“Is that so?” cried Jim. “Tip us your flipper, lad; you’ve got the real thing in you, all right.”
“Strip, young man. It won’t take but a moment or two to take the moisture out of your clothes down here. I reckon you’ll find it hotter than blazes afore you leave.”
“It isn’t every fellow would do what you did,” said the sweating coal-heaver, admiringly.
“Oh, I didn’t mind it; I’m a good swimmer,” said Jack, modestly.
“You ought to make a stake out of this,” said the man, hanging the dripping garments about to the best advantage.
“What do you mean?”
“The little gal’s people ought to be grateful enough to hand you out something handsome.”
“If it’s money you mean,” replied the boy, stoutly, “I shouldn’t accept a cent.”
“You wouldn’t?” gasped the man, in surprise.
“Not a nickel.”