"Oh, I dinna just ken that, but ye canna aye sail on the same tack.
Now, supposin', for instance, ye were to start something in the
liquor line. Ye have grand facilities for that, have ye not?"
"I'll not deny that I have the facilities," observed Flett, with a
curious twinkle in his eye. "But ye see, pilot, there's no demand
for liquor in the islands. What for would I tak' spirits to the
crofters when the poor folk canna more than pay for their
bannocks?"
"Why, man alive, ye can surely make a demand? Just carry a good
supply of spirits in yer schooner, and I warrant ye'll do a grand
trade."
"Ye're maybe no far wrang there," said Davie thoughtfully. "But
then, there's another difficulty, pilot; where will the spirits
come from?"
"Why, man," said Kinlay, lowering his voice, "that's just the
simplest part o' the whole business. Think ye that no whisky comes
into Stromness forbye what gangs to Oliver Gray's? Why, man, if it
came to that, I could undertake to supply ye mysel' on the most
easy terms."
"Ay, like enough," returned Flett, with a look in his face that
Carver did not observe. "Like enough--excise paid, of course?"
"Oh! we needna say anything about the excise, Davie," said the
pilot, looking uneasy. "What does't matter about the excise?"
Davie Flett quietly stroked his bristly chin, saying:
"Weel, Carver Kinlay, it's the first time I have heard of a pilot
having a hand in that business.
Pages:
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268