eCommerce Basis

Since ancient times, our country has been based on agriculture, and agriculture has been the first.
The seeds not only have the highest scientific and technological content in the agricultural field, but also the indispensable agricultural production data and the core competitiveness of agricultural development.
As a result, governments around the world are to promote the development of seed industry as the important measure to promote the development of agriculture, our country also without exception, has introduced a number of supporting policies, such as open seed prices, start, the national seed industry property right trading platform of scientific and technological achievements, etc.
With the policy support, the seed industry will usher in historic development opportunities.

The present situation of seed market scale

Maize, rice, gm cotton, and cantaloupe seeds are the main components of China’s seed market, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the total market.
At present, China’s perennial crop seed dosage in more than 10 billion kilograms, the hybrid corn, hybrid rice, vegetables, gm cotton seeds goods is being supported kind rate reached 100%, the conventional commodity crop seeds is being supported kind rate is gradually increased.

In terms of specific data, the implementation of national hybrid maize in 2015 was 3.42 million mu, an increase of 470,000 mu compared with last year, a 16% increase.
In 2016, the total amount of corn seed supply will exceed the total amount of 8.5 to 900 million kg, and the corn seed market will continue to oversupply, but the variety structure will increase.

In 2015, the implementation area of hybrid rice production in China was over 1.45 million mu, an increase of about 50,000 mu over last year.
Hybrid rice seeds in supply will be more than 2016 kinds of quantity of 125 million kg, such as the worst large natural disasters, late hybrid rice seeds will continue to maintain a state of serious supply exceeds demand in recent years, expected market is still in the bottom.

In 2015, the harvest of winter wheat in China was 12.1 million mu, and the new seeds were about 5 billion kg.
Expect the autumn winter wheat planting area will remain at about 350 million mu, 33-3.5 billion kg goods seeds, pledge this year has plenty of wheat seed, the quality guaranteed, commodity seeds is being supported kind rate can reach 80%.

In 2015, the harvest area of the national hybrid winter rape was 125,000 mu, with a yield of 9.6 million kg, and the seed of the national hybrid rapeseed in the year was about 1.8 million kg, and the supply was 11.4 million kg.
In the autumn of 2015, the seeds of national hybrid rape are expected to be 9.5 million kg.

In the future, we should accelerate the industrialization process and improve the efficiency of industrialization.
In this regard, a sound seed working system should be improved to promote good seed breeding.
For example, the research on the organization of variety resources, basic theory, breeding technology and methods, perfect the original and parental protection system, and establish a good breeding and promotion system, etc.

Second, we should strengthen the horizontal integration of scientific research, production and management departments to promote the integration of the production and marketing.
Research unit at the same time of strengthening basic research and new technology research, according to the market need varieties breeding and production and operation, from breeding to the field of production and operation, obtain benefits return again after research, promoting the transformation of achievements.
Seed enterprises need to play its strong economic strength and familiar with the advantages of seed market demand, national investment made use of advanced seeds drying, selection, storage equipment, increase input, strengthen management, screening of fine varieties, add power and vigor for own seed production and management, gradually formed its own system, self-development, self-improvement large seed companies.

Third, we should establish a good breeding base to achieve good production scale.
May take representative region, establish different crop seed breeding base, unified supply with varieties of species, unified layout, unified technical scheme selection, miscellaneous go bad and threshing, unified purchase, unified “six” measures such as standard.

