"Get away from here, you water rats, or you'll get a shot or two in your gullets that you won't like."
There was a sudden splash, and Dick knew that some one had fallen into the river from the boat. He had released it, and was now making his way toward the wharf at good speed. There were more outcries from the river, but Dick could not see the lantern now, and judged that it had fallen overboard. The inability of the men to see Dick worked for his safety now, and he swam on to the wharf at a good rate. Nearing it, he heard the boy Tom say in a cautious voice:
"Who is that?"
"It is I, Tom, thanks to you," said Dick. "Without that knife I should have been drowned."
"Come this way, Captain," added the boy. "Do you see me?"
"No, but I know where you are."
Dick swam toward the boy and was helped by him to land.
"You saved me from a thrashing, and you saved the money I had for my mother," the boy said. "But for that he would have got it, and mother and the little children would have had nothing to eat."
"You earn money for your mother and the children, do you?" asked Dick, interested.
"Yes, sometimes quite a good deal, but I have to be careful about it, for if he finds out that I have it, he takes it away and then we have to go without. I have to lie to save it often. Is that very wicked, Captain?"