"What happened next?"
"The captain got me foul in his cabin when I went to be paid off, and
hung a shanty back of my ear, so I threw him out on deck and hurt him.
You'll have to send a new skipper up to bring the Quickstep home,
sir. The first mate is a good man but he hasn't a master's license--"
"What did you do to Kjellin, Matt?"
"You'll have to ask a doctor, sir. I didn't intend to break him up,
but it seems I damaged all his Latin superstructure, and he'll have to
go to a hospital for a couple of months. I'm sorry I hurt your
skipper, sir, and I felt I couldn't leave your employ, Mr. Ricks,
without an explanation."
"You haven't left my employ at all. Get back on the job and load that
vessel, or the first thing you know you'll be stuck in port over
Sunday, and that's not the way to make a start as master of the
Quickstep. You have a license as master of steam, haven't you?"
"Yes, sir. I can handle her, sir."
"Then do it and don't stand there burning up good money on the
long-distance phone. The Quickstep is yours--on one condition."
"I accept it, sir," Matt exclaimed, overjoyed. "What is it?"
"That you stick in her at least six months."
"I will if I live and she floats that long, sir. Thank you. Please
have a second mate and an ambulance waiting for me at Meiggs Wharf on
Monday.
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