"Climb aboard with this, then come back and bear a hand."
The lad ran down the plank and deposited the boatswain's jacket and his bundle in the helmsman's closet, then made his way back and took hold of the incoming freight with a will.
In half an hour the stores were on board, and the tug, casting loose, began to steam swiftly down the river.
It being Ralph's first experience afloat, the swift, gliding motion and the noisy engine interested him greatly. The novelty was, in its way, as exciting as his first car ride.
"What is it makes things go?" he asked of Bludson, who was sprawled upon a coil of cable, smoking a short black pipe.
"The ingine and the propeller, ye lubber," replied the latter. "Did 'e think it was wings?"
"But what is a propeller?"
"Ah! The ign'erance of land folks! It do beat all. The propeller—why the propeller is a propeller, of course. What else did 'e think it were."
"I know, but——"
"Now look here, youngster. Watching is one thing and always wanting to know is another. Stow your gaff, as I said afore, and use your peepers."