skipper begin to interfere with the dividends, they look overside
some bright day and see Alden P. Ricks waiting for them on the cap
of the wharf. And when the ship is alongside, the said Ricks comes
aboard with five bones in his pocket, and the said skipper and
the said chief are invited into the dining saloon to roll the said
bones--one flop and high man out. Yes, sir. Out! Out of the ship
and out of the Blue Star employ--for ever."

"I hear you, sor. I hearrd you the first time," Terence Reardon
replied complacently and reached for his pipe. "All I ask from you
is a square deal. I'll have it from the captain wit'out the askin'."

Thus the Reardon breathing his defiance.

"I'm glad we understand each other, chief. Just avoid arguments,
political or religious, and treat the skipper with courtesy. Then
you'll get along all right. Now with reference to your salary.
The union scale is one hundred and fifty dollars a month--"

"Beggin' yer pardon for the intherruption, sor, but the young man
promised me a hundhred an' siventy-five."

"That was before the Blue Star Navigation Company took over the
young man and his ship _Narcissus._ Hereafter you'll deal with
the old man in such matters. I'm going to give you two hundred
a month, Reardon, and you are to keep the _Narcissus_ out of
the shop. Hear me, chief--out of the shop."

"No man can ordher me to do me djooty," said Terence Reardon
simply. "Tell the fine gintleman on the bridge to keep her out av