"I am glad you have told me this, and relieved to find that no worse folly has caused a gentleman to seek employment as a common miner, though I cannot hold out the slightest hope that you will ever recover a dollar from your property. Still, I will make inquiries, and let you know anything I may learn."
"Thank you, sir."
"Do you know anything about boats?" asked the manager, abruptly changing the subject.
"Yes, sir; I have handled boats more or less all my life."
"Good! Then I want you to take charge of a gang of men whom you will find awaiting you on the company's tug down at the landing. They are going some distance up the coast, to recover whatever may be found of a valuable timber raft belonging to us, and wrecked near Laughing Fish Cove during the gale of two days ago. All our logs are marked 'W. P.' If you find any such in possession of other parties, you will lay claim to them, and even take them by force if necessary. The tug will leave you at the cove, where you will establish a camp, and to which you will raft the recovered logs, holding them against her return, which will be in about a week. Here is a note of introduction to her captain. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir; I think I do."
"Then you may start at once."
"Very well, sir;" and the young man, realizing his employer's love of promptness, rose to leave.
"By the way," said the other, as he reached the door, "is your name Peril?"