"Then we've no time to lose," said Talbot decisively, and turned away toward the town.
Yank, who had listened silently to our brief discussion, shifted his rifle to his shoulder and followed. Shortly he fell behind; and we lost him.
We accompanied Talbot in some bewilderment, for there was no ship in sight nor in prospect, and we could not understand any reason for this haste. Talbot led the way directly to the steamship office.
"I want to see Brown," he asserted, naming the chief agent for the company.
The clerk hesitated: Brown was an important man and not to be disturbed for trivial matters. But Talbot's eye could be very assured.
"What is your business with Mr. Brown?" asked the clerk.
"It is with Mr. Brown," said Talbot firmly, "and I may add that it is to Mr. Brown's own interest to see me. Tell him just that, and that Mr. Talbot Ward of New York City desires an immediate interview."
The clerk was gone for some moments, to the manifest annoyance of a dozen miners who wanted his attention. When he returned he motioned us to a screened-off private office in the rear.
We found Brown to be a florid, solidly built man of fifty, with a keen eye and a brown beard. He nodded to us briefly and looked expectant.
"We three men," said Talbot directly, "hold three tickets on your line. We were not fortunate enough to get passage on the next steamer, and our business will not permit us to wait until the one after. We want our money back."
"That is a matter for my clerks, not for me," he said curtly. "I was told your business was to my advantage. I have nothing to do with tickets."
"One minute," said Talbot. "There are between two and three hundred men in this town each one of whom bought a ticket from your company in New York in the expectation, if not under the understanding, that they were to get through passage immediately."
"No such thing was expected or guaranteed," interposed Brown abruptly.
"Not guaranteed, nor expected by you--by us, yes."
"I cannot argue that matter. I have no further time for you. Good-day." And Brown once more reached his hand toward his bell.
"Suppose," said Talbot softly, leaning forward. "I should put it into the heads of those three hundred men that they ought to get their passage money back?"