"'I'm not averse t' cash,' says I.
"'These here ol' bones creaks out t' the ice for swiles,' says he, 'an' not for the pleasures o' cruisin'.'
"'I'll ship, Skipper Sammy,' says I. 'I'll ship with the skipper that gets the fat.'
"'You hails from Chain Tickle?' says he.
"'I does.'
"'Tumm,' says he, 'I'm a old man, an' I'm downcast in these last days; an' I been 'lowin', somehow, o' late, that a dash o' young blood in my whereabouts might cheer me up. I 'low, Tumm,' says he, 'you don't know a likely lad t' take along t' the ice an' break in for his own good? Fifteen years or so? I'd berth un well aboard the Bloodhound.'
"'I does,' says I.
"'You might fetch un,' says he; 'nothin' like young blood t' cheer the aged.'
"'I'll fetch un quick enough, Skipper Sammy,' says I, 'if you'll stand by my choice.'
"'As I knowed you would, Tumm,' says he, 'you takes me cleverly.'