captain. Bring him back to Grays Harbor with you; and then, if you
feel so inclined, you may apply the tip of your number twenty-four sea
boot where it will do the most good; in fact, I should prefer it. But
by all means see to it that he completes his contract with the
barkentine Retriever."

"Aye skoll see to it," Ole promised fervently.

"I thank you, captain. Come out in the general office now and I'll
introduce you to the cashier, who will furnish you with expense money.
Meantime, I'll have Skinner fill out a certificate of change of
masters and have it registered at the custom-house. Can't send you
down there without your credentials, you know."

All Hands And Feet mumbled his thanks; for, indeed, he was grateful
for this chance to prove his metal. Calm in the knowledge of his past
performances, he took no thought of the personal issue with Matt
Peasley, for never had he met a mate he could not thrash. He followed
Cappy out to the cashier's desk; and while the latter equipped All
Hands And Feet for his journey to South Africa, and Mr. Skinner
departed for the custom-house to have the certificate registered,
Cappy wired McBride, aboard the Overland speeding east, instructing
him to come back to San Francisco.

When Skinner returned to the office he found Cappy clawing nervously
at his whiskers.

"The man Peasley has completely disrupted our organization," he
complained bitterly. "Here I go to work and promote McBride to the
Retriever to make room for his mate in the Nokomis, and now I have to