clean and start all over again. For five
months to come we'll serve you and the admiral for mess and berth, no
more, no less."

"Samson, do you mean that? Haven't you boys been paid your wages
regularly, just as in my father's time?"

"Come, now, captain, that's all right. Give us the word of dismissal
and let that slide. You missed your own mess this morning----"

"But that will break my mother's heart. I know! I know! I've often
heard her ask him, and Antonio tell her--he said that your wages were
always taken out before he brought what little money he could to her.
I know you said something about 'arrears' last night, but I didn't
understand. What are 'arrears,' Samson?"

"Blow me, for an old numskull. Why couldn't I keep my long tongue
still! I only meant that we are willing, we want, we must work for you
and all the Trents for nothing till we've made up part to 'em of what
that sweet 'senor' cheated 'em of. That's all. We've settled it.
No use for anybody to try change our minds, even if there was spot cash
lying around loose, waiting to be picked up and you havin' no call for
it. Not one of which conditions hits the case."

"You are a good talker, dear old Samson, and a long one. I can talk,
too, sometimes. Maybe you've heard me! You've read me your chart. Hear
mine. It's my father's own--that he always meant, but was never able
to follow. That I know my mother wants to follow for his sake, though
she does know so little of business. Now, if we're starting fresh,
with the clean slates you like, we'll put this at the top: 'share and
share alike.' There was another long name dear father used to call
it--I----"

"Co-operation," suggested John Benton.

"Yes, yes. That's it. As soon as he was out of debt and had a right
to do what he would with Sobrante, he meant to run it that way. But you
know, you know. It was only that last day when he came home so late from
that far-off town that he had his own 'title' and was all ready to do
as he wished. Let us do that now. I know how. He told me. He was to make
you, Samson, responsible for all the cattle on the ranch. You were to
hire as many of the other boys as you needed and were to have a just
share for your own money. The more you made out of the cattle the better
it would be for yourself. Isn't that right?"

"Right to a dot. Atlantic! but you've a head for business, captain!"

"I've a head must learn business, if I'm to be your captain. That is
true enough. It