Though the admiral did not know it, one of the very first to greet him when he set his foot on dry land at the bottom of Market Street was the man he had licked so thoroughly fifteen years before in Melbourne. "Oh, it's the same," said Smith to his chief runner, who was about the "hardest case" in California. "He ain't changed none. Just so old he was when he set about me. Why, the galoot might be immortal. Mark him, now; will you know him anywhere?" "It don't pay me ever to forget," replied the runner. He had to remember the men who owed him grudges. "Then don't forget this one," said Smith. "Do you find me a considerate boss?" "Oh, well----" said the runner ungraciously. "You've got to do a job for me, Billy." "And what?" "I'm goin' to have this hyer admiral shipped before the stick on the toughest ship that's about ready to go to sea," replied Smith. Billy flinched. "Sir, it's the penitentiary!" "I don't care if it's lynchin'," said Smith. "Help--or get. I'm bossin' this job. Which is it?" And Billy, seeing that he was to play second fiddle, concluded to help. "And," he said to himself, "if we get nailed I'll split. Calls himself a 'considerate boss.' Well, Shanghai Smith has a gall!" "Which do you reckon is the worst ship inside the Gate now?" asked Smith, after he had savoured his cunning revenge for a few minutes. "The _Harvester_ ain't due for a month, sir." Smith looked melancholy. "No, she ain't, that's a fact. It's a solid pity. Sant would have suited this Dunn first class." He was the most notorious blackguard of a shipmaster yet unhung, and the fact that Smith and he were bitter enemies never blinded Shanghai to the surpassing merits of his brutality. "There's the _Cyrus G. Hake_." Smith shook his head contemptuously. "D'ye think I want to board this admiral at the Palace Hotel? Why, Johnson hasn't hurt a man serious for two trips." "Oh, well, I thought as he'd sure break out soon," said Bill; "but there's the President. They do say that her new mate is a holy terror." "I won't go on hearsay," said Smith decidedly. "I want a good man you and I know--one that'll handle this Dicky Dunn from the start. Now, what's in the harbour with officers that can lick me?" "Well, I always allowed (as you know, Mr. Smith) that Simpson of the _California_ was your match." Smith's face softened. "Well, mebbe he is." At any other time he would never have admitted it. "And the _California_ will sail in three days." "Righto," said Smith. "Simpson is a good tough man and so is old Blaker. Bill, the _California_ will do. But it's an almighty pity the _Harvester_ ain't here. I never knew a more unlucky thing. But we must put up with the next best." "But how'll you corral the admiral, sir?" asked Bill. "You leave that to me," replied his boss. "I've got a very fruitful notion as will fetch him if he's half the man he was."