Small river steamers convey passengers across the river for a very small sum. Our hero paid the required fee and went on board.
"It's some like goin' across to Jersey," he thought.
There was the usual variety of passengers—men, women, and children. Tom sat down beside a young man well dressed, but a little strange in his manners. It was evident that he had been drinking too much, and was under the influence of liquor at present. He was perfectly quiet, however, till they were in the middle of the stream, when, all at once, he climbed the railing and threw himself into the turbid waters of the river.
Tom, being an expert swimmer, jumped in after the man without hesitation.—Page 96.
The passengers seemed paralyzed by the suddenness of the action. Our hero was the first to recover, and, being an expert swimmer, jumped in after him without hesitation.
CHAPTER XIV.
A FASHIONABLE BOARDING-HOUSE.
When Tom's head emerged from the yellow and turbid waters, he caught sight of the young man, and struck out for him. Grasping him by the arm, he succeeded, with considerable difficulty, in holding him up till a small boat near by picked both up.
"Whew!" sputtered Tom, spitting out some of the water which he had involuntarily taken into his mouth.