“Some day the old man will carry the sticks out of her completely,” growled Mr. Gates to Mr. Barney.
“Well, let him!” exclaimed the second mate. “We’ve got to win this time.”
“What for?” I heard the other ask, curiously. “Just so Cap’n Joe will win his greening apple?”
Mr. Barney cursed the captain and his apple.
“You want us to win anyway, eh?” pursued Mr. Gates, in his slow, thoughtful way. “No matter what happens to the Gullwing?”
“She’s insured; so’s her freight,” snapped Mr. Barney.
“It doesn’t matter if both good ships should founder and be lost?”
“I don’t give a hang!” exclaimed the younger man, bitterly, “as long as the Gullwing goes down fifty fathoms nearer Baltimore than the Seamew.”
“And how about the crews?”
“Who’s thinking of men—or ships—just now?” demanded Mr. Barney. “Aren’t both captains risking lives and property for a silly competition? I’m no worse than they are.”