"Yes, I suppose so," said the Skipper.
"Nicest old woman as ever was:—I say," he added, as if struck by a sudden thought, "how much money have you got?"
The Skipper told him, and the man laughed.
"More'n I have. Spent some, give the old ooman the rest. On'y got thruppence left. Look here: you and me's shipmets,—travellers. S'pose we jyne?"
"A ship?" faltered Bob.
"No! jyne in a boat. I'll work it: I'm bigger than you. We'll go down to the stairs together. 'Boat ahoy!' says I, and half a dozen'll want to take us, but I picks one and he'll want ever so much; but I says: 'Thruppence a-piece to our ships,' and tells him we won't pay no more. He'll be glad enough to go. Only a little way. Then I sets you aboard the 'Flash'; you gives me your thruppence, and I makes him take me to the Old Bull, and pays him then."
"Yes, that will be capital," said the Skipper.
"Right you are. Sailors allus helps a messmet. I helps you and you helps me, eh!"
"Yes, of course," said Bob.
"Well, I'm going to have a caulk till we gets to Portsmouth. Will you take the watch?"