“‘Is it gone?’ says he.
“‘Mother of hiven, is it here?’ says I, irritated at the empty head of him.
“‘No,’ says he.
“‘Thin where is it?’ I says.
“‘Gone,’ says he.
“‘Right,’ says I, ‘and ye guessed it without puttin’ yoursilf greatly about. It shows what thinkin’ would do for ye if ye was to try it.’
“‘What are we goin’ to do now?’ says he, bleatin’ sorrowful like a sheep.
“‘Look here, sor,’ I says, drawin’ with me finger in the sand, the moon havin’ come up so we could see a bit; ‘here is wan side of the river, and we’re on it,’ I says, ‘and here is the other side, and we ain’t, but we wish we was. What’s the answer, and how manny sides is they to the river? Come along with me and figure it out to yoursilf,’ I says. ‘I’m goin’ to see is they a chanct to steal somewan ilse’s boat,’ I says, pullin’ him after me by the suspinders.
“But sure, wan half thim jersey omadhawns must spind all their time arrangin’ to keep the other half from stealin’ boats off thim, for what boats they was was chained up with enough iron to sink thim, and me with only me knife for the patent locks. Kidnappin’ is easy whin ye have a place to kidnap thim to, but they ain’t no money in settin’ down with a man annywheres ye find him and tellin’ him ye’ve got his tab and will his frinds give ye all their money.
“‘Let’s climb up the Palisades ag’in and take the trolley to the ferry,’ says he.