young man?"

"This ain't a passenger-boat. I don't know you. Show orders from

owners--otherwise nothing doing."

Mate Mayo had come out of his cabin, near at hand. With a young man's

quicker perception of possibilities and contingencies he realized that

his skipper might be letting an old man's obstinacy block common sense.

The first mate had an eye for men and their manners. He had been

listening to Mr. Fogg. That gentleman certainly seemed to know what he

was talking about. And young Mate Mayo, having a nose for news as well

as an eye for men, understood that the coast transportation business

was in a touchy state generally. He gave Mr. Fogg further inspection and

decided that a little skilful compromising was advisable.

"Captain Wass, will you step aside with me a moment?" asked the mate.

"What for?"

"I want to have a word with you."

"Have it right here," said the captain, tartly. "I never have any

business that's got to be whispered behind corners." He scowled when his

mate gave him a wink, both suggestive and imploring. "Spit it out!"

"The law doesn't allow us to take passengers, as you suggest. And

naturally you don't like to act without orders from owners." He looked

at Mr. Fogg as he spoke, plainly offering apology to that gentleman.

"But we need a second steward and--"

"We don't!" Captain Wass was blunt and tactless.

"I beg pardon--we really do. And we can sign this young man in a--a sort

of nominal way, and then when we get to Philadelphia we'll probably find

the matter all straightened out."

"What's your name?" asked Mr. Fogg.

"Boyd Mayo, sir. First mate."

"Mr. Mayo, you're a young man with a lot of common sense," declared

Fogg.