“But Ah reckon Ah’s gotter hab de officer look me ober,” declared Ham Mockus, coming up from below, ready to go ashore, and carrying a most dilapidated valise. “You-all will see each other again, you-all, but I’se gwine ashoah, an’ likely yo’ll nebber see me again. So I asks de officer kindly to look mah bag frou, an’ den come below an’ look me ober. Ah don’ want to have you-all t’ink, bimeby, mebbe yo’d better had Ham Mockus looked ober.”
“Well, open your baggage, then,” grinned the police officer. “I’ll accommodate you, Mockus.”
Ham’s meagre baggage, on exploration, proved innocent enough. Then the officer took him below to the engine-room, soon coming back to the deck with the young colored man.
“He hasn’t much money about him,” reported Mr. Randolph.
“He’ll have a little more money now, though—his wages for the cruise,” replied Captain Tom, handing the black man an envelope.
“But Ah didn’ bargain fo’ no wages,” gasped Ham, in surprise. “Ah said Ah’d work fo’ passage.”
“Anyone who works for us gets paid for it,” rejoined Halstead, laconically.
Plainly enough Ham was overjoyed at this. His teeth showed in the grin that he gave, while he protested his thanks.
While Mr. Tremaine was bargaining with the negro boatman to put them ashore, Ida Silsbee moved over to Tom’s side.