The Captain looked at Al and nodded, for the amount was about one-third of what the man's first demand would have made it.
"But I haven't even that much, Captain," said Al, despairingly.
"I have forty dollars, Al," said Wallace. "Take that." He thrust his hand into his pocket.
"Pshaw, that's all right," broke in the Captain, stopping him. "I have plenty, but we don't want to be bled, that's all." He turned to the factor. "Very well," he remarked. "We'll pay you fifty dollars, cash. Now where's the boy?"
"M'sieu has ze cash money here, dans sa poche, for geeve me now?" the factor persisted, anxiously.
"Yes, yes," replied Captain Lamont, impatiently. "But before I give it to you, you must first show us the boy."
The Frenchman waved his hands pathetically.
"Oui, mais je ne peut pas show ze pauvre boy. Il est depart down ze rivair pour la S'in' Louis pour—two veek."
"You say you can't show him?" exclaimed the Captain. "He started for St. Louis two weeks ago?"