The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-08-21
Smoked Skipper
By W. W. JACOBS, :
Author of Many Cargoes'' and "The Shippers
Wooing.''
copyright, 1900, by W. W. Jacobs.]

copyright, 1900, by W. W. Jacobs.]
Wrapping Old Stairs" said the rough
individual, shouldering the brand new
sea chest and starting off at trot with
it; 'yus, l know the place, captin.
Fust v'y'ge, sir?"
aye. aye, my hearty" replied the
owner of the chest, a small, i'll looking
lad of IA. "Not so fast with those
timbers of yours. Dye hear?"
"All right, SIR said the man and,
slackening his pace, twisted his head
round to take stock of his companion.
This amt your fust v'y'ge, captin,' y
he said admiringly. Don't tell me. I
could twig that directly 1 see you. Ho,
what's the use O. trying to aim it over
poor ard working man like that?'
II don't think there's much about the
sea l don't know" said the boy in a
satisfied voice. "Starboard, starboard
your hellum a bit"
The man obeyed promptly. They
| went the remainder of the distance in
this fashion, to the great inconvenience
of people coming from the other di-
rection.
"And cheap art crowns worth, too,
captin,' said the man as he thought
fully put the chest down at the head
of the stairs and sat on it pending pay
! ment.
II want to go off to the Susan Jane"
said the boy, turning to waterman
who was sitting in his boat, holding on
to the side of the steps with his hand.
Cali right" said the man. "Giye us
! q hold O your box
"Put It aboard, said the boy to the
! other man.
"a right, captin," said the man, with
cheerful smile; but I'll ave my 'arf
crown fust if you don't mind"
"But you said sixpence at the sta
tion," said the boy.
