man that had had
Nares's trousers on! Why, Loudon, he's the smartest deep-water mate out
of San Francisco, and draws his dividends regular in service and out."
This hearty indorsation clinched the proposal; Johnson agreed to produce
Nares before six the following morning; and Black Tom, being called into
the consultation, promised us four smart hands for the same hour, and
even (what appeared to all of us excessive) promised them sober.

The streets were fully lighted when we left Black Tom's: street after
street sparkling with gas or electricity, line after line of distant
luminaries climbing the steep sides of hills towards the over-vaulting
darkness; and on the other hand, where the waters of the bay invisibly
trembled, a hundred riding lanterns marked the position of a hundred
ships. The sea-fog flew high in heaven; and at the level of man's life
and business it was clear and chill. By silent consent we paid the hack
off, and proceeded arm-in-arm towards the "Poodle Dog" for dinner.

At one of the first hoardings I was aware of a bill-sticker at work: it
was a late hour for this employment, and I checked Pinkerton until the
sheet should be unfolded. This is what I read:--

+--------------------------------------------------+
| TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD. |
| |
| OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE |
| |
| WRECKED BRIG "FLYING SCUD" |
| |
| APPLYING, |
| PERSONALLY OR BY LETTER |
| AT THE OFFICE OF JAMES PINKERTON, MONTANA BLOCK, |
| |
| BEFORE NOON TO-MORROW, TUESDAY, 12TH, |
| |
| WILL RECEIVE |
| |
| TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD. |
+--------------------------------------------------+

"This is your idea, Pinkerton!" I cried.

"Yes. They've lost no time; I'll say that for them--not like the Fraud,"
said he. "But mind you, Loudon, that's not half of it. The cream of the
idea's here: we know our man's sick; well, a copy of that has been
mailed to every hospital, every doctor, and every drug-store in San
F