Then one evening there walked into the counting-room of Rufus Stevens' Sons one Corkery, mate of the firm's ship General Stark, and, in a brief seaman-like way, told how the vessel was ice-bound at New Castle and from all appearances would remain so until the coming of spring.
This news caused Anthony to walk the floor; for the Stark was laden with hides, drugs, and sugar, and the market for these things was brisk. The ship should never have ventured into the bay. It seemed that Captain Small had managed her indifferently.
"Captain Small is ill of a lung fever," said Corkery. "He hasn't set foot on deck since we left Hatteras."
"As mate," said Anthony, "you took his place. When you saw the floes, you should have headed the vessel for New York. With the merchandise landed there we'd have contrived a way to deal with it."
Corkery was a blunt man, with no affectation of speech.
"With a master tumbling about on his bed, and praying to God, and raving about things that must have passed in his boyhood, I was glad to arrive, as near as I could, at the place called for in the ship's papers," said he. "You here in the counting-room can talk of markets easily enough, for you are always where you can watch them; also, you can talk offhand of changing a ship's destination, for you've no one to answer to if you've guessed wrong."
Anthony smiled and nodded, for he knew the mate spoke truth.
"I hope all that could be done for Captain Small has been done," said he.
"He is ashore at New Castle, at the house of a doctor in the place, and is being well seen to," said Corkery.
"That is good," said Charles. "And, as to the ship, I suppose all we can do now is see that she's well watched to keep her from thieves, and from damage by the ice."