e we're arguing the merits of our action in so doing,
another sun will have set, and when it rises again"--Cappy kissed his
hand airily into space--"the good ship Tillicum will be back under the
Blue Star Flag--"

"But Matt Peasley will allege conspiracy and a lot of things, and he
can sue us and get the boat back and force us to render an accounting of
that freight money."

"That situation will admit of much argument, Skinner. However, Matt will
not sue me. Florry wouldn't let him! He'll make us lift the attachment
on his bank account, and then he'll protect himself and tell us to
whistle for the eighteen thousand dollars he owes us. Whichever way the
cat jumps he wins. What I want to do is break even and with a modicum of
my self-respect left intact."

"He'll promptly file a bond to lift the attachment--"

"Will he? Who in this city will go on his bond? Who does he know?"

"There are bonding companies in business, and for a cash
consideration--"

"Rot! They will investigate and ponder before granting his application
for a bond. It takes a day or two to get a bond through a bonding house,
and all I want to do is to tie Matt up for a day. Now, listen! You see
to it that the suit is filed and an attachment levied on Matt Peasley's
bank account in the Marine National. That's where he keeps his little
wad, because I took him over and introduced him there myself. Well, sir,
in the meantime I'll call up Matt and precipitate a devil of a row with
him over the phone. I'll tell him I've made up my mind to fight him to
the last ditch and that those libels will not be lifted until he lifts
them himself. Of course, he'll figure right away that he won't need a
certified check to-day, and maybe he'll neglect to provide himself
with one; or he may be chump enough to figure we'll take his check
uncertified, and if he does that will teach him something."

"Well, I'm betting he'll not be caught napping," Mr. Skinner declared,
"and if you want my opinion of this new proceeding I will state frankly
that I am not in favor of it. It savors too much of assination. Of
course, you may do it and get away with it--"

"Pooh!" snorted Cappy. "Forget it. At ten minutes of three this
afternoon the libel on the Tillicum will be lifted, and Matt Peasley
will be paid in cash the sum he advanced his crew for wages. That will
block him from slapping any more libels on her and holding us up.
Then we'll make formal, written demand upon him for eig