“Give him our notes!” he said. “Frank accepts ’em!”
Finally Case secured the statement which the fellow had brought on board for payment and handed it over to Frank.
“It is $100,” said the boy, “and most of the charges are double what they should be.”
“Well, what can we do about it?”
“I’ll see.”
Frank continued his talk with the fellow, who was now shaking his head and pointing to the advancing boat. Jule started the motors again and the distance between the two craft increased.
“He won’t take paper money,” Frank said. “He demands gold.”
“All right!” Case cried.
The boy took the paper into his hand, thrust two $50 banknotes into the unwilling hand of the merchant—who looked on in rage and wonder at the bold action!—and handed out a pencil. As long as the row-boat containing the officers was coming on, the fellow would not sign the receipt, insisting that exchange fees must be added, but when the Rambler began to edge out toward the Amazon he seized the pencil with a growl and wrote his name under the column of charges.
This done, he pointed to the row-boat, asking Frank to permit it to come along side, in order to take him off. Frank consented to this, and the boat drew nearer.