st had
enough sense to cling desperately to the wreck of his boat, and then
allow Jimmy to do the rescue act.

"Did you get hurt when that tug struck your boat?" asked Jack, for that
was what he feared.

The man was blinking at him, for his eyes had taken in more or less of
the brackish water of the river; but he shook his head in the negative.
This relieved Jack more than a little. Like Josh, he had been hoping
that in the very beginning of their new cruise a wet blanket might not
be cast over the spirits of the party by their witnessing the drowning
of a poor chap.

"Here comes the tug down after us," remarked Jimmy. "I suppose the
omadhauns 'll be expressing their regrets for the accident. Sure, it
was criminal carelessness, if ever there was a case. And ye'll be
silly, sor, if so be ye don't make 'em pay for the boat they smashed."

By degrees the man seemed to come out of the half stupor into which his
sudden immersion in the waters of the river had thrown him.

"They just got to," he grumbled, shaking his head; "for 'twas a
borrowed boat, an' I can't pay for a new one."

"We'll try and see you through," said Jack. "If they think we're ready
to tell what we saw, they'll not only pay you good damages, but take
you ashore in the bargain."

"That's the ticket!" declared Jimmy, quite taken with the idea of
frightening the captain of the tug into doing the right thing by his
victim.

Presently the tug came alongside, and an anxious voice called out:

"Was he much hurt, boys? I'm sorry it happened. Second accident of
the week, and such things don't do a man's reputation as a pilot any
good."

"Well," replied Jack, promptly, "suppose you whack up for his boat, and
a suit of clothes for the man; then take him ashore, and none of us
will say a word about the accident, as you call it, but which looked
mighty like criminal carelessness to us."

There was a brief interval of silence, during which the two men in the
wheel-house of the tug seemed to be conferring.

"How much does he want, my lad?" asked one, presently thrusting his
head and shoulders out, so that Jack could have almost shaken hands had
he wished.

"The boat ought to be worth fifteen dollars; and say ten more to get
him a new suit. That's letting you down easy, my friend," called the
skipper of the _Tramp_.

"Oh, well, I guess I'll have to stand it, though I don't believe the
old tub was worth five. Here you are, bub; and if you chuck