On the morning of November 21, the two Boeing 747s that were the first to go through judicial auction in China through online platforms were finally sold in the market. After many rounds of bidding, the two Boeing 747 eventually won by SF Express, which also means that it throws 320 million yuan to take two Boeing 747 to expand its freighter formation.
Three Boeing 747 first online auction
It is reported that the filming of the three Boeing 747 freighters, are from China’s first Sino-foreign joint ventures in air cargo company – Jade Cargo International Airlines limited liability company. On February 6, 2013, Jade Aviation’s liquidation team applied to Jade Court for bankruptcy liquidation in Shenzhen Court of Appeal on the ground that assets were not enough to pay off all its debts and there was a clear lack of liquidity.
Starting from October 26, 2015, the three aircraft have been online for 6 auctions with an initial auction starting price of Rmb1,322.65 million, all of which ended in a flash. As of September 19 this year, the three aircraft were auctioned on Alibaba’s auction platform with a total starting price of 392 million yuan, a sharp drop of about 70% over the first auction price.
At 10:00 on November 20, three Boeing 747 aircraft under the guidance of the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in Alibaba auction platform was officially started, starting price was 123 million yuan, 134 million yuan, 135 million yuan, becoming the first nationwide online Boeing 747 Platforms Judicial Auction.
According to Alibaba’s auction platform information, the three Boeing 747 freighters are one aircraft numbered B-2421 (including three GE engines), one B-2422 aircraft (including four GE engines), and B-2423 One aircraft (including 4 GE engines). The first one was parked at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport with the lowest starting price; the other two were parked at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Among them, B-2422, B-2423 each have two buyers registration; B-2421 there is a buyer registration.
It is reported that the Boeing 747 aircraft is a long-range wide body transport aircraft manufactured by Boeing in 1970, the first 747 delivered to the Pan American Airlines formally put route operations, and has since been monopolized the large transport aircraft market, this situation until 2006 Airbus 380 appeared before it changed.
Buyers bid fierce bid for 53 rounds of two aircraft
Surging news reporter learned that, November 20 less than 1 minute shot, the B-2422 had buyers bid 133.88 million yuan; Subsequently, at 11:57:24 on the 20th, B-2423 also has a bid of 135 million yuan .
This price, freeze less than 24 hours.
At 9:59:02 on November 21, less than one minute after the original auction ended, the price of the B-2422 was raised by another buyer to 134.78 million yuan. At 9:59:09, the B- The price of 2423 was added to 136 million yuan. Fierce competition began:
The reporter saw that in just 15 minutes, B-2422 has been delayed for auction 21 times, bid 22 times, the price all the way up to 154.78 million yuan; B-2423 has experienced 20 delays, 21 bids, the price arrived 155 million yuan.
The intense bid lasted 33 minutes.
Eventually, after 26 auctions, the B-2422 was acquired by SF Express Co. for 160.7880 billion yuan. Similarly, SF-Aviation Co. Ltd was also baptized at 162,038.6 million yuan after 27 auctions.
SF throwing 320 million collection of two 747 freighters
Surging news reporter learned that SF Express Co., Ltd. is a joint venture of Shenzhen Taihai Investment Co., Ltd. and SF Express (Group) Co., Ltd., a private air cargo company directly for the SF Express (Group) Co., Ltd. air express transport Business services.
This also means that the two Boeing 747 freighters will join the SF fleet.
In recent years, private courier companies, especially SF, tact, Shen Tong and other companies have purchased freighters to meet business needs. Among them, SF earliest development, in 2009 set up its own cargo airline; the fastest growing, now has about 40 freighters, courier service network covering the whole country, Department of the current domestic volume of the largest private-run companies.
As the first online auction platform for judicial auction of civil aircraft, Alibaba’s Ali auction was launched online in 2012, and most of the courts in the country have settled in the Ali auction for judicial auction.

