"Three hundred dollars, my lad, and little enough that is to a young millionaire like you."
"But I couldn't get that much, anyhow," gasped Ned.
"Then I'm werry sorry to be obleeged to state that you'll stay here with me until yer do," responded Cap'n Briggs.
He cast a cunning glance at Ned from under his bushy brows out of his bleary, blood-shot eyes. Then he dived into his pocket and produced a large flask.
"I won't treat you no ways mean. Have a drink, matey?" he asked.
"I wouldn't touch the stuff," said Ned, who began to see a partial reason for the captain's obstinacy.
The captain shrugged his shoulders and took a long pull. Then, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he replaced the bottle and gave an order to "Haul sheets and go about once more."
"Looks like I'm destined to get into tight places that I can never explain to anyone's satisfaction," mournfully muttered Ned to himself, as the little schooner yawed and pitched and finally clawed her way round on the other tack.