ther man I get suspicious. After Art Simpson worked his cards
so as to get the job of second officer on board the new _Conomo_ I
got _more_ suspicious. Now that I have seen how that steamer has
been plunked fair and square on Razee, I'm _almighty_ suspicious.
I'm suspicious enough to believe that she banged during Art Simpson's
watch."

"What are you driving at, Captain Candage? Are you hinting that anybody
would plant a man for a job of that kind?"

"Exactly what I'm hinting," drawled the skipper.

"But putting a steamer on the rocks at this time of year!"

"No passengers--and plenty of life-boats for the crew, sir. I have
been hearing a lot of talk about steamboat conditions since I have been
carrying in fish."

"I've found out a little something in that line myself," admitted Mayo.

"There's one thing to be said about Blackbeard and Cap'n Teach and old
Cap Kidd--they went out on the sea and tended to their own pirating;
they didn't stay behind a desk and send out understrappers."

Mayo, in spite of his bitter memories of Julius Mar-ston's attitude,
felt impelled to palliate in some degree the apparent enormities of the
steamboat magnates.

"I don't believe the big fellows know all that's done, Captain Candage.
As responsible parties they wouldn't dare to have those things done. The
understrappers, as you say, are anxious to make good and to earn their
money, and when the word is passed on down to 'em they go at the job
recklessly. I think it will be pretty hard to fix anything on the real
principals. That's why I am out in the cold with my hands tied, just
now."

"I wish we were going to get into the _Conomo_ matter a little, so that
we could do some first-hand scouting. It looks to me like the rankest
job to date, and it may be the opening for a general overhauling. When
deviltry gets to running too hard it generally stubs its toes, sir."
Captain Candage found a responsive gleam in Mayo's eyes and he went on.
"Of course, I didn't hear the talk, nor see the money pass, nor I wa'n't
in the pilot-house when Art Simpson shut his eyes and let her slam. But
having been a sailorman all my life, I smell nasty weather a long ways
off. That steamer was wrecked a-purpose, and she was wrecked at a time
o' year when she can't be salvaged. You don't have to advise the devil
how to build a bonfire."

Mayo did not offer any comment. He seemed to be much occupied by his
thoughts.

Two days later a newspaper came into M