I told him that if he would
agree to keep away from the office of the Blue Star Navigation Company
you might think he was peeved at being relieved of his command so
peremptorily, and hence would not attach any importance to his failure
to report at the office.
"In consideration of this I gave him my word of honor that he would be
restored to his command as soon as I could bring the Tillicum back
from Panama, and meantime his salary would continue just the same--in
proof of which I gave him a check for two months' pay in advance. He
said he thought it all a very queer proceeding; but, since he was no
longer in command of the Tillicum, it wasn't up to him to ask
questions, and he agreed to my proposition. However, he said he
thought he ought to wire the company acknowledging receipt of their
instructions with reference to surrendering his command--and I agreed
with him that he should. 'But,' I said, 'why bother sending such a
message, collect, ashore, when we pay a flat monthly rate to the
wireless company for the plant and operator aboard the ship, no matter
how many messages we send? Give me your message to Mr. Ricks and when
I get back aboard the Tillicum I'll wireless it to him for you, and it
won't cost the ship a cent extra.'
"Well, you know your own captains, Mr.
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