was a tall, limber American man named Jones. He
came up to Randy after the work was done.

"Malloy told me to show you around the boat and give you some
pointers," said Jones. "Come ahead."

They passed from one end of the steamboat to the other, through all of
the three decks, and Jones named over the various parts and told what
the deckhands were expected to do. Then they went below and he told of
some work there. Lastly he took Randy to the sleeping quarters.

"This is my bunk," said Jack Jones. "That will be yours over there.
When you get the chance, I'll advise you to air your bedding. You can
do it after we tie up in New York and the passengers go ashore."

The quarters were small, but not any smaller than Randy's garret
apartment in the cottage. Everything was kept as clean as wax, for both
Malloy and Jones were enemies to dirt. Randy was glad to learn this and
resolved to give the others no cause for complaint regarding his own
personal habits.

"Some boats are very dirty and the bunks not fit for a dog to sleep
in," said Jack Jones. "But Malloy won't allow it on this boat, and I
won't have it either."

"And I am with you," answered our hero.

"Came from a farm, didn't you?"

"Yes, but our family wasn't on the farm long."

"I came from a farm myself."

"How long have you been on this boat?"

"Came the middle of last season."

"Do you like it?"

"If I didn't I shouldn't be here."

"I suppose that is so."

"Captain Hadley is a fine man to work for. He is strict but fair, and
that is what I like."

"What about the others?"

"The mate, Tom Blossom, is nice, too. The man we all hate is Peter
Polk, the purser."

"What's the matter with him?"

"Well, between you and me, I think he is a sneak."

"In what way?"

"He is always making trouble for somebody. Nobody seems to like him
much, although he attends strictly to business."

"I hope I don't have trouble with Mr. Polk."

"Well, you will have to watch yourself."

Several other landings were made, and promptly at the appointed time
the _Helen Shalley_ swung into her dock at New York City and the
remaining passengers went ashore. Then began the labor of unloading the
baggage and freight, after which the deck was swabbed up, the
brass-work polished, and such baggage as was at hand taken on board for
transportation up the river the next day.

When he had finished his day's labors Randy was tired and perfectly
willing to rest for a while. H