ous look, before turning to the squat figure beginning to
descend the steps, to where the boy stood ten feet below.

"What cheer, Tom!" he cried.

"What cheer-ho, Master Aleck!" returned the sailor. "Hearty, my lad,
hearty." Then, turning to the boys, he growled out, "Now, then, you
heered. So just mind; whether it's fish fresh or fish foul. The one as
shies gets my mark."

The voices of the boys rose in a curious way, making a highly pitched
jeering snarl, while a number of unpleasant missiles that were held
ready were fingered and held behind backs, but from a disinclination to
become the victim of the sailor's marking, no lad was venturesome enough
to start the shower intended to greet the newcomer. It was held in
abeyance for the moment, and then became impossible, for peg, peg, peg,
peg, Tom Bodger descended the steps till he was level with the gunwale
of Aleck's boat, upon which one extremity was carefully planted, and
careful aim taken at the first thwart. The sailor was about to swing
himself in, when Aleck held out his hand--

"Catch hold!" he cried.

"Tchah! I don't want to ketch hold o' nothing," grumbled the man.
"Stand aside."

As he spoke he spun half round as upon a peg, the second wooden leg
lightly touched the thwart, and the next moment, when it seemed as if
the poor fellow's wooden appendages must go through the frail bottom of
the boat, they came down with a light _tip-tap_, and he was standing up
looking smilingly in the young navigator's face.

"Come along tidy quick, my lad?" he said.

"Yes, the wind was lovely. Look here, Tom; I'm going shopping--to get
some hooks and things. Mind that young rabble does not throw anything
aboard."

"All right, my lad; but I should just like to see one of 'em try."

"I shouldn't," cried Aleck. "But, look here; uncle says as there'll be
a good deal of wind dead ahead, and I shall have to tack back again,
you're to come with me."

"Course I should," said the sailor, gruffly. "Wants two a day like
this."

"And he'll pay you; and you're to get one of the fishermen to pick you
up and bring you back."

"Tchah! I don't want no picking up. It's on'y about six mile across
from here to the Den, and I can do that easy enough if yer give me
time."

"Do as you like, but uncle will pay for the ride."

"And I shall put the money in my pocket and toddle back," said the
sailor, chuckling; "do me more good than riding. You look sharp and get
back.