Schumer laughed.
"He's not a beauty," said he, "but he's the best I could find. He's Hakluyt & Son. He's the son; the father's dead. He's in a good way of business as a shipowner and ship's chandler in Sydney. He has got the money and the means to help us. I have drawn up a contract with him; he gets a third share."
"A third share. That means that the total profits will be divided into three parts. One for you, one for me, and one for Hakluyt."
"Just so," said Schumer, "and you pay me for the trade goods we salved from the Tonga."
"Of course," said Floyd, "but it seems to me that Hakluyt ought to stand in with me and pay something."
"I suggested that, but he refused. He would only come into the deal on condition that he got a third share of the profits without deduction."
Floyd felt inclined to grumble at this. Hakluyt would have the benefit of those goods or what was left of them, but he said nothing. He wanted explanation on another point.
"How about the Southern Cross?" said he.
"In what way?"
"Well, we salved her, didn't we, or as good as salved her? Hakluyt ought to pay for that."