talked so much I think the Old Man spun the yarn just to shut him up.
He had talked ever since his arrival on board, early that morning, with
a letter from the owners' agent, and the announcement he intended
making the voyage with us. He had weak lungs, he said, and was in
search of mild, tropical breezes. Also, he was seeking local color,
and whatever information he could pick up about "King" Waldon.

He had heard of the death of "King" Waldon, down in Samoa--Waldon, the
trader, of the vanishing race of island adventurers--and he expected to
travel about the south seas investigating the "king's" past, so he
could write a book about the old viking. He had heard that Captain
Shreve had known Waldon. Hence, he was honoring a cargo carrier with
his presence instead of taking his ease upon a mail-boat.

Captain Shreve must tell him all he knew about the "king." He was
intensely interested in the subject. Splendid material, you know.
That romantic legend of Waldon's arrival in the islands--too good to be
true, and certainly too good not to put into a book. Was Captain
Shreve familiar with the tale? How this fellow, Waldon, sailed into a
Samoan harbor in an open boat, his only companion his beautiful young
wife? Imagine--this man and woman coming from nowhere, sailing in from
the open sea in a small boat, never telling whence they came!

He said this was the stuff to go into his book. Romance, mystery! It
was quite as important as the later and better known incidents in the
"king's" life. That was why Captain Shreve must tell him all he knew
about the fellow. If he could only get at the beginning of the
"king's" career in the islands. Where did the fellow come from? Why
should a man bring his bride into an uncivilized and lawless section of
the world, and settle down for life? There must be a story in that.