“Well, I thought we'd take a chance on her,” Matt replied, not taking the trouble to disabuse Kelton of the impression to which he had apparently jumped—to wit, that the Pacific Shipping Company had purchased the Tillicum.
“What do you intend doing with her?” Kelton continued.
“They tell me business is good on the Panama run, and it will be better when the Canal is opened. However, until the Canal does open, we would prefer to keep out of the Pacific Coast trade. Competition always means a rate war, with consequent loss to both parties to the struggle; so we'd rather charter the Tillicum for a year if we could. I heard you were in the market for a boat.”
“I think we might use the Tillicum,” Kelton replied. “What are you asking for her?”
Matt named a figure considerably in advance of what he expected to receive and stipulated a bare-boat charter—that is to say, Kelton's company should pay the entire cost of operating the vessel, and select her crew and officers with the exception of the captain and chief engineer, it being customary among many owners, when chartering a vessel, to stipulate that their own captain, in whom they have confidence, shall command her. Cappy Ricks always specified his own skipper and chief engineer.
When Matt named his figure Kelton promptly shouted “Thief!” but made the mistake of shouting too loud—whereat Matt Peasley knew he was not sincere and promptly decided to outgame him. At the end of half an hour of argument and much futile figuring, which deceived nobody, Matt abated his price twenty-five dollars a day and Kelton said he would think it over. Matt knew the charter was as good as closed, and when he left Morrow & Company's office he repaired straight to that of Cappy Ricks.
“I think I'll be able to recharter, Mr. Ricks,” he said confidently. “Have you any objection to Morrow & Company as recharterers?”
Cappy started slightly, hesitated a fraction of a second, and replied that he had no objection whatsoever.
“Very well, sir,” Matt replied. “Will you please have Mr. Skinner prepare the charter parties right away, sign them, and send them over to my office for my signature? I can't wait to sign them now. And about the captain—I suppose you'll want to put in your own skipper, of course. Who is he?”
“Captain Grant.”