Part 12 (1/2)
”I htn't,” answered the Yankee, as he rass ”You see, the risk of the thing has been so increased during the past two days that I couldn't ood an offer now as I could at first Also, here's sothe pack of this factory that I'htful owner First there's the Baldwin interest and the American interest, represented by you two chaps Then there's the St
Johns interest, represented by that travelling hty powerful one, seeing that it is supported by the English navy; the French government interest, which is likewise backed up by a fleet of warshi+ps, and the French factory interest, represented by our friend in lipolitical pull So, on the whole, the ownershi+p appears to be oodclaims I expect also that the factory workmen and the lobster catchers have some sort of a lien on it for services rendered”
”Look here, Captain Bland,” said Cabot, ”we understand perfectly that all you have just said is trade talk, oods, and you knoell as I do that they have but one rightful owner”
”Who is that?” asked the skipper with an air of interest
”Mrs Williaht she deeded the property to you”
”So she did; but as I ae that deed is worth no more than the paper on which it is written”
”You don'tbluff it was then!” cried Captain Bland, adly ”Beats any I ever heard of, and I'm proud to knoas a Yankee that worked it What you say does alter the situation considerable, and I'd like to have Miss Baldwin's own views on the subject of a trade”
In accordance with this wish an adjournment was made to the house, where Mrs Baldwin assured the Yankee skipper of her willingness to abide by any agreement made with him by her son and Mr Grant
”Which so simplifies matters, ma'am,” replied the captain, ”that I think we may consider a trade as already effected, and make bold to say that this season's pack of the Pretty Harbour lobster factory will be sold somewhere's else besides Newfoundland”
CHAPTER XIV
THE ”SEA BEE” UNDER FIRE
The arrangement made with the Yankee skipper was satisfactory, save in one respect He illing to trade provisions for canned lobsters to the extent of taking the entire pack, and he also offered to remove thea purchaser for it in the States, but he refused to ,” he said, ”to risk considerable for the sake of being acco, but I can't afford to risk cold cash”
”I don't see hoe can make a trade, then,” remarked White, as he and Cabot discussed the situation ”It will take every penny I've got to pay off the hands, and though I believe we couldout of a Labrador trip, I can't leave mother and Cola without a cent while I'm away If he would only let h,” interrupted Cabot, ”but I will I have got just that amount of money with me, and, as I shan't have any use for it in Labrador, I should be ”
White at first refused to take his friend'sthat he had plenty ratefully accepted the loan, which he prooods they should ed, preparations for departure were pushed with all speed Such of the pack as remained in the factory was hurried aboard the ”Ruth” by a score of willing workers, who also transferred to her every tool and bit ofkettles Then she and the ”Sea Bee,” the latter e as pilot, sailed fro headland
The next hour was spent in settling with the lobster catchers and those who had been eive no infor the movements of the two schooners This was barely finished when the boy who had been posted outside immediately after the departure of the naval launches ca
”My!” cried Cabot, ”but I'd like to see the fun when they get here”
”I ah of it,” replied White, ”for they'll be keen on getting us this tih; I want to leave proof behind that we haven't gone off with either of the schooners”
With this he ran down to the oil house, in which their well-nigh forgotten prisoner was still confined Flinging open the door, he said, in a tone of well-feigned regret:
”It is too bad, Monsieur Delo in this wretched place, but I dared not attempt your release while those terrible Yankees were here Noever, they are gone and you are once er maintain my factory here, you are at liberty to ratulations on your good fortune, monsieur
As for me, I must now leave you to prepare for my journey to St Johns”
With this White bade the bewildered Frenchht fro secluded
A few ain stood, closed and tenantless, while a cart driven by Cola, and acco e by a road leading to the nearest railway station Monsieur Delom witnessed this departure, as did hway a little later and turn into a dih an otherwise pathless forest After a tied from this on another road and came to a farmhouse to which Mrs Baldwin had previously been taken Here mother and son bade each other farewell, while the forer who had so befriended them, and whose fortunes had become so curiously linked with theirs Then the cart with Cola still acting as driver rattled away, and was quickly lost to sight