hook.

"What a skookum son-in-law to take up the business when I let go!" he
murmured happily. "Oh, Matt, I'm so blamed sorry for you; but it's just
got to be done. If you're going to build up the Blue Star Navigation
Company after the Panama Canal is opened for business, you've got to
know shipping; and to know it from center to circumference. It isn't
sufficient that you be master of sail and steam, any ocean, any tonnage.
You've got to learn the business from the rules as promulgated by little
old Alden P. Ricks, the slave driver. There's hope for you, sonny. You
have already learned to obey."

Mr. Skinner bustled in with the mail.

"Skinner," said Cappy plaintively, "what's the best way to drive
obstinate people south?"

"Head them north," said Mr. Skinner.

"I'm doing it," said Cappy dreamily.

CHAPTER XXVI. MATT PEASLEY IN EXILE

From Cappy Ricks' office Matt Peasley went to the rooms of the American
Shipmaster's Association, entered the telephone booth and called up
Florence Ricks. From the instant he first laid eyes on her, Miss Florry
had occupied practically all of Matt's thoughts during every waking
hour. He had assayed her and appraised her a hundred times and from
every possible angle, and each time he decided that Florry was possessed
of more than sufficient charm, good looks, sweetness and intelligence to
suit the most exacting. Matt wasn't ultra-exacting and she suited him,
and the fact that she was the sole heir to millions was the least of the
sailor's considerations as he dropped his nickel down the slot. Neither
did the identity of the young lady's paternal ancestor constitute a
problem, despite the recent interview with that variable individual.
Matt regarded Cappy somewhat in the light of a mixed blessing; while he
respected him he was a little bit afraid of him, and just at present he
disliked him exceedingly. And lastly, his own social and economic status
as second mate of the most wretched little steam schooner in the Blue
Star Navigation Company's fleet, failed to enter even remotely into
Matt's scheme of things.

The reason for this mental stand on his part was a perfectly simple and
natural one. To begin, he was a stranger to caste other than that of
decent manhood. The only rank he had ever known was that of a ship's
officer, and that was merely a condition of servitude. When ashore he
regarded himself as the equal of any monarch under heaven and treated
all men accordingly.