Page:The Days Work (1899).djvu/343

 "'Just there or thereabouts,' I said.

"'An' which o' you twa thought to cover your lights?' said he, winkin'. "'Dandie,' I said to the dog, 'we must both strive against curiosity. It 's an unremunerative business. What 's our chance o' salvage, Dandie?'

"He laughed till he choked. 'Tak' what I gie you, McPhee, an' be content,' he said. 'Lord, how a man wastes time when he gets old. Get aboard the Kite, mon, as soon as ye can. I 've clean forgot there 's a Baltic charter yammerin' for you at London. That 'll be your last voyage, I 'm thinkin', excep' by way o' pleasure.'

"Steiner's men were comin' aboard to take charge an' tow her round, an' I passed young Steiner in a boat as I went to the Kite. He looked down his nose; but McRimmon pipes up: 'Here 's the man ye owe the Grotkau to—at a price, Steiner—at a price! Let me introduce Mr. McPhee to you. Maybe ye 've met before; but ye 've vara little luck in keepin' your men—ashore or afloat!'

"Young Steiner looked angry enough to eat him as he chuckled an' whustled in his dry old throat.

"'Ye 've not got your award yet,' Steiner says.

"'Na, na,' says the auld man, in a screech ye could hear to the Hoe, 'but I 've twa million sterling an' no bairns, ye Judeeas Apella, if ye mean to fight; an' I 'll match ye p'und for p'und till the last p'und 's oot. Ye ken me, Steiner! I 'm McRimmon o' McNaughten & McRimmon!’