Holm brightened up at the prospect of a deal, and forgot all about Betty, blue eyes, dark lashes, fair hair and all.
"Garner, get hold of Bramsen sharp as ever you can, and tell him to go on board that Spaniard at Hoeg's wharf, and have a thorough look round."
A few minutes later Bramsen himself appeared, breathless with haste.
"I've been on board already, Mr. Holm, pretty near every evening. They've a nigger cook that plays all sorts of dance tunes on a bit of a clay warbler he's got; it's really worth hearing...."
"Yes, yes, but the vessel herself. Is she any good, do you know?"
"Well, not much, I take it, though it doesn't show, perhaps. I talked to the carpenter, and he said her bottom was as full of holes as a rusty sieve; it's only the paint that keeps her afloat. He showed me a queer thing too, that carpenter; I've never seen anything like it."
"It was a magic cow, he said, got it in Pensacola. You just wind it up, and it walks along the deck, and lowers its head and says, 'Moo-oh!'"
"Well, I didn't see the works. But the upper part's just brown hide, stuffed, I suppose."
"Oh yes--well, she's smart enough to look at, with lashings of paint and gilding and brass fittings everywhere--the Spanish owner's no fool, I'll be bound. Bottoming, indeed; I don't believe a word of it."
"Mean! why,"--Bramsen lowered his voice--"it's just a fake, if you ask me, to make folk think they've got an easy bargain."
"Anyone else been on board looking round?"
"Yes. Skipper Heil was there all day yesterday."
"Heil? Wasn't he skipper of Hermansen's _Valkyrie_?"
"That's it! And I'm pretty sure 'twas Hermansen sent him down to look."
"Bramsen, listen to me. Not a word to a soul of what you know about the ship; you've got to be dumb as a doorpost. If anyone asks, you can tell them in confidence that I sent you to look over her, and not a word more, you understand?"
"Right you are, Mr. Holm. But you're not thinking of going in for the business yourself?"
When Bramsen was gone, Holm strode up and down the office deep in thought.
"I wonder, now, if we couldn't manage to nail old Hermansen there. H'm. It's risky, but I must have a try at it all the same."
He put on his hat, and continued his sentry-go up and down, with his thumbs in the armholes of his waistcoat. Already he saw in his mind's eye the Spaniard hauled up to the repair shops, and plate after plate taken out of her bottom, till only the superstructure remained. And finally, he himself, as representative of the concern, would go up to the bank and present a bill for the repairs--a bill running into three--four--five figures!
