"All right. Do it at once." Then turning to a shipping clerk he sent for the captain of the steamer, to whom he said:
"Get up steam at once. You are to leave in less than an hour. How much coal have you?"
The captain told him.
"Take two light barges of coal in tow, one on each side, and draw on them for fuel. When they're empty cast them loose with two men on each to land them. You can pick them up on your return trip. You are to steam to New Orleans without a landing anywhere. You understand?"
The captain understood. By this time the papers were ready and after half an hour spent in legal formalities the released steamboat cast loose from the wharf and backed out into the river.
Then Captain Hallam turned to Guilford Duncan and said:
"I've an idea that you'll do. If you like I'll put you at regular work at a monthly salary, and we'll see how we get on together."
"I should like that."
"Very well. Now, where are you boarding?"
"Nowhere. I get what I want to eat at the booths down along the levee."