s at all. The only specimen of that fellow's handwriting I've
ever seen is his signature on the drafts he draws against us. You will
notice that he has even engaged a stenographer--at his own expense, so
the clerk informs me--to typewrite his statement of account."

"Then that explains it, Skinner. The big-fisted brute can't write a hand
that anybody could read. But, still, he should have dictated a letter,
Skinner. The least he might have done was to say: 'Enclosed herewith
find my report of disbursements for last voyage.' And then he could have
slipped in some mild complaint about the creosote, the trouble he had in
getting a crew, and so on.

"I don't see why you complain about a lack of correspondence, sir," Mr.
Skinner protested. "For my part, I think it a profound relief to have a
captain that isn't writing or wiring in complaints about slow dispatch
in loading or discharging, his private feuds with marine cooks and
walking delegates from the Sailors' Union. Confound these fellows that
are always unloading a cargo of woe on their owners! It strikes me that
they're trying to square themselves for incompetence."

"I agree with you, Skinner. But then, all the Thomaston Peasleys were
quick-tempered and wouldn't be imposed on; and I hate to think I've
picked the only one of the tribe who will dog it and never let a peep
out of him."

"Oh!" said Mr. Skinner. "I see! You want him to start something with
you, eh?"

Cappy evaded this blunt query, however, and turned his attention to the
report.

"Hello!" he said. "I'm blessed if he hasn't anticipated the very
question I should have asked. Here's a footnote in red ink: 'Decided
not to carry third mate. Two mates ample.' And so two mates are ample,
Skinner, though I used to humor Cap'n Noah with three. This confirms me
in the belief that Peasley must be a young man, Skinner, and not afraid
to stand a watch himself if necessary. And here's another footnote:
'Chief Mate Michael J. Murphy very gallantly declined to leave when
he smelled the creosote, and was a tower of strength when it came to
stowing the nitrate. He holds an unlimited mate's license, is sober,
intelligent, courageous, honest and a hard worker. He goes up for his
master's license this week!"

"Ah-h-h!" Cappy Ricks looked up, smiling. "Skinner," he declared, "it
is as hard to keep a good man down as it is for a camel to enter the
Kingdom of Heaven--I mean for a rich man to enter a camel--bother! I
mean