Up the China Sea — H. Bedford-Jones

Bracken signed on as first office on the Fengshui and set off on a salvage job. But he didn't trust the captain -- one of those sly beggars, full of tricks against even his best friend, more than capable of knifing the ship's owner in the back if he could profit by it and not be caught. Of course, it was a recipe for murder, theft, and disaster!