If I was ever fooled
by a man in my life, I was fooled by that doggone mate. I thought
he'd tote square with the syndicate. I sure did."
For a long time McGuffey gazed seaward. He was slower than his
shipmates in making up his mind that the mate had really deserted
them and sailed away with the fortunes of the syndicate. Of the
three, however, the stoical engineer accepted the situation with
the best grace. He spurned the white sand with his foot and faced
Mr. Gibney and Captain Scraggs with just the suspicion of a grin
on his homely face.
"I make a motion," he said, "that the syndicate pass a resolution
condemnin' the action of the mate."
It was a forlorn hope, and the jest went over the heads of the
deck department. Said Mr. Gibney sadly:
"There ain't no more _Maggie II_ Syndicate."
"Well, let's form a Robinson Crusoe Syndicate," suggested
McGuffey. "We've got the island, and there's a quorum present for
all meetin's."
Mr. Gibney smiled feebly. "We can appoint Tabu-Tabu the man
Friday."
"Sure," responded McGuffey, "and the king can be the goat.
Robinson Crusoe had a billy goat, didn't he, Gib?"
But Captain Scraggs refused to be heartened by this airy
persiflage.
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