"'Well,' says Sam, 'I'll not deny that I been havin' a little spurt o' sober thought.'
"'You been thinkin' that money wasn't much, after all?'
"'Ay.'
"'An' that all your money in a lump wouldn't buy you passage ashore?'
"'Oh, some few small thoughts on that order,' says Sam. ''Tis perfectly natural.'
"'Money talks,' says Tom.
"'Tauntin' me again, Tom?'
"'No, I isn't,' says Tom. 'I means it. Money talks. What'll you give for my seat in the boat?'
"''Tis not for sale, Tom.'
"The lads begun t' grumble. It seemed just as if Bad-Weather Tom West was makin' game of an ol' man in trouble. 'Twas either that or lunacy. An' there was no time for nonsense off the Ragged Run coast in a spring gale of wind. But I knowed what Tom West was about. You sees, sir, I knowed what you told him. An' as for me, fond as I was o' poor Tom West, I had no mind t' interrupt his bargain.