"I can offer each man about a hundred pounds in addition to wages due," he said at last.
"And a pretty fine bonus, too, for such a short trip! They won't jib at that offer, you bet your life. The sooner that deal's squared the better, I should say, skipper."
The Captain unlocked the cabin door, and, calling Sing-hi, told him to fetch the bos'n.
"I want you to make a proposal to the men," said Calamity, when the bos'n appeared. "In the ordinary way they might have to wait a week or more before they received the prize-money due to them, but, if they prefer it, I will pay each man a hundred pounds cash in addition to wages. They might get more by waiting till the stuff is valued and disposed of, but, if they prefer the cash, I will divide the balance among the various marine charities."
"I'm for the cash myself, sir, and I think the others'll be the same; but I'll tell them what you say," answered the bos'n.
"As for the officers and engineers," said Calamity when the bos'n had left the cabin, "they will have to wait until their shares can be properly adjudged."
"As long as we can get rid of the crew, they don't matter, skipper."
In a few minutes the bos'n returned and said that the men were unanimously in favour of taking the cash.
"Then assemble the men aft at eight bells, bos'n."
"Aye, aye, sir," answered the latter, and departed.