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It was the first and last instance in my sea life when I served shipowners who have remained completely shadowy to my apprehension. I do not mean this for the well-known firm of London ship-brokers which had chartered the ship to the, I will not say short-lived, but ephemeral Franco-Canadian Transport Company.
"Come along, Mr Ralph; it is possible we may be successful," was all he said, as he hurried me off to Billiter Street, and Saint Helen's, and to one or two other places in the neighbourhood, where some of the large ship-brokers have their offices.
It was the first and last instance in my sea life when I served ship-owners who have remained completely shadowy to my apprehension. I do not mean this for the well-known firm of London ship-brokers which had chartered the ship to the, I will not say short-lived, but ephemeral Franco-Canadian Transport Company.
He told me that, in the first place, they were attracted there by advertisements long before the ship was ready for sea, partly that the ship-brokers might make certain of having the ship filled, and not a little for the benefit of the inns and lodging-house keepers.
Give me leave to observe here, that most of the foreign trade of this town is transacted by brokers, of which there are three sorts, viz., 1st, Exchange-brokers, 2ndly, brokers for goods and merchandise, and 3rdly, ship-brokers. The exchange-brokers, who are versed in the course of exchange, furnish the merchant with money or bills, as he has occasion for either.
Then we have such busy men as auctioneers, ship-brokers, water-clerks, ship-captains, buyers for great firms all of whom are more or less a prey to the custom of "standing liquors." The soaker goes on without meeting any startling check for a good while; but, by slow degrees, the main organs of the body suffer, and a chronic state of alcoholic irritation is set up.
I next had recourse to the ship-brokers and ship-chandlers, but from none of them could I gain any information. I then began to make inquiries of the people I found lounging about the quays smoking, and otherwise killing the time. At last I saw a man who stood lounging against a post, with a cigar in his mouth and his arms folded, and who, by the glance he cast at me, seemed to court inquiry.
Little by little the scene on the quay became more animated. Sailors of various nations, merchants, ship-brokers, porters, fellahs, bustled to and fro as if the steamer were immediately expected. The weather was clear, and slightly chilly. The minarets of the town loomed above the houses in the pale rays of the sun. A jetty pier, some two thousand yards along, extended into the roadstead.
"And you know, therefore, that none of them sails for Algiers," interrupted Clary, laughing. "Well, then?" asked the banker in an animated manner. "Well, then, just on that account I have been looking for you." "Looking for me?" "Yes, indeed, you know all ship-brokers, and you will easily be able to help me out of my difficulties." "But I do not exactly understand."
She drifted in here, on a pitch-dark night, when they couldn't see the lights; a poor old worn-out merchantman, Midwinter, that the ship-brokers have bought to break up. Let's run in and have a look at her." Midwinter hesitated.
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