Mr. Harlan laughed outright. Acting upon a sudden impulse I turned to him and said:
“May I decide as I please in this matter?”
“Of course, Sam,” he replied. “It is your affair, not mine.”
I looked at the stranger again. He was actually trembling with anxious uncertainty.
“Very well,” I announced, “I will take you.”
“For the two hundred dollars?”
“No; I’ll carry you for nothing. You may need that extra money at your journey’s end.”
He took out his handkerchief and wiped his brow, upon which beads of perspiration were standing.
“Thank you, sir,” he said, simply.
“But I must warn you of one thing. The bark is not in what we call A-1 condition. If she happens to go to the bottom instead of San Pedro I won’t be responsible for your precious machine.”