"Cap'n," said Ben, who had been making heavy work at thinking, "there's more than one place to find out things."
"What exactly do you mean, Ben?"
"Well, now, ain't it a fact that all the liquor and things comes from St. Pierre?"
"Certainly."
"Well, cap'n, if you was to ask me I'd say the St. Pierre end was a good place to pick up a little smuggling news on the quiet."
Captain Stanley considered the idea.
"Ben," he said at last, "you're right. There's something in that."
"Aye," said Ben, greatly gratified. "Men will talk, cap'n, especially when havin' taken drink, and where would they be as free in their ways and speech as in a place that's outside the laws of the country they're robbin'?"
Dare, who knew when to listen, did so now.
"Certainly something might come of that," said Captain Stanley, now frankly interested in the action Ben had suggested. "Of course, I shall have to send someone not known to the Saltern people or the smugglers. Now who is there I can give the job to?"