human
I don't know whether it's in my blood, but anyhow, a nice, newly sawed, clean board of timber looks better to me than anything--except a certain girl. I figured it out to-day, that she is the only one I don't want to disgrace. The Gold-Beater has nothing better coming to him--if I have to go to jail in the clean-up of this gang----
gpt
Come to the point, Hiram. You're wandering all around Robin Hood's barn,
human
I know I'm long-winded, Ben, but I've got to speak my prologue, or you won't understand. You know I have stood on the dock day after day and have seen the river carry down big trees and big logs, some real saw-logs, some days lots of them, and to-day, up the river, I saw a great many floating along down stream. Some of the bayous are full of them. There's a mass of logs in that moat back of Becker's smell factory.
gpt
Well,--what is the answer?
human
Here's what I propose: Arrest these fugitive logs, cut 'em into lumber and put 'em to work. I saw logs up the river that will make a thousand feet of lumber and they tell me even rough lumber is worth fifty dollars a thousand. It won't take many of them to amount to the hundred and twenty-five dollars per that I'm pulling down monthly from the railroad--eh? You know, just as soon as I get out of this I'm going to marry, and----
gpt
But they tell me those logs have been in the water so long they are dead sea fruit, rotten in the center?
human
I noticed that in some of them, but many are first class--you watch me after I get out. Do you know, I feel sure this river is going to make me some money. I'm going to be out to-night, down on the wharf. The packet men say that Becker's old tub, the one we met going up this afternoon,--called the _Turgia_--and she is well named--goes up there every afternoon and brings down a load in the night. I've got to find out where she lands and what she brings down. I forgot to tell you he gets dead animals from the city, in barges, and has to hire a tug to take them up. A good chance for a deal there, if we have a boat big enough to do his work, don't you think so?
gpt
He seems to have an eye for bargains--why not in towing?
human
Now, there is another thing, Ben. Suppose this old half-starved geezer's story is right, and they owe him a lot of wages, and the boat is something we can use, isn't there some quick, legal way in which we can get possession of it?
gpt
He would be classed as a seaman, with wages due, and I think there is a Federal statute to reach such a case quickly--I will find out, Hiram.
human
Do that, Ben, and if I don't show up in the morning you will know I got knocked in the head by the water-front gang, but I'm going to see what Becker sends down here in the night, or die in the attempt.
gpt
Ben--Ben, awake, and get up! I've got it--I've got it--see here! he persisted, holding a piece of cardboard before my eyes now dazzled by the sudden light.
human
Do you know what that is?