s of those whom he most wanted to
impress.

"Now what'd Mister Vanderbilt say if he knowed!" mourned One-Eye; "or
Mister Astor! They'd be plumb sore on me!--My! my! my!"

These remarks shifted Johnnie's inner vision to other scenes, and having
already guessed that he was not broken in two, he considered One-Eye's
plaint with something of a twinkle in his eyes, and fell once more to
dragging at his hair.

Willing hands now refilled the battered bucket and washed his tear-wet
face. After which One-Eye recovered the breakfast--an egg sandwich and a
banana--and proceeded to lay down the law.

"With that hurt arm o' your'n, sonny," he began, "it's back to home,
sweet home. And if that feller, Tom, licks y', w'y, I'll jes' nat'ally
lick him."

"You couldn't lick him," informed Johnnie, turning his sandwich about in
search for a location thin enough to admit of a first bite. "He's the
strongest longshoreman in N'York. He can carry five sacks of flour on
his back, and one under both arms."

Disdainfully One-Eye lifted his lone brow, and he passed over the
remark. "The point is," he continued, "that if y' ever figger t' go
back, now's the time."

Johnnie saw the argument. And to his own surprise he found himself
willing to go. "Prob'ly Big Tom'll only pull my ear," he said
philosophically. "And he won't do that much, even, if--if _you_'ll go
along."

"Will I!" cried One-Eye. "Wal, it'd take a twenty-mule team t' holt me
back!"

"Honest?" For this fellow was a wag, and there was no telling what he
really meant to do.

"If I don't, I'll eat my shaps!" promised One-Eye.

"Then I guess you better tie up my arm," went on Johnnie, which bit of
inspired diplomacy sent the whole sympathizing group into whoops of
laughter.

"Ain't he the ticket?" demanded one man.

One-Eye 'lowed that he was.

The tying was done. First the purplish spot was swathed in white; and as
the injury was below the raveling edge of the sleeve, the bandage was in
plain sight, and carried conviction with it. Next a sling was made out
of a blue-patterned handkerchief of One-Eye's. Proudly Johnnie
contemplated the dressing. Here was not only insurance against a
whipping, but that which lent him a peculiar and desirable distinction.

"You'll go all the way up with me?" he asked One-Eye. (Now was the time
to make sure of the future.) "Y' see it's Sunday. He'll be home."

"Up and in," vowed the latter. "Come along!"

There were hearty good-bys to