Skinner declared dramatically;
and he took down the telephone to call up the attorney for the Blue
Star.
"Wait!" said Matt. "I'm not through. Before I entered the harbor I
called all hands up on the boat deck and explained matters to them.
They had been engaged by Morrow & Company, and the firm of Morrow &
Company was in the bankruptcy court; so the prospects of cash from
that quarter did not seem encouraging. The Pacific Shipping Company
had made a bare-boat charter from the Blue Star Navigation Company,
and had then made a similar charter to Morrow & Company; consequently
the Pacific Shipping Company would repudiate payment, and, as
president and principal stockholder of that company, I took it on
myself to repudiate any responsibility then and there.
"Then the crew wanted to know what they should do, and I said: 'Why,
seek the protection of the law, in such cases made and provided. A
seaman is not presumed to have any knowledge of the intricate deals
his owners may put through. All he knows is that he is employed
aboard a ship, and if he doesn't get his money from the charterers at
the completion of the voyage he can libel the ship and collect from
the owners. This is a fine new steamer, men, and I, for one, believe
she is good for what is owing you all; and if you will assign your
claims to the Pacific Shipping Company I will pay them in full and
trust to the Blue Star Navigation Company to reimburse me.
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