A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 7: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

4 A QUEER RACE. on, suggested the expediency of reinsuring to the ex- tent of a third or a half, I was very much amused, and did not hesitate to tell him so. Now the laugh was on the other side—the scolding, rather, for at the last Board meeting I had got an awful wigging. All the directors—wondrously wise after the event, as directors are wont to be—could see how impru- dently I had acted, and the very men who had chaffed old Slocum for his timidity were now the loudest in blaming my rashness. Even if the company weathered the storm, it was about even betting that I should lose my berth, As for the Colon affair, Iwas in no way blameworthy. Nobody can foresee a cyclone, and both actually and rela- tively we had been less severely hit than any of our com- petitors—quite hard enough, however, for our limited capital. But the Niobe! So far as I could learn, she had not encountered so much as a gale of wind all the way out; yet sprung a leak, and went down ina calm sea off the coast of Cuba; all hands saved, all the cargo lost, except the master’s chronometer and sextant! Queer—very queer! If theowners had been less honor- able, and the captain less respectable, I should almost have suspected foul play. Yet even honorable people do strange things; while as for the captain, did not some great authority sav that every man has his price? J had reason to believe, too, that both ship and cargo were heay- ily overinsured, and it was being whispered on ’Change that Barnes & Brandyman would make a deuced good thing by the loss of the Niobe. But what could I do? Lhe Niobe was not the first ship which had foundered in fair weather; and to dispute the claim on grounds that might expose me to an action for slander, and lay the com- pany under suspicion of seeking a pretext to evade pay- ment, would be both foolish and fatal. Everything seemed to be in order; Barnes & Brandyman were an honorable firm, and that day week we must either ‘ pay or burst.” Twenty thousand pounds! A pleasant lookout! and a nice row there would be when I asked the Board to pass the check! As likely as not old Slocum would insist on suspending payment at Eomicbooks (e(e)