Part 21 (1/2)

”What can we do?” he snapped at me, as though becoming incensed at my deliberation.

”My boy--when pa.s.sing amid rocks the captain must----”

”I beg your pardon, Ben--you can understand,” he said quickly.

”Whether they are right or wrong to fight the courts means months' and perhaps years' delay--the only thing possible is to compromise.”

”We must eat out of their hand Ben?” he started to heat up anew. We were so intent that we did not notice the approach of a quiet, middle-aged man who asked very politely for ”Mr. Strong.”

”Mr. Strong, I come from the office of the plaintiffs' attorneys. They have decided that they do not wish to interfere with the unloading of freight for the Government, and we will bring the _Fearsome_ alongside and let the cargo be discharged, provided you or the captain do not go aboard her--that is, not to attempt to dispute our possession.”

”I was wondering how they were going to get away with that,” Hiram jerked out impulsively.

”No, sir--we don't want to interfere that way--and more, Mr. Strong, I am to say that if you will come to our office possibly something can be arranged.”

Then it was that impulsive youth and inexperience burst out, and while I was glad to hear him say it, I knew it was indiscreet. It was perhaps just what the Gold-Beater would have said at his age, and, in his present power, likely to do so now:

”You can tell the attorneys for the plaintiffs to go to h.e.l.l,” he said, springing to his feet. ”This is plain stealing and there's a penitentiary for them. No--we won't go aboard; that timber must come ash.o.r.e,” and he posted off to get the crew of longsh.o.r.emen to work at unloading again.

The quiet, polite man from the attorneys' office remarked to me: ”The young man shows considerable mettle. If you are interested you had better come down to the office,” handing me the firm's card and departing.

In another half-hour the _Fearsome_ was in full mourning, black longsh.o.r.emen swarming over it and the edge of the dock, but the tug remained lashed alongside. The long timber, sawed ten by ten and twelve by twelve, seemed to have some means of locomotion as though anxious to get on the wharf. I could see Hiram had a way of getting things done.

During this time I sat on the end of the pile where I had found him and watched the operation, thinking that my job was getting rather strenuous. I was as completely in the dark as to this last move as was Hiram.

Presently he came over to me. He had evidently been both working and thinking hard.

”Say, do you still think this move is made by the owners to get value for their property, or is it a rascally deal to block us?” he asked doggedly.

”I don't know--it may be one or the other, or even both--anyhow it's our next move.”

Hiram rubbed his stubbly chin with one hand and then the other, and looked at the _Fearsome_ as though in some way it had become a part of him.

”Somehow I feel it is the owners--perhaps this is the only way they could proceed--of course, she is worth twenty times what we paid--if it is, they ought to be reasonable. The _Fearsome_ lying out there rotting, without power, and the _Fearsome_ with power and at work, is very different, but they may rightfully expect more than the crew's back wages.”

I nodded a.s.sent, wondering where his line of reasoning would lead.

”Now it may be only money they want--as soon as this load is out of her we can collect two thousand freight--and, Ben--you--you have not said anything lately about that barrel--is it possible to sell that now?

Whatever it will bring will come in handy to get time enough to pay this claim--there's lots of timber up there and they want it moved. If we can get enough help I believe we can make two trips a week instead of one. Three thousand a week will soon wipe them out--and sooner or later we've got to pay the railroad for that motor.”

”But, Hiram, what about Becker & Co.? We started out to get into their place and we must not lose sight of that now.”

”I know--I know--but if these men mean to be fair they must allow us time. Ben, you are a better diplomat; go down and see these attorneys.”

”All right, I'll go at once--also I'll see what I can do with the barrel of _steel filings_,” I said, rising with a smile, and digging him in the ribs jokingly--he was in good humor now. But it occurred to me that in my shabby treatment of the prospective buyer I had been as indiscreet as Hiram when he invited the attorneys to brimstone land, whereas they possibly meant well enough.

Hiram did not smile, but I was sure he felt a little relieved at my att.i.tude when I left, intending to hunt up my caller from New York, who emphasized the first syllable of Bos'ton as though born to the manner of speech used in that great eastern port.