Industry estimates, the past six months, the entire shared economy has about 1.5 billion deposit has gone back to the user caused the actual economic losses. The “Statistical Report on Internet Development in China” shows that as of June 2017, the number of shared bicycle users has reached 106 million. According to the average deposit of more than 100 yuan users estimated that the total amount of the deposit or bicycle industry share has exceeded 10 billion yuan. Coupled with the sharing of cars and all kinds of items leasing, the entire deposit in the area of ​​shared economy is expected to deposit about 15 billion.
Shenzhen held a shared bicycle management program hearing, the representative proposed to cancel the deposit
According to the interface report, a few days ago, Shenzhen City, “Shenzhen Internet rental bike management program,” held a legislative hearing, deposit security issues to become the focus of attention at the meeting, a number of representatives proposed to cancel the deposit. Shared cycling entered Shenzhen from October 2016 and has since been rapidly developed. According to official statistics, as of now, there are 8 Internet rental bike companies in Shenzhen with a total vehicle scale of 890,000 and a registered user volume of 22 million (including duplicate registered users), with daily average usage of about 5.43 million.
Japan 7-11 convenience store and Softbank cooperation, launched a local bicycle business sharing
Japan 7-11 convenience store will be jointly launched with Softbank to share bicycles. This service will be piloted at 9 stores 7-11 in Saitama this month. It is planned to be rolled out to 1,000 stores in the metropolitan area and local cities by the end of March 2019, and an estimated 5,000 bicycles will be delivered. The cooperation is the launch of a shared cycling service “HELLO CYCLING” operated by a subsidiary of Softbank. After you register with a transport card like Suica, you can use it without reservation. This shared bicycle costs 60 yen (about RMB 3.5) every 15 minutes, and a credit card is required for payment. Depending on the area and bike type, the cost of sharing a bike may also be adjusted.
big company
Short video company recently launched IPO and ready to IPO in Hong Kong
“Caijing” reporter was the exclusive reporter learned that in March this year, just completed the 350 million D round of short-film financing fast-drivers, recently launched an IPO and is ready to be listed in Hong Kong. “Caijing” reporter has not yet found the relevant listing of the company from the HKEx website, the company should be in the material preparation period. (Finance)
Tencent “eat chicken” hand-game today opened test, 30 million people grab the activation code, you grab it?
Tencent’s first 100-person tactical competitive mobile tour “Glory Mission” today officially opened the “Limited Glory Test” (this test is only for Android platform users), and announced during the test (tentative November 21-November 23 Day) daily 12: 00,15: 00,20: 00 three time limit issuing invitation code, invite some lucky players to land first. The whole platform dozens of big coffee anchors will also help the majority of users. As of the evening of November 19, “glorious mission” full platform reservation number exceeded 30 million people successfully.
Hungry R & D department, “Hungry why π” debut, and release smart headset module
November 21, hungry for the future of the logistics strategy set up R & D department “hungry?” Debut, and released for riders to interact through the voice of mobile phones smart headset module. It is reported that the module will be built into the hummingbird distribution app, adaptable to the vast majority of mainstream headphones on the market. After the rider activates the module through the earphone, you can use the voice to issue orders to the app, navigate, dial the user’s phone number, etc., and receive voice feedback in real time. Pi hungry? Π team leader said that by eliminating the rider’s hand-held operation, can improve distribution efficiency, while protecting the rider’s driving safety. According to its disclosure, the end of this year, the smart headset module will be on the hummingbird distribution app full on-line.
In addition, according to the plan of being hungry, the strategic core of “Future Logistics” will be to create a real-time delivery system based on user experience, innovation and technology as the driving force and intelligent system, so as to promote the real-time distribution industry to complete the third phase of transformation. Hungry what “future logistics” three stages of goals: that is, intelligent deployment, distribution and unmanned man-machine delivery. According to reports, the group’s first phase of the hungry intelligent scheduling research and development has made progress. (21st Century Business Herald)
The history of the most trench drone buyers was born! Uber in the quagmire to engage in a large unmanned taxi team
Uber shook his hand from the quagmire and took the largest unmanned car order in history. The newly appointed CEO of the company decided to buy 24,000 Volvo Autopilot XC90s to build an unmanned SUV fleet. After getting the car, Uber also plans to add his own sensor and software system. The XC90 Volvo plans to be delivered to Uber between 2019 and 2021. According to FT, the transaction amounting to 1.4 billion US dollars, equivalent to 9.2 billion yuan.
Softbank invests in Uber: Repurchase Southeast Asian market strategy
