"'Hist!' Tom whispered t' the men in the rodney. 'I knows what I'm doin'.'
"'A mad thing, Tom!'
"'Oh, no!' says Tom. ''Tis the cleverest thing ever I thought of. Well,' says he to Sam, 'how much?'
"'No man sells his life.'
"'Life or no life, my place in this boat is for sale,' says Tom. 'Money talks. Come, now. Speak up. Us can't linger here with night comin' down.'
"'What's the price, Tom?'
"'How much you got, Sam?'
"'Ah, well, I can afford a stiffish price, Tom. Anything you say in reason will suit me. You name the price, Tom. I'll pay.'
"'Ay, ye crab!' says Tom. 'I'm namin' prices, now. Look you, Sam! You're seventy-three. I'm fifty-three. Will you grant that I'd live t' be as old as you?'
"'I'll grant it, Tom.'