“I don’t believe a libel will be necessary,” said Mr. Rowe. “Leave that to me. I’ll see Mr. Hawkins. If he’s fair, we’ll settle the matter out of court. I’ll take a timber expert out to the steamer and look over the cargo. Meanwhile,” and he said this impressively, “you must remain in charge of the steamer—do not turn it over to Mr. Hawkins until I have reached an agreement with him.”
“That’s what Mac said,” exclaimed Bob. “He and Captain Joe and Jerry are on board. They sent Captain Hobson to the hospital this morning, and Mr. Hawkins went to the hotel.”
Somewhat to Attorney Rowe’s surprise when he called upon Mr. Hawkins, that gentleman showed a decided inclination to split hairs in the matter of an agreement as to salvage. The owner was also evasive as to the value of his cargo, and the lawyer at once made an appointment for a second interview. In the middle of the afternoon, he visited the schooner. When he and an expert had finished an examination of the hold of the Elias Ward, orders were repeated to Captain Joe to refuse Mr. Hawkins permission to board the vessel should he return.
That evening, in response to a telephone message, Tom, Hal and Bob called at Attorney Rowe’s home.
“We’ll libel the vessel in the morning,” the lawyer announced. “On Mr. Hawkins’ own statement of the value of his timber, I agreed to accept seven thousand dollars. He offered three thousand dollars. We find that the cargo is worth more than he says—not less than thirty thousand dollars. Since he has shown a disposition to be ungrateful, we’ll force him to do the fair thing. I’ll attend to the matter for you.”
Captain Joe, Mac and Jerry stuck to the steamer. Tuesday evening, by invitation of Mac, there was a “spread” aboard, at which Mrs. Balfour, Mrs. Allen and Attorney Rowe were guests. It followed an all afternoon fishing trip made by Bob and Jerry out to Santa Rosa Sound and, in the main, was a duplicate of Mac’s celebrated Perdido Bay luncheon.
Thursday evening came the incident that prolonged the usual evening visit into a session lasting until midnight. Without the slightest warning, Bob submitted a startling suggestion. When the shock of it had passed into a frenzied conclave and that into a heated debate, the club went into regular session and, by formal action, the great decision was reached.
By a unanimous vote, and after mature consideration, the Anclote Boat Club abandoned the idea of buying a yacht, and decided to spend three thousand dollars, if it won its suit, in the purchase of an aeroplane.
Bob Balfour knew little about boats; he had done no fishing, and his knowledge of the sea was small. But he had a theoretical knowledge of aeroplanes that almost paralyzed the other boys. He had been made fun of so long on account of his enthusiasm that, when he went south, he determined to forget his hobby. But, in the idle time on his hands, while the other boys were in school, he fell from grace. He had purposely left every aviation book and pamphlet he possessed at home. But, like an old toper, visiting again the book shop where he had bought his charts, he was tempted and fell. When he left the place, he had under his arm a new book—“Vehicles of the Air.” That night he was again intoxicated with the newest ideas in airships, balloons and the latest motive apparatus.
He fought the idea as long as he could, and then, Thursday morning come a letter from his father. In a spirit of jest, it enclosed a circular that had been mailed to Bob (for the boy was on the mailing list of every balloon maker and every engine builder and aeronautical publication in the country). Jokingly his father had written: “This seems a bargain. I thought you might want to buy one to use in rescuing steamers.”