oars, this sharp-witted Boston captain; he pondered as he eyed the New York man thus met on this western side. It was a long proceeding, carefully selecting and laying in this cargo, in which twenty or more shippers were interested, and guiding it safely through divers-tempered winds, over 16,000 miles of ocean, to this very far-away port—it was a long proceeding to be disposed of summarily, for three months would have been a short time ordinarily in which to have sold the cargo. Three months; and fifty per cent, would have been regarded as a good round profit. "Come, captain, if you want to trade, and I take it that is what you are here for," said Ross, now growing a little nervous, " how much advance, and the money down?" The skipper looked him steadily in the eye, glanced significantly at Howard who was climbing up the side of the vessel, and answered slowly, "one hundred per cent." "I'll take it,' Ross said. "This will bind the bargain," he added, as he passed over the handful of money. " And I'll make those woollen shirts pay for all the damned truck here," said the purchaser, as he regained his boat, swearing thus mildly not through lack of feeling, but because he was in training for a position as teacher in Wheeler's forth-coming Sabbath-school.
And the gentle Brannan, Sam; he learned to flaunt the Mormon's money bravely at the auctions. Sam delighted in auctions. Never was he so happy as when perched on a high box smoking a long cheroot, and sinking the small blade of his sharp knife into the soft pine. Gillespie was then at the head of the China trade, and the disposal of cargoes by auction was daily gaining favor. It saved so much trouble in the way of handling, and warehousing, and charging, and collecting, and prices were often better than when jobbed out. One day, pursuant to notice, Gillespie put up a cargo of tea to sell. At the hour, there upon his box sat Sam, smoking, and spitting, and whittling, thinking perhaps of the extravagant
