"He is a thickset, jolly looking, curly headed fellow, with a thick neck, a bulldog jaw, and a big voice," replied Talbot. "Of course he tried to bully me, but when that didn't work, he came down to business. We entered into an agreement. "Brannan was to furnish the money, and take half the profits, provided he liked the idea. When we had settled it all, I told him my scheme. He thought it over a while and came in. Then we rowed off and paid the captains of the ships. It was necessary now to get them warped in at high tide, of course, but Sam Brannan said he'd see to that--he has some sort of a pull with the natives, enough to get a day's labour, anyway." "Warp them in?" I echoed. "Certainly. You couldn't expect the merchants to lighter their stuff off in boats always. We'll beach these ships at high tide, and then run some sort of light causeway out to them. There's no surf, and the bottom is soft. It'll cost us something, of course; but Sam and I figure we ought to divide three thousand clear." "I'd like to ask a question or so," said I. "What's to prevent the merchants doing this same hiring of ships for themselves?" "Nothing," said Talbot, "after the first month." "And what prevented Brannan, after he had heard your scheme, from going out on his own hook, and pocketing _all_ the proceeds?" "You don't understand, Frank," said Talbot impatiently. "Men of our stamp don't do those things." "Oh!" said I. "This," said Johnny, "made it about two o'clock, as I figure your story. Did you then take a needed rest?" "Quarter of two," corrected Talbot, "I was going back to the hotel, when I passed that brick building--you know, on Montgomery Street. I remembered then that lawyer and his two hundred and fifty dollars for a hole in the ground. It seemed to me there was a terrible waste somewhere. Here was a big brick building filled up with nothing but goods. It might much better be filled with people. There is plenty of room for goods in those ships; but you can't very well put people on the ships. So I just dropped in to see them about it. I offered to hire the entire upper part of the building; and pointed out that the lower part was all they could possibly use as a store. They said they needed the upper part as storehouse. I offered to store the goods in an accessible safe place. Of course they wanted to see the place; but I wouldn't let on, naturally, but left it subject to their approval after the lease was signed. The joke of it is they were way overstocked anyway. Finally I made my grand offer.