"Don't take me back!" whispered Jimmy as Bill swung him into the small boat, and the big mate was silent as the men rowed ashore.
On the way up the street the mate walked slowly, holding the boy by the hand.
"You know what a feller my stepfather is, Bill. Don't take me back!" pleaded Jimmy.
A steamer was clearing at the coal dock, and the mate stopped to look at it. Then he suddenly looked down at the boy. "Kin yo' make it, sonny?" he asked, and he let go of the boy's hand. Like a flash the lad ran to the string-piece, balanced a moment, and then sprang to the rail of the ship astern without those on board noticing him. It was gathering headway, and in a few moments was steaming out to sea, leaving the big mate staring after her, and the few men who had cast off her lines clearing up the rubbish in the wake of her gangway.
"I come back toe tell yo', Jule, dat I ain't in the money racket," said Bill, half an hour later. "I ain't no perliceman—I'm a sailor."
"Whatcher mean, Bill?" asked the damsel, keeping inside the door.
"Nothin'—only if yo' is sho' nuff goin' toe marry me, gal, yo'll have toe take yo' chances—same as me."
"Chances? Whatcher mean by chances, man?"
"What I says," said Bill, solemnly.