According to Reuters quoted industry sources, Japan’s Softbank Group, with its multi-billion-dollar investment in Uber, is likely to merge Uber with other taxi companies to consolidate its booming taxi business in Asia. Softbank has also invested in Uber’s competitors in Asia, including Grab in Southeast Asia, Drip Drift in China and Ola in India, and is committed to realizing the vision of Artificial Intelligence and Connected Device Drives the Future for Sonny, the founder of SoftBank. An internal source at Singapore’s Grab said: “SoftBand will play a role in business integration and SoftBank will fundamentally change the competitive landscape as a director of both companies (Uber and Grab).” (Sina Technology)
Shenzhen Stock Exchange asked LeTV net shows if the financial loan can not be repaid if it will lead to listed companies “shell”
Shenzhen Stock Exchange attention letter asked LeTV net, if the relevant loans can not be repaid, the pledgee exercise of the security right or pledge will lead to the listing company “shell” and asked to verify the relevant Sunac China Sun Hongbin intends to start the new music, The plan of capital increase and stock plan reports the authenticity.
Samsung released Bixby Chinese version, next February will push artificial intelligence operating system
Samsung announced the official release of the Chinese version of Bixby, an artificial intelligence assistant who was late six months late. Samsung Bixby is divided into male and female versions, in the interactive mode, Bixby has three ways, not only can use voice to dialogue with it, you can also use text and click to order, more convenient way to communicate with them . Samsung demonstrated the use of Bixby voice mail, open music and read text messages and other operations.
Samsung revealed that the Chinese version of Bixby will be the first to support the Samsung S8 and Note8 series products on November 30, and the forthcoming high-end flagship Samsung W2018 will also be equipped. Next year, Samsung will apply Bixby 2.0 to the Internet of Things, which means Bixby will not only be limited to smartphones. Based on Bixby, Samsung also announced that it will launch the artificial intelligence operating system Galaxy AIUX in February next year.
Tencent reached 522.9 billion US dollars, Super Facebook into the world’s fifth
On November 21, Tencent has been up for four days. Today’s stock close at HK $ 430.0, up 2.38% and has a market capitalization of HK $ 4,845.5 billion (522.2 billion U.S. dollars), surpassing Facebook as the fifth-largest market capitalization company in the world.
The new U.S. Congress bill may affect the sale of ads by Google and Facebook
CNBC reports that the U.S. Senate is considering two bills that could undermine the growth of ads for Facebook, Google’s parent company Alphabet and other Internet companies. Relatively low-key bills are more likely to become law, a situation common in Washington. Democrat-backed bills will change the way Google and Facebook sell political advertising, and a measure Republicans have taken to eliminate key legal loopholes in Internet companies has been approved by the Senate Commerce Committee. Any one bill may inhibit the growth of advertising, but the second bill is more likely to work first.
Unmanned shelves add another giant, with a new brand of SF “Feng e foot food” admission
SF Group official microblogging released a series of pictures, said it created a platform for employee snack welfare “abundance e foot food,” the pilot has now opened in Shenzhen, the future will be to promote the country. At this point, following the Jingdong, what hungry, box horse freshmen, another giants into the unmanned shelves battlefield. SF to do unmanned shelves, from a logical very appropriate, and a matter of course. First of all, SF has the infrastructure needed for unmanned shelves – a high-density distribution network. Secondly, the advantage of SF is office resources and express small brother, can save BD cost. Conversely, SF also very much needs a good commercial cash intake, unmanned shelves naturally have traffic barriers, and SF existing business fit, is a good attempt.
Word of mouth announced unopened restaurant technology
Alibaba’s local life service platform reputation announced the opening of unmanned restaurant technology for the majority of catering businesses, including intelligent ordering, intelligent recommendation, service notification, buffet meals, automatic withholding, dining evaluation, including the whole process solution. According to word of mouth estimates, the use of word of mouth unattended restaurant technology catering businesses can effectively save labor costs at the same time, so that the restaurant’s reception capacity increased by more than 30%.
According to word of mouth, unobtrusive restaurant technical solutions involved a total of more than a dozen technology applications, including front-end self-booking, self-ordering, buffet meals, self-payment, self-service members and the back end of the automatic sub-single print, automated purchase orders Generate, etc., each of which technology can be freely combined into other technology applications to meet different business needs of different businesses. (World Network Business)
Dada joint Jingdong logistics launched the same city express mail service, within 4 hours can be served
DADA, an information platform for fast delivery in the same city, recently announced that it will jointly launch the “4-hour up-to-date” express delivery service in the same city on the basis of the same-city distribution network jointly set up by both parties. In this city distribution network, the user as long as the mobile phone orders, there will be 15 minutes Dada Knight sent the file sent to the nearest Jingdong logistics outlets, and then Jingdong logistics through the city fast transit to the recipient Another recent Jingdong logistics network outlets, and then picked up by the Dada Knight sent to the recipient hands, the entire process no more than 4 hours to complete, to ensure the fastest timeliness.
