“‘Tumm!’ he called.
“I turned in the door.
“‘Oh, make haste!’ says he.
“I measured the swile oil, neither givin’ nor takin’ a drop, an’ I boarded the Quick as Wink, where I struck ol’ Bill Hulk’s las’ balance, fair t’ the penny, as atween a man an’ a man. Ah! but ’twas hard, sir, t’ add no copper t’ the mean small total that faced me from the page: for the fortune in the toe o’ Bill Hulk’s ol’ sock was light enough, God knows! when I passed un over.
“‘Tumm,’ says he, ‘is it a honest balance?’
“‘It is,’ says I.
“‘Wait a minute!’ says he. ‘Jus’ a minute afore you tells me. I isn’t quite ready.’
“I watched the sun drop into the sea while I waited.
“‘Now,’ says he, ‘tell me quick!’
“‘Nine eighty-three,’ says I.