m Astoria for Valparaiso with a cargo
of railroad ties, and, for some reason which the captain could not
explain but which Cappy Ricks could, the unfortunate man had become
lost at sea, finally ending his voyage on a reef on one of the Samoan
Islands. The Hermosa had been listed as missing and her owners had been
on the point of receiving a check for the insurance on the vessel and
her cargo when an Australian steamer brought news of her predicament
in Samoa. Her captain sent word that she was resting easily and that
he would get her off. Subsequently, Cappy learned that his dog-barking
skipper had discharged his cargo of railroad ties on barges, in order
to lighten the vessel and float her off with the aid of a launch.
Unfortunately, however, he discovered a huge hole in her garboard, and
before he could patch it an extra high tide lifted the vessel over the
reef and sunk her forty fathoms deep in a place where nobody could ever
get at her again.

"Yes, sir," Cappy complained. "I'll be the laughing-stock of the street.
Here's a letter from the insurance people, inclosing a check for a total
loss on the vessel, but they repudiate payment of the insurance on the
cargo."

"Why?" demanded the amazed Skinner. "They insured those ties for
delivery at Callao. They can't get out of it."

"I'll bet they can," Cappy shrilled. "I've just called up the Board of
Underwriters and they say the cargo hasn't been lost. They say nothing
is lost if you know where it is, and the ties are on the beach in Samoa
awaiting our pleasure. Skinner, call up our attorneys at once and tell
them to enter suit."

"I was just about to call them up on another matter," Mr. Skinner
replied. "As secretary of the Blue Star Navigation Company I have
just been served with a summons in another suit, entered against the
Quickstep."

"What in the fiend's name is the matter with that infernal Quickstep?
This is the third suit we've had in two years. Skinner, what is wrong
with that steam schooner?"

"She must be hoodooed, Mr. Ricks."

"Another seaman injured by being hit with a cargo block or having a
piece of eight-by-eight drop on his foot, I suppose."

"Not this time, Mr. Ricks. One Halvor Jacobsen has sued the Quickstep
and owners for five thousand dollars for injuries alleged to have been
inflicted upon him by the captain."

"So that Captain Kjellin has been fighting again, eh? Skinner, that
man is too handy with his fists, I tell you. He's anoth