Not afraid of more information: WeChat chat online “reminder” function
A few days ago, some users found that the WeChat app has quietly launched the new “Reminder” function on the latest WeChat app (iOS version). Currently, iOS users can use this feature when upgrading to the latest version of WeChat (6.5.22) Users also need to wait a second. In the chat dialogue, select chat content long press will be able to exhale “reminder”, with the copy, forward, collection tied together. After selecting the content, you can choose to set the reminder time, the WeChat will choose to be reminded in the form of “service notification”. (IT House)
In addition to Apple’s Samsung, Huawei is the only smart phone maker to make money
According to “Forbes” reported that the iPhone’s high-priced line and best-selling Apple has an extremely high gold-absorbing capacity, a company’s profits up to 90% of the entire industry, the lowest close to 70%. Huawei is the only profitable smartphone maker besides Apple and Samsung, and its share of the smartphone industry is on the rise. Michael Walkley, an Apple analyst at financial services firm Canaccord Genuity, estimates the share of major smartphone makers in industry profits. Walkley’s analysis did not include some Chinese smartphone makers such as vivo and OPPO because they did not provide financial information, but in general they are basically breakeven, so even considering them, Apple, Samsung and Huawei The share of profits in the smart phone industry has little effect. (Phoenix Technology)
Tencent WeChat ecological chain intends to enter the overseas market, Malaysia as the first stop
According to Fortune, Liu Shengyi, senior vice president of Tencent, said Malaysia will be the first overseas market for the company to launch the Wechat ecosystem. Tencent made a “breakthrough” in obtaining an electronic payment license in Malaysia and plans to launch an electronic payment service in Malaysia early next year. This move will make Tencent Alibaba competitors, they are competing in overseas markets for new growth opportunities. Liu Shengyi said, “Malaysia has 20 million WeChat users. In this sense, it is a big market with great potential for growth. Malaysian users like Chinese companies’ Internet products.” (Phoenix Technology)
Divine car rental 2017 third quarter net profit of 662 million yuan, down 52%
According to Sina Technology News, Divine car rental release for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 results. Earnings report, the Group achieved a total revenue of 5.758 billion yuan during the reporting period, compared with 4.661 billion yuan a year earlier to increase 18%; of which core business car leasing revenue 2.838 billion yuan, an increase of 31%; net profit of 662 million yuan, 1.388 billion yuan over the same period decreased by 52%.
“Fanghua” return: December 15 in the country and North America simultaneously released
Recently, Feng Xiaogang’s official microblogging movie announced “Fanghua” official file, the film will be December 15 in the country and North America simultaneously released. 2 months ago, “Fanghua” experienced from early release to indefinitely delayed extracurricular reversal. September 22, originally scheduled for the day before the National Day movie released, announced ahead of schedule to September 29. However, only a day later, on the night of September 23, a sudden withdrawal was suddenly exposed. Huayi Brothers boss Wang Zhonglei as the main investor in the early morning of the next morning via microblogging confirmed: “” Fanghua “will not be released this year National Day file.” Feng Xiaogang announced through the official micro, after consultation with the film and parties, “Fang China “intends to agree to accept the parties to change the file recommendations, the new release date selected release.
Investment and Financing
Scalyr, a cloud service provider, was raised $ 20 million in round A funding
Scalyr, a cloud services provider, announced that it raised $ 20 million in funding from Shasta Ventures, with existing investors Bloomberg Beta, Susa Ventures and Heroic Ventures. The company built a tool that filters a large amount of log data and is much faster than traditional tools – all without the need for machine learning. Now with 23 employees in San Mateo, Scalyr is likely to use the money to recruit new employees. The company currently has 140 paid customers, including Giphy, TiVo and Business Insider. (Hunting cloud network)
Wisdom retail CRM system services business fan technology won 10 million yuan A round of financing
Recently, Shangfan Technology officially announced the completion of A round of tens of millions of RMB financing. Lead by Ventech China, potential security capital, Genesis partner capital and investment. Genesis Partner Capital continues to participate in this round of investment after leading the Pre-A round earlier this year. After the current round of financing, the Company will further accelerate the pace of customer development based on the existing retail smart CRM provided by the Bank and intensify its efforts to tap the wisdom of data. In addition, it will explore various new business cooperation modes with its partners. Shangfan Technology is positioned as a SaaS service that provides retail data intelligence to chain retailers. The current system uses a big data architecture, real-time data operations

I awaited with as much patience as I could muster the result of the
venture. I was proud of Uncle Naboth’s bravery, and hoped he would be
successful. Surely the brief interview with my newly acquired relative
had caused a great change in my future prospects, for it was not likely
that my mother’s brother would desert me in my extremity. I had left the
house that was now no longer my home without a single friend to whom I
could turn, and behold, here was a champion waiting to espouse my cause!
Mr. Perkins was somewhat peculiar in his actions, it is true, but he was
my uncle and my dead father’s partner, and already I was beginning to
have faith in him.

It was a full half hour before I saw him coming back along the path; but
now he no longer strutted with proud determination. Instead, his whole
stout little body drooped despondently; his hat was thrust back from his
forehead, and upon his deeply wrinkled face stood big drops of
perspiration.

“Sam,” said he, standing before me with a rather sheepish air, “I were
wrong, an’ I beg your pardon. That woman ain’t no she-tiger. I
mis-stated the case. She’s a she-devil!”

The words were laden with disgust and indignation. Uncle Naboth drew out
his gorgeous handkerchief and wiped his face with it. Then he dropped
upon the bench and pushed his big hands deep into his capacious pockets,
with the air of a man crushed and defeated.

I sighed.

“Then she refused to give up the property?”

“Give up? She’d die first. Why, Sam, the critter tried to brain me with
a gridiron! Almost, my boy, you was an orphan agin. He who fights an’
runs away may n’t get much credit for it, but he’s a durned sight safer
ner a dead man. The Perkinses was allus a reckless crew; but sooner ’n
face that female agin I’d tackle a mad bull!”

“Won’t the law help us?” I asked.

“The law!” cried Mr. Perkins, in a voice of intense horror. “W’y, Sam,
the law’s more to be dreaded than a woman. It’s an invention of the
devil to keep poor mortals from becomin’ too happy in this ’ere vale o’
tears. My boy, if ye ever has to choose between the law an’ a woman, my
advice is to commit suicide at once. It’s quicker an’ less painful.”

“But the law stands for justice,” I protested.

“That’s the bluff it puts up,” said Uncle Naboth, “but it ain’t so. An’
where’s your proof agin Mrs. Ranck, anyhow? Cap’n Steele foolishly put
the house in her name. If she ain’t honest enough to give it up, no one
can take it from her. An’ he kep’ secret about the fortune that was left
in his room, so we can’t describe the things you’ve been robbed of.
Altogether, it’s jest a hopeless case. The she-devil has made up her
mind to inherit your fortune, an’ you can’t help yourself.”

As I stared into the little man’s face the tears came into my eyes and
blurred my sight. He thrust the red handkerchief into my hand, and I
quickly wiped away the traces of unmanly weakness. And when I could see
plainly again my uncle was deeply involved in one of his fits of silent
merriment, and his shoulders were shaking spasmodically. I waited for
him to cough and choke, which he proceeded to do before regaining his
gravity. The attack seemed to have done him good, for he smiled at my
disturbed expression and laid a kindly hand on my shoulder.

“Run up to the house, my lad, an’ get your bundle of clothes,” he said.
“I’ll be here when you get back. Don’t worry over what’s gone. I’ll take
care o’ you, hereafter.”

I gave him a grateful glance and clasped his big, horny hands in both my
own.

“Thank you, uncle,” said I; “I don’t know what would have become of me
if you had not turned up just as you did.”

“Lucky; wasn’t it, Sam? But run along and get your traps.”

I obeyed, walking slowly and thoughtfully back to the house. When I
tried to raise the latch I found the door locked.

“Mrs. Ranck!” I called. “Mrs. Ranck, let me in, please. I’ve come for my
clothes.”

There was no answer. I rattled the latch, but all in vain. So I sat down
upon the steps of the porch, wondering what I should do. It was a
strange and unpleasant sensation, to find myself suddenly barred from
the home in which I had been born and wherein I had lived all my boyhood
days. It was only my indignation against this selfish and hard old woman
that prevented me from bursting into another flood of tears, for my
nerves were all unstrung by the events of the past few hours. However,
anger held all other passion in check for the moment, and I was about to
force an entrance through the side window, as I had done on several
occasions before, when the sash of the window in my own attic room was
pushed up and a bundle was projected from it with such good aim that it
would have struck my head, had I not instinctively dodged it.

Mrs. Ranck’s head followed the bundle far enough to cast a cruel and
triumphant glance into my upturned face.

“There’s your duds. Take ’em an’ go, you ongrateful wretch!” she yelled.
“An’ don’t ye let me see your face again until you come to pay me the
money you owes for your keepin’.”

“Please, Mrs. Ranck,” I asked, meekly, “can I have my father’s watch and
ring?”

“No, no, no!” she screamed, in a fury. “Do ye want to rob me of
everything? Ain’t you satisfied to owe me four hundred dollars a’ready?”

“I——I’d like some keepsake of father’s,” I persisted, well knowing this
would be my last chance to procure it. “You may keep the watch, if
you’ll give me the ring.”

“I’ll keep’m both,” she retorted. “You’ll get nothin’ more out’n me, now
or never!”

Then she slammed down the window, and refused to answer by a word my
further pleadings. So finally I picked up the bundle and, feeling
miserable and sick at heart, followed the path back to the little grove.

“It didn’t take you very long, but that’s all the better,” said my
uncle, shutting his clasp-knife with a click and then standing up to
brush the chips from his lap. “We two’ll go to the tavern, an’ talk over
our future plans.”

Silently I walked by the side of Naboth Perkins until we came to the
village. I knew everyone in the little town, and several of the
fishermen and sailors met me with words of honest sympathy for my loss.
Captain Steele had been the big man of Batteraft, beloved by all who
knew him despite his reserved nature, and these simple villagers, rude
and uneducated but kindly hearted, felt that in his death they had lost
a good friend and a neighbor of whom they had always been proud. Not one
of them would have refused assistance to Captain Steele’s only son; but
they were all very poor, and it was lucky for me that Uncle Naboth had
arrived so opportunely to befriend me.

Having ordered a substantial dinner of the landlord of “The Rudder,” Mr.
Perkins gravely invited me to his private room for a conference, and I
climbed the rickety stairs in his wake.

The chamber was very luxurious in my eyes, with its rag carpet and
high-posted bed, its wash-stand and rocking-chair. I could not easily
withhold my deference to the man who was able to hire it, and removing
my cap I sat upon the edge of the bed while Uncle Naboth took possession
of the rocking-chair and lighted a big briar pipe.

Having settled himself comfortably by putting his feet upon the sill of
the open window, he remarked:

“Now, Sam, my lad, we’ll talk it all over.”

“Very well, sir,” I replied, much impressed.

“In the first place, I’m your father’s partner, as I said afore. Some
years ago the Cap’n found he had more money’n he could use in his own
business, an’ I’d saved up a bit myself, to match it. So we put both
together an’ bought a schooner called the ‘Flipper’, w’ich I’m free to
say is the best boat, fer its size an’ kind, that ever sailed the
Pacific.”

“The Pacific!”

“Naterally. Cap’n Steele on the Atlantic, an’ Cap’n Perkins on the
Pacific. In that way we divided up the world between us.” He stopped to
wink, here, and began his silent chuckle; but fortunately he remembered
the importance of the occasion and refrained from carrying it to the
choking stage. “I s’pose your father never said naught to you about this
deal o’ ours, any more’n he did to that she-bandit up at the house. An’
it’s lucky he didn’t, or the critter’d be claimin’ the ‘Flipper’, too,
an’ then you an’ I’d be out of a job!”

He winked again; solemnly, this time; and I sat still and stared at him.

“Howsomever, the ‘Flipper’ is still in statute loo, an’ thank heaven fer
that! I made sev’ral voyages in her to Australy, that turned out fairly
profitably, an’ brought the Cap’n an’ me some good bits o’ money. So
last year we thought we’d tackle the Japan trade, that seemed to be
lookin’ up. It looked down agin as soon as I struck the pesky shores,
an’ a month ago I returned to ’Frisco a sadder an’ a wiser man. Not that
the losses was so great, Sam, you understand; but the earnin’s wasn’t
enough to buy a shoe-string.

“So I sailed cross-lots to Batteraft to consult with my partner, which
is Cap’n Steele, as to our next voyage, an’ the rest o’ the story you
know as well as I do. Your father bein’ out o’ the firm, from no fault
o’ his’n, his son is his nateral successor. So I take it that hereafter
we’ll have to consult together.”

My amazed expression amused him exceedingly, but I found it impossible
just then to utter a single word. Uncle Naboth did not seem to expect me
to speak, for after lighting his pipe again he continued, with an air of
great complacency:

“It mought be said that, as you’re a minor, I stands as your rightful
guardeen, an’ have a right to act for you ’til you come of age. On the
other hand, you mought claim that, bein’ a partner, your size an’ age
don’t count, an’ you’ve a right to be heard. Howsomever, we won’t go to
law about it, Sam. The law’s onreliable. Sometimes it’s right, an’
mostly it’s wrong; but it ain’t never to be trusted by an honest man. If
you insist on dictatin’ what this partnership’s goin’ to do, you’ll
probably run it on a rock in two jerks of a lamb’s tail, for you haven’t
got the experience old Cap’n Steele had; but if you’re satisfied to let
me take the tiller, an’ steer you into harbor, why, I’ll accept the job
an’ do the best I can at it.”

“Uncle Naboth,” I replied, earnestly, “had you not been an honest man I
would never have known you were my father’s partner, or that he had any
interest in your business. But you’ve been more than honest. You’ve been
kind to me; and I am only too glad to trust you in every way.”

“Well spoke, lad!” cried Mr. Perkins, slapping his knee delightedly.
“It’s what I had a right to expect in poor Mary’s boy. We’re sure to get
along, Sam, and even if I don’t make you rich, you’ll never need a stout
friend while your Uncle Nabe is alive an’ kickin’!”

Then we both stood up, and shook hands with great solemnity, to seal the
bargain. After which my friend and protector returned to his rocker and
once more stretched his feet across the window sill.

“How much property belongs to me, Uncle?” I asked.

“We never drew up any papers. Cap’n Steele knew as he could trust me,
an’ so papers wa’n’t necessary. He owned one-third interest in the
‘Flipper’, an’ supplied one half the money to carry on the trade. That
made it mighty hard to figure out the profits, so we gen’ly lumped it,
to save brain-work. Of course your father’s been paid all his earnin’s
after each voyage was over, so accounts is settled up to the Japan trip.
Probably the money I gave him was in the sea-chest, an’ that old
she-pirate up to the house grabbed it with the other things. The Japan
voyage was a failure, as I told you; but there’s about a thousand
dollars still comin’ to the Cap’n—which means it’s comin’ to you,
Sam—an’ the ship’s worth a good ten thousand besides.”

I tried to think what that meant to me.

“It isn’t a very big sum of money, is it, Uncle?” I asked, diffidently.

“That depends on how you look at it,” he answered. “Big oaks from little
acorns grow, you know. If you leave the matter to me, I’ll try to make
that thousand sprout considerable, before you come of age.”

“Of course I’ll leave it to you,” said I. “And I am very grateful for
your kindness, sir.”

“Don’t you turn your gratitude loose too soon, Sam. I may land your
fortunes high an’ dry on the rocks, afore I’ve got through with ’em. But
if I do it won’t be on purpose, an’ we’ll sink or swim together. An’
now, that bein’ as good as settled, the next thing to argy is what
you’re a-goin’ to do while I’m sailin’ the seas an’ makin’ money for
you.”

“What would you suggest?” I asked.

“Well, some folks might think you ought to have more schoolin’. How old
are you?”

“Sixteen, sir.”

“Can you read an’ write, an’ do figgers?”

“Oh, yes; I’ve finished the public school course,” I replied, smiling at
the simple question.

“Then I guess you’ve had study enough, my lad, and are ready to go to
work. I never had much schoolin’ myself, but I’ve managed to hold my own
in the world, in spite of the way letters an’ figgers mix up when I look
at ’em. Not but what eddication is a good thing; but all eddication
don’t lay in schools. Rubbin’ against the world is what polishes up a
man, an’ the feller that keeps his eyes open can learn somethin’ new
every day. To be open with you, Sam, I need you pretty bad on the
‘Flipper’, to keep the books an’ look after the accounts, an’ do writin’
an’ spellin’ when letters has to be writ. On the last trip I put in four
days hard work, writin’ a letter that was only three lines long. An’ I’m
blamed if the landsman I sent it to didn’t telegraph me for a
translation. So, if you’re willin’ to ship with the firm of Perkins &
Steele, I’ll make you purser an’ chief clerk.”

“I should like that!” I answered, eagerly.

“Then the second p’int’s settled. There’s only one more. The ‘Flipper’
is lyin’ in the harbor at ’Frisco. When shall we join her, lad?”

“I’m ready now, sir.”

“Good. I’ve ordered a wagon to carry us over to the railroad station at
four o’clock, so ye see I had a pretty good idea beforehand what sort o’
stuff Mary’s boy was made of. Now let’s go to dinner.”