paper's heavy when it's all tight up in a lump, and he must ha' pitched
it down off the pier to save carrying it and to let it come plop, so as
to frighten me, not thinking how heavy it was, and then as soon as he
see the mischief he'd done he squirms and runs away like a bad dog with
his tail between his legs. Why, I wouldn't ha' thought it on him.

"Oh, dear! what a weight she is! If I could only get a turn o' the rope
round anywhere I could hold on easy, but if I move an inch down she'll
go.

"Can't do it!" he groaned; "it's quite impossible. One hitch round the
ring or a catch anywhere else'd do it, but I've got enough to do to hold
on, and if I try any other manoover I shall make worse on it. It's no
good, Tommy, my lad, that there's your job; bite yer teeth hard and hold
on. Bime by it'll be too much for yer, and she'll begin to slide and
slither; but don't you mind, it'll be all right--up'll go your hands
with the rope, and then in they'll go, fingers first, into the ring.
It's big enough to take your pretty little fists as far as yer
knuckleses, and then they'll jam and jam more, and the more they jams
the tighter they'll hold the rope till some 'un comes. Take the skin
off? Well, let it. Sarve it right for not being stuck tighter on to
the hones. Have to grow again, that's all. I arn't going to let Master
Aleck's boat sink to the bottom if I die for it. But, hub, there!
Ahoy! Is everybody dead yonder up town? Why, I'd say bless him now if
I could on'y set a hye on the wery wust o' them boys."

The poor fellow hung on desperately, but he knew from his symptoms that
he could not hold on much longer. The perspiration stood in huge drops
all over his face, and they began to run together and trickle down,
while now a queer thought flashed across his brain, bringing hope for
the moment, but only for his heart to sink lower directly after.

"No, no," he groaned, "I couldn't do it. If I could it'd be just fine;
but who's to hang on with his hands and double hisself up enough to take
aim with both his wooden pegs at once so that they could go right into
that ring and stopper the rope like a cable going through a hawse hole?

"Can't be done, can't be done; but--ahoy there! Dozens on yer hanging
about if yer warn't wanted, and now not a lubber within hail. Ahoy
there! Ship ahoy! Is everyone dead, I say? Ship a-a-hoy-y-y-y!" he
yelled, in a despairing voice.

"Ahoy there! What's the matter? That