“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. I’ll give her a swab out while you’re gone, and we’ll take a good reach out to where the bass are playing off the point, and get a few. I see you’ve brought some sand eels.”
“So we will, Tom. I should like to take home a few bass.”
“So you shall, my lad,” said the sailor, who had stumped forward to the fore-locker to get out a big sponge; and he was rolling up his sleeves over a pair of big, brown, muscular arms ornamented with blue mermaids, initials, a ship in full sail, and a pair of crossed cutlasses surmounted by a crown, as Aleck stepped lightly upon the gunwale, sprang thence on to the steps, and went up, to run the gauntlet of the little crowd of boys, who greeted him with something like a tempest of hoots and jeers.