“We’re not going to give twenty-five dollars a piece, I can tell you,” put in Esau.
“Why, it’s next to nothing for a voyage like that. But there, never mind, you two are new-comers, and the skipper’s a friend of mine. I’ll put you right with him for twenty dollars each. Here, hi! Any of you know the Pauliner?”
“Know her? yes,” said one of the men hard by; and they all came up and surrounded us. “What about her?”
“Sails for the Fraser, don’t she, to-morrow?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Splendid clipper, ain’t she, with cabins and all chip chop?”
“Yes,” came in chorus.
“There, what more do you want? Come along, lads; lucky I met you. Come and have a drink.”
“No, thank you,” I said. “Come, Esau.”
“Get,” said the man with a forced laugh. “What’s the good of being strangers. Come and have a drink. I’ll pay.”