"Well, I see you had another run-in with the old man," remarked Van Blott.
"So did you."
"You mean about the cargo?"
"Of course."
"Well, I didn't want him to nose around too much," and the supercargo grinned.
"Afraid he might run across some of that private stuff?"
"Hush! Somebody might hear you, Shepley. What was your row about?"
"He laid the opening of the seams on my shoulders—said I didn't inspect things properly at San Francisco."
"He seems to be getting harder than ever on us."
"That's it, and I am done, after this trip," growled the first mate.