"They must think I'm seven kinds of a fool. I'll block their game right now. Oh, Dan Frazier, come here, on the jump."
He grasped Dan by the collar, dragged him into the chart-room, and closed the door. With swift, emphatic utterance Captain Wetherly shot these instructions into the boy's ear:
"Dan, I'm going to put you aboard the Kenilworth. I can't spare anybody else, and you will be my agent, understand? If Captain Bruce refuses to take my line, this business will be put up to the underwriters from start to finish. And the crooked owners won't be able to collect one dollar of insurance, I'll see to that. And I'll have you as a witness to prove that the Resolute was first on the spot. Come along with me."
Captain Jim pulled Dan by the arm toward the lower deck. A boat was lowered in a twinkling and, while the excited lad waited for a chance to jump, Captain Jim told him:
"It's likely that Pringle has Barton with him on the tug, and they may try the same trick. If they come aboard the Kenilworth, you remember that you're working for Jim Wetherly, no matter if it means a scrap."
As the yawl danced away from the side of the Resolute, Captain Jim shouted to the Kenilworth:
"Put a ladder overside, if you please, Captain Bruce. I'm sending my nephew aboard to talk business with you."
"I will talk no business before daylight," roared Captain Bruce. "Call your boat back."
"Oh, yes, you will take him aboard," stormed Captain Wetherly. "If you don't, the underwriters will know the reason why. Shall I tell you why?"
"Hooray! but that was a shot below his water-line," chuckled Bill McKnight from the engine-room door. "But I don't envy Dan his job when Jerry Pringle climbs aboard the Kenilworth."