"Come on board and talk it over," suggested Danks.
Amos turned to his mates and said,—
"I've received an invitation, boys, shall I accept it? You know Phil Danks, he wants me to board his schooner to talk about the fishing, shall I go?"
"Please yourself," answered one man, "but we don't want any interlopers here, it's hard enough to get a living as it is, without a lot of strangers coming along."
"I'll come," said Amos, and he stepped into the boat.
When they reached the "Heron," Amos Hooker looked around, and saw, from the appearance of the schooner and the crew that they meant business. He also recognised that the combined crews would prove more than a match for the fishers of Shark's Bay. Evidently it was the best policy to secure any favours that were to be had.
"You did not tell me the name of the man who owns these schooners," he said.
"Barry Tuxford," replied Phil, who thought it better to deal with the man, as he knew more about the ways of these people than either Jack or Harry.
Amos Hooker seemed surprised as he replied,—
"He's gone in for pearling, that's rather out of his line, is it not? What is his little game?"