“No,” explained Tom, breaking in; “but they pay part of the value of both—depends on the risk the rescuers took, and whethah the wreck would have been a loss without theah assistance. Sometimes, it’s half—sometimes less—an’ sometimes more.”
“Does I git any sheer ef yo’ all gits paid?” broke in Jerry Blossom suddenly.
“My own judgment,” Tom answered, “is that every one ought to share alike. That means Captain Joe, Jerry and all the rest. I don’t know by rights if we ought really to set up any claims—but if we do, let’s all share alike.”
“Not set up any claims!” exclaimed Mac belligerently. “An’ why not? They wouldn’t been a stick o’ this timber saved, ef it hadn’t been for the old Escambia. An’ the steamer ’at carried it would ’a been suckin’ sand on the bar afore this.”
“Yas, sah,” spoke up Jerry. “Ah’s done heered ’bout dat what yo’ call ’em. De law makes yo’ take him—yo’ all ain’t got no choice.”
“What do you say, Captain Joe?” asked Tom.
“De man you wuk fo’ gets de money. ’Tain’t none mine.”
“I vote we put in a claim,” spoke up Hal, “and that we divide whatever we get into six piles—”
“I shorely done take a big risk,” broke in Jerry. “We all boun’ to git big pay. I kin use de money. Dese clothes—”