"The Retriever will have discharged her cargo weeks before McBride
arrives. Then suppose Peasley takes a notion to warp his vessel
outside the three-mile limit. What authority has McBride got then?"

"I repeat, I am not a sea lawyer, Mr. Ricks."

"Don't equivocate with me, Skinner! Let's argue this question calmly,
coolly and deliberately. Don't lose your temper. Now then. Peasley
said he'd throw his successor overboard, didn't he?"

"Oh, merely a threat, Mr. Ricks."

"Skinner, you're a fine, wise manager! A threat, eh?" Cappy
laughed--a short, scornful laugh. "Huh! Threat! Joke!"

"You do not think it is a threat?"

"No, sir. It's a promise. McBride is a splendid little man and game
to the core; but no good, game little man will ever stay on a deck if
a good, game big man takes a notion to throw him overboard, and the
man Peasley is both big and game, otherwise he would not defy us.
Why, Skinner, that fellow wouldn't pause at anything. Hasn't he spent
over a hundred dollars arguing with us by cable? Why, he's a
desperate character! Also, he would not threaten to throw his
successor overboard if he didn't know that he was fully capable of so
doing. Paste that in your hat, Skinner. It isn't done." Skinner
inclined his head respectfully. Cappy continued: "What I should have
done was to have sent a good, game, big man--"

He paused, and his glance met Skinner's wonderingly as a bright idea