"We'll heave them up as soon as we've finished this business," the captain replied.
Grahame wrote a check and put it on the table with some American paper currency.
"Your owners have satisfied themselves that this will be met; I thought I'd better keep the other amount separate."
"That's all right," the captain returned; "but you're a hundred dollars short."
"I guess you're mistaken," Walthew said. "We've paid the freight, and a bonus to yourself, as we promised because it was an awkward job. What else do you want?"
"A bonus for the engineer," the greasy mechanic answered with a grin.
"Precisely," said the captain.
"Then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed," Grahame said, and Walthew picked up the check, which still lay on the table.
There was silence for a few moments while the Miranda's officers looked hard at their visitors. Grahame's face was impassive, but there was a gleam of amusement in Walthew's eyes.
"Now, you listen to me," said the captain. "Mr. James is entitled to his share, and he means to get it. You don't suppose he'd take a hand in a risky job like this entirely for the benefit of the owners?"