Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast

Captain Wass was not astonished by that information.

"Probably! All the talk which has been circulated says that you were

junking her. I didn't have any idea you were trying to save her."

"We have been blocked by some busy talkers," admitted the young man.

"It's too bad the other folks can't do some talking and have the facts

to back 'em up, son. Do you know what could be done if that syndicate

could be busted? The old Vose crowd would probably hitch up with the

Bee line folks. The Bee-liners are discouraged, but they haven't let

go their charter. You wouldn't have to worry, then, about getting your

money to finish this job, and you'd have a blamed quick market for this

steamer as soon as she was off this reef."

The bulging packet seemed to press against Mayo's ribs, insistently

hinting at its power to help.

"I am going back and have a talk with old man Vose about this steamer,"

said Captain Wass. "Now, son, a last word. I don't want to pry into

any delicate matters. But I sort of smell a rat in those papers in your

pocket. When she took 'em out of her muff all I could smell was violet.

Do you think you've got anything about you that would help me--help

us--help yourself?"

"No, sir; only what you see for yourself in this steamer's

possibilities."

"Very well; then I'll do the best I can. But confound this girl business

when it's mixed into man's matters!" It was heartfelt echo of Mr. Fogg's

sentiments.

Captain Wass departed on his chartered motor-boat, after eating some

of the boiled fish and potatoes which made up the humble fare of the

workers on Razee.

Mayo based no hopes on the promised intervention of the old skipper. He

had been so thoroughly discouraged by all the callous interests on shore

that he felt sure his project was generally considered a failure. When

he was on shore himself the whole thing seemed to be more or less a

dream. {*} * When the steamer Carolyn was wrecked on Metinic Rock a

few years ago a venturesome young man, without money or

experience in salvaging, managed to raise a few thousand

dollars, bought the steamer for $1,000 from a frightened

junk concern, and after many months of toil, during which he

was mocked at by experienced men, managed to float her. She

was sold recently for $180,000, and is now carrying cargoes

to Europe.

They were reduced to extremities on board the Conomo. There was no

more coal for the lighter's engine, equipment was disabled, parts were

needed for worn machinery, Smut-nosed Dolph was pounding Hungryman's

tattoo on the bottom of the flour-barrel, trying to knock out enough

dust for another batch of biscuit.