“I've got a little something to offer you here, Mr. Smiley,” said he, “that I think you 'll find drinkable. I usually keep some on hand in case anybody comes along. I don't take much myself, but it's sociable to have around.” Dick tossed off a glass and smacked his lips. “Well, say, that's the real stuff.” “Guess there ain't no doubt about that.” “Where do you get it from?” “I bought that in Detroit last time I was down. Couldn't say what house it's from.” “Oh, you get out of here now and then, do you r “Not often--have another?” “Thanks, don't care if I do.” “You see I've got a little schooner of my own, the _Estelle_,--named her after my wife's sister,--and now and then I take a run down the shore to Saginaw or Port Huron, or somewhere.” “Do you get much lumber out?” “Enough for a living.” “I noticed you had a mark on the end of every big stick--looked like a groove cut in a circle--most a foot across.” “Yes, that's my mark.” “The idea being that people will know your stuff, I suppose.” Spencer nodded shortly. “I'm getting out the best lumber on the Great Lakes--that's why I mark it--help yourself to that bottle--there, I 'll just set it where you can reach it.” Dick would have stopped ordinarily at two glasses. To-day he stopped at nothing. “Much obliged. I haven't touched anything as strong as this for two years.” “Swore off?” “Sort of, but I don't know that I've been any better off for it. There's nothing so good after sailing the best part of a week.” “You're right, there ain't. And that's the pure article there--wouldn't hurt a babe in arms. Take another. You haven't been working for Cap'n Stenzenberger many years, have you?” Throughout this conversation Spencer was studying Smiley's face. “No, nothing like so long as Henry.” “How do you get along with him?” “The Cap'n? Oh, all right. He's a little too smart for me, but I guess he's square enough.” “Doing a good business, is he?” “Couldn't say. I don't know much about his business.” “Oh, you don't?” There was a shade of disappointment in the lumberman's voice as he said this, but Dick, who was reaching for the bottle, failed to observe it. “McGlory been with you long?” “No, this is his first trip.” “You don't say so! Wasn't he with your cousin a while back?” “Yes, for a year.” “Thought I'd seen him on the _Schmidt_. Is he a good man?” “Good enough.” “Let's see, wasn't he in with Stenzenberger once?” “Couldn't say.” “Oh, you couldn't?” “No. Say, I 'll have to step down and see how things are going. Here, I 'll just have another nip out o' that bottle.” “Nonsense, Cap'n; sit down, sit down. I guess McGlory's competent to get the load aboard all right. I ain't hardly begun to get acquainted with you yet. We 'll have dinner pretty soon now, and when you've put a little something solid inside you, we 'll go down and have a look at things. Don't get bashful about the bottle. There's plenty more where that come from.”