k like I'm a horned toad or
somethin', to set folks on the run the minute they clap eyes on
me."

"Have sense," cautioned Jarrow. "We got a lot to do come sundown.
Have sense. I'm the brain's, ain't I?"

"So you say, cap'n."

"I got my own meanin's. What if this Trask and the girl come down
aboard this evenin' to look things over, and they don't like your
looks first off?"

"What's my looks got to do with it? Ain't I dressed up?"

"Yes, good enough for me, but maybe not for them. They'll put a
hole in our copper plates, charter or no charter, if they take a
dislike to you. We can't take no chances."

"Might as well see me first as last."

"Oh, no. Plenty of reasons for 'em comin' about on the whole
business and leavin' us high and dry, except for the advance. They
hop aboard a liner--what then?"

"Got to see me some time."

"Sure! Once to sea, they'll take things as they find 'em. But it's
touch and go with us until we clear the bay, and don't forget that
for a minute."

"What they want? Sody water gents for a crew?"

"Whatever they want, they'll have it, them swells."

"Then I ain't gallant enough for the likes o' you and this charter
party, I take it," said Peth, his anger rising.

"I ain't findin' no fault with you myself, Peth. All I'm gallied
about is what the others'll think. You're goin' mate, of
course----"

"Thanks," said Peth, curtly. "You talk like I was ship's boy, not
owner of an eighth of the _Nuestra_. Who helped you salve her? Who
like to broke his back doin' of it? Peth did, that's who. Now he
ain't good enough, once ye make fast to a millionaire."

"You talk like an old mitten with the thumb brailed up," said
Jarrow.

"Where was this millionaire feller when ye wanted a man to stand by
and raise the _Nuestra_, I'd like----?"

"Belay that!" said Jarrow. "I'm talkin' for yer own good. There's
money in this cruise for both of us. I got my own reasons, and
that's enough. I'd look smart cuttin' you out of things, wouldn't
I?"

"Well, all I can say, cap'n, ye don't need to take me mate if ye
don't want to."

"Steady as she goes," said Jarrow, taking him by his arm. "You're
mate, and I never had it my mind ye wouldn't go mate."

"All right, all right," growled Peth, shaking himself free. "I
ain't goin' to fuss none. I don't want to be gammin' around with
swells, no ways. But if I thought ye wanted to beach me----"

"Oh, git that out of yer head. You've got to git the crew togethe