Page:Under Dewey at Manila.djvu/47

Rh "The Rescue—Captain Morgan."

"Oh, yes, I heard tell she was laid up here—got knocked out in a southeaster—they're putty bad around these parts, though they be wuss off the coast of Chili. So you're one of his boys? Well, if you ain't got much to do, come down and see me. We're loading and unloading, you know."

"If you can give me work at that, I'll jump at the job," answered Larry, quickly. "I'd like to work out that five dollars, if nothing else."

"Now jess you stow it about the gold, lad; ye earned that fair and square, an' more, too—eh, Parson? eh, Tom? Don't you think our lives was worth—let me see—less'n two dollars each?"

This was said so drolly Larry was compelled to laugh. "I wasn't looking at it that way—it was a big price for stopping a team—I'd like to stop 'em every day in the week at that figure."

"God forbid!" murmured Mr. Wells. "You might slip down, and then—" he shook his head seriously. "Yes, yes, Captain Ponsberry, give him work by all means, if he wants it, and you have room for an extra hand."

"We'll make room," put in the mate of the Columbia. "There is one Kanaka in the gang isn't