hat's left of your
skipper."

CHAPTER XXX. MR. SKINNER HEARS A LECTURE

Down in the offices of the Blue Star Navigation Company Cappy Ricks,
having summoned Mr. Skinner, sat peering whimsically at the general
manager over the rims of his spectacles. "Well, Skinner, my dear boy,"
he announced presently, "sure enough there was something wrong with the
Quickstep, and now I know what it is; she has had the wrong master. When
he hustles to catch a tide or to get to sea Saturday night or Sunday
morning he drives his mates and tries to make them do longshoremen's
work. When he bullied a weak mate into doing that, there was nobody to
pay exclusive attention to the slingloads as they came into the ship,
and naturally accidents resulted. When strong second mates refused he
fired them, and after firing them he cornered them in his cabin, held
them foul and beat them. You see, Skinner, this skookum skipper of yours
didn't realize that with two slingloads of shingles a minute dropping
into the ship he had to have a man on the job to watch the loading and
do nothing else; and because he didn't realize the error of his way,
Skinner, he and Matt Peasley have pulled off that little skin-glove
contest, and now Kjellin looks like a barrel of cement that's been
dropped out the window of a six-story building. Hum! Ahem! Harump-h-h-h!
Call up the attorney for that man Jacobsen that's suing the Quickstep,
and tell him to come down here with his man and we'll settle the case
out of court. His charge lies against Kjellin for assault and battery,
but after all, Skinner, I dare say we are in a measure responsible for
our servants. I'll give the attorney about twenty-five dollars for his
fee, and er--the man Jacobsen--let me see, Skinner, he had a broken
nose, did he not?"

"Yes, sir."

"We'll pay his doctor bill and his wages as second mate since Kjellin
fired him, and give him a hundred dollars extra."

"How about Kjellin's hospital bill?"

"I disclaim responsibility, Skinner. Did he settle up with the cashier
for his last voyage?"

"Yes, Mr. Ricks."

"Then send him a wireless and tell him he's fired. Also, Skinner, my
boy, see that an ambulance is waiting for him at Meiggs Wharf when he
arrives on the Quickstep on Monday. We'll show him we're not entirely
heartless. Make it clear, however, that this office will not be
responsible for the ambulance fee. Matt will bring the vessel down
without a second mate, I dare say. He'll sta