Then the question came up, whether or no our factory had
been in existence at that time. The French claim that it was not,
because no work had been done in it, while we claim that, but for
illegal interference, work would have been carried on for a full month
before the fixed date."
"How was the question settled?" asked Cabot.
"It was not settled until a few days ago, when a final decision was
rendered against us, and now the property is liable to be destroyed at
any minute. Father fought the case until it worried him to death, and
mother has been fighting it ever since. All our property, except the
factory itself, this schooner, and a few hundred acres of worthless
land, has gone to the lawyers. While they have fought over the case, I
have made a sort of a living for the family by running the factory at
odd times, when there was no warship at hand to prevent. This season
promises to be one of the best for lobsters ever known, and we had so
nearly exhausted our supply of cans that I went to St. Johns for more.
While there I got private information that the suit had gone against
us, and that the commander of the warship 'Comattus,' then in port, had
received orders to destroy our factory during his annual cruise along
the French shore. The 'Comattus' was to start as soon as the 'Lavinia'
arrived. The minute I heard this I set out in a hurry for home, in the
hope of having time to pack the extra cases I have on board this
schooner, and get them out of the way before the warship arrives.
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