"Where's who?"
"The liner."
"She's off down the river, I guess. She was swinging round, the last I seen of her."
"She's not gone?"
"Sure she's gone. Wotcha expect her to do? She's gotta to get over to the other side, ain't she? Cert'nly she's gone." She looked at him interested. "Do you want to be on board her?"
"Of course I do."
"Then, for the love of Pete, wotcha doin' walloping off'n her like a sack of potatoes?"
"I slipped. I was pushed or something." Sam sprang to his feet and looked wildly about him. "I must get back. Isn't there any way of getting back?"
"Well, you could catch up with her at quarantine out in the bay. She'll stop to let the pilot off."
"Can you take me to quarantine?"