“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 eigh-teen 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——”