“Take it? Take what?”
“Physic, sir. Never you mind about it any more; you leave it to me. It’s physic as they’ve got to take when the time comes; and all I’ve got to say is as I hopes they’ll like it.”
“Well, never mind that now, Tom. What about my boat?”
“Oh, I’ll see about her at once. I’ll stop and take care of her while you go up to the houses on the cliff yonder, and you says as you have had an accident with your boat and you wants Joney to come with a couple o’ mates to help. They’ll come fast enough.”
“Very well. Let’s have a look first, though.”
They stepped to the edge of the pier and looked down into the disabled boat, while the water being still and as clear as crystal, they could see through the broken thwart and the splintered jagged hole through the bottom.
Aleck drew a deep breath like a sigh, and Tom nodded his head sagely:
“Stone as big a killick, Master Aleck; that’s what did that. Precious big ’un too. Now, then, you be off and get they chaps here while I chews it over a bit about how I’m to manage; but I tell yer this—it’s going to be dark afore I gets that done. What d’yer say about walking over to the Den to tell the captain what’s happened?”
“I say no, Tom. I’m going to stay here and help you. You won’t mind sailing over with me in the dark?”
“Not me, sir, and you needn’t wherrit about what to do wi’ me. I shall spread a sail over the boat when we’ve got her moored back in the creek, and creep under and sleep like a top. You’ll give me a mug o’ milk and a bit o’ bacon in the morning afore I start back?”