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“Andasformycharacterasashipmate。”concludedWicks，“goandaskmyoldfirm。”
“Butlookhere！”criedHadden，“howdoyoumeantomanage？
Youcanwhiskroundinahansom，andnoquestionsasked。
Butifyoutrytocomeonaquarter-deck，myboy，you’llgetnabbed。”
“I’llhavetokeepbacktillthelast。”repliedWicks，“andtakeanothername。”
“Buthowaboutclearing？whatothername？”askedTommy，alittlebewildered。
“Idon’tknowyet。”returnedthecaptain，withagrin。“I’llseewhatthenameisonmynewcertificate，andthat’llbegoodenoughforme。IfIcan’tgetonetobuy，thoughIneverheardofsuchathing，there’soldKirkup，he’sturnedsomesortoffarmerdownBondiway；he’llhiremehis。”
“Youseemedtospeakasifyouhadashipinview。”saidCarthew。
“SoIhave，too。”saidCaptainWicks，“andabeauty。SchooneryachtDream；gotlinesyouneversawthebeatof；andawitchtogo。ShepassedmeonceoffThursdayIsland，doingtwoknotstomyoneandlayingapointandahalfbetter；andtheGraceDarlingwasashipthatIwasproudof。Itookandtoremyhair。TheDream’sbeenMYdreameversince。Thatwasinherolddays，whenshecarriedablueens’n。GrantSandersonwasthepartyasownedher；hewasrichandmad，andgotafeveratlastsomewhereabouttheFlyRiver，andtookanddied。
ThecaptainbroughtthebodybacktoSydney，andpaidoff。
Well，itturnedoutGrantSandersonhadleftanyquantityofwillsandanyquantityofwidows，andnofellowcouldmakeoutwhichwasthegenuinearticle。Allthewidowsbroughtlawsuitsagainstalltherest，andeverywillhadafirmoflawyersonthequarterdeckaslongasyourarm。Theytellmeitwasoneofthebiggestturns-tothateverwasseen，barTichborne；theLordChamberlainhimselfwasfloored，andsowastheLordChancellor；andallthattimetheDreamlayrottingupbyGlebePoint。Well，it’sdonenow；they’vepickedoutawidowandawill；tossedupforit，aslikeasnot；andtheDream’sforsale。She’llgocheap；she’shadalongturn-toatrotting。”
“Whatsizeisshe？”
“Well，bigenough。Wedon’twantherbigger。Ahundredandninety，goingtwohundred。”repliedthecaptain。“She’sfullybigforusthree；itwouldbeallthebetterifwehadanotherhand，thoughit’sapitytoo，whenyoucanpickupnativesforhalfnothing。Thenwemusthaveacook。Icanfixrawsailor-
men，butthere’snogoingtoseawithanew-chumcook。Icanlayhandsonthemanwewantforthat：aHighwayboy，anoldshipmateofmine，ofthenameofAmalu。Cooksfirstrate，andit’salwaysbettertohaveanative；heaintfly，youcanturnhimtoasyouplease，andhedon’tknowenoughtostandoutforhisrights。”
FromthemomentthatCaptainWicksjoinedintheconversation，Carthewrecoveredinterestandconfidence；theman(whateverhemighthavedone)wasplainlygood-natured，andplainlycapable；ifhethoughtwelloftheenterprise，offeredtocontributemoney，broughtexperience，andcouldthussolveatawordtheproblemofthetrade，Carthewwascontenttogoahead。AsforHadden，hiscupwasfull；heandBostockforgaveeachotherinchampagne；toastfollowedtoast；itwasproposedandcarriedamidacclamationtochangethenameoftheschooner(whensheshouldbebought)totheCurrencyLass；andtheCurrencyLassIslandTradingCompanywaspracticallyfoundedbeforedusk。
Threedayslater，Carthewstoodbeforethelawyer，stillinhisjeansuit，receivedhishundredandfiftypounds，andproceededrathertimidlytoaskformoreindulgence。
“Ihaveachancetogetonintheworld。”hesaid。“Byto-morroweveningIexpecttobepartownerofaship。”
“Dangerousproperty，Mr。Carthew。”saidthelawyer。
“Notifthepartnersworkherthemselvesandstandtogodownalongwithher。”wasthereply。
“Iconceiveitpossibleyoumightmakesomethingofitinthatway。”returnedtheother。“Butareyouaseaman？Ithoughtyouhadbeeninthediplomaticservice。”
“Iamanoldyachtsman。”saidNorris。“AndImustdothebestIcan。Afellowcan’tliveinNewSouthWalesupondiplomacy。ButthepointIwishtoprepareyouforisthis。ItwillbeimpossibleIshouldpresentmyselfherenextquarter-
day；weexpecttomakeasixm
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