“Well, I won’t tell anybody,” said the boy.
“Give the man ’is ’arf-crown,” said the waterman, with sudden heat; “that’s ’is price, and my fare’s eighteen pence.”
“All right,” said the boy readily; “cheap too. I didn’t know the price, that’s all. But I can’t pay either of you till I get aboard. I’ve only got sixpence. I’ll tell the captain to give you the rest.”
“Tell ’oo,” demanded the light porter, with some violence.
“The captain,” said the boy.
“Look ’ere, you give me that ’arf-crown,” said the other, “else I’ll chuck your box overboard, an’ you after it.”
“Wait a minute, then,” said the boy, darting away up the narrow alley which led to the stairs, “I’ll go and get change.”
“’E’s goin’ to change ’arf a suvren, or p’raps a suvren,” said the waterman; “you’d better make it five bob, matey.”
“Ah, an’ you make yours more,” said the light-porter cordially. “Well, I’m—— Well of all the——”
“Get off that box,” said the big policeman who had come back with the boy. “Take your sixpence an’ go. If I catch you down this way again——”