“Ah, ain’t he just!” replied the urchin.
“Has he not bin good to ’ee?” asked the big seaman, looking down with a kindly expression at the small boy.
“Middlin’,” was Billy’s cautious reply. “I say, Neptune,” he added, looking up into Dick’s face, “wot’s yer name?”
“It ain’t Neptune, anyhow,” replied Dick. “That’s wot we’ve called the big black Noofoundland dog you sees over there a-jumping about Jim Welton as if he had falled in love with him.”
“Why is it so fond of him?” asked Billy.
Dick replied to this question by relating the incident of the dog’s rescue by Jim.
“Werry interestin’. Well, but wot is your name?” said Billy, returning to the point.
“Dick.”
“Of course I know that; I’ve heerd ’em all call ye that often enough, but I ’spose you’ve got another?”
“Moy,” said the big seaman.