"Dere ton't been no sharks in der river?"
"No, nothing but sawfish and whales."
"A vale! Dot's chust so bad like a shark."
"No, not at all. A shark bites. A whale simply swallows you alive," put in Sam, with a grin.
"Swallows me alife, hey? Not on your life he ton't!" returned Hans, and started again for the rope ladder. But Sam pulled him back and ducked him, and was in turn ducked by Fred, who went under by a shove from Dick; and then followed a regular mix-up, the water flying in all directions.
"By golly, dat's great!" cried Aleck, from the deck. "I dun' t'ink a lot ob eels was dancin' a jig down dar!"
"Come down here, Aleck, and get some of the black washed off!" shouted
Tom, gleefully.
"Not fo' a dollah, Massah Tom—leasewise, not while yo' is around."
"What are you afraid of?" asked Tom, innocently.
"Yo' is too full ob tricks fo' dis chile. When I wants a baf I'se gwine to take dat baf in a tub, an' when yo' ain't around," answered Aleck. "Yo' am—Oh—wough!" And then the colored man retreated in great haste, for Tom had sent up a shower of water all over him.