"What's up? Lumber's up. Got any?" answered a quick, sharp voice not at all like Ramon's.
As nobody spoke Bill made a hurried explanation. "Sacramento's all burnt up, lock, stock, and barrel. Boat's goin' right back to-night. I seen her comin' lickety-split, fit to bust her b'iler; so I kinder waited round for the news. I heered this man askin' who had lumber, so I jest mittened onto him, and here he is."
"Whar's this yer lumber—afloat or on shore?" the newcomer impatiently demanded.
"Afloat," Charley replied.
"Good enough! How's it stowed: so's it can be got at?"
"It's a whole cargo. Never been broken out."
"Good again! What sort is it? Can I see it?"
"Come into the cabin and I'll get out the manifest. You can't see anything till daylight."
"Burn the manifest!" returned the stranger, still more impatiently. "Daylight's wuth dollars now. Show me the man can tell what that thar lumber is, or isn't."
"I can," Walter put in, "'cause I saw it loaded."