Jordan hesitated for a moment. "Well," he said, "I do, and that's about all I mean to tell you. Anyway, I've cause for believing that Merril is tightly fixed for money, and can't lay his hands on it. There are reasons why he couldn't let up on the pulp-mill if he wanted. Still, there is one way he could get the money, and that is by making the underwriters, who hold the steamboat covered, provide it."
"Ah!" said Jimmy, "it wouldn't be very difficult either."
His companion smiled dryly. "I have a notion how she is insured, and, so far as I can gather, it's under an economical policy. Underwriters face total constructive loss, but don't stand in for minor damage or salvage. Well, I've ground for believing the thing is to be done by the engineer, and he is a man who has to do just what Merril tells him. You and Fleming could figure out how he will probably manage. But one thing is clear: when that steamboat's engines give out you have got to be somewhere round to salve her."
"You are sure of this?" asked Jimmy. "What makes you so?"
Jordan did not answer him for a moment, and once more there was hesitation in his manner.
"Well," he said, "that is my affair, and I've been worrying over it quite a while now. Anyway, I think it's a sure thing."
"What do you purpose if I salve that steamer and we find anything wrong on board her?"
"In that case I'm not sure the salvage will content the Shasta Company. It's admissible to break your trading opponent. As I tried to show you, Merril's tightly fixed, and while the man's quite clever enough to wriggle loose, it will be our business to see that he doesn't."
Jimmy sat still for a few moments with trouble in his face, which was hard and grim, until his comrade turned to him again.
"Jimmy," he said quietly, "that man had no pity on your father. The thing has to be done, and the Shasta Company stood by you. We have got to have that salvage, and you're not going to go back on us now."