“Well, what d’yer call dis?� and the Bowery lad pulled another dime out of the tuber. “My goodness, Pompey, youse have got money scattered everywhere. Here, take this dime. Youse’ll be a rich guy if youse keeps on.�
Pompey took the dime. He turned it over thoughtfully, bit it and then said:
“Dat am good money fo’ sho. But ah don’ know but what it’ll turn inter rats er mice befo’ long.�
Just at that moment Pompey was summoned aft by the captain’s orders, who wanted to give some directions about his dinner. Noddy turned to Raynor with a grin.
“I’ve got him fooled to the queen’s taste,� he chuckled. “After I’ve played a few more tricks on him I’ll have him eating out’n my hand.�
“But what’s the use of scaring him that way?� asked Raynor.
Noddy stared at him. Then he whistled as if in astonishment and executed a sort of double shuffle.
“Say,� he said in low tone as he concluded, “don’t yer see my game? Dat old coon is the only friend we’ve got on this boat, and when the time comes for a getaway we’ll need him.�
“A getaway?� echoed Raynor, “then you want to escape?�
“Do I, say, kid, how’d you like to be tapped on the head in New York and shanghied on board a craft like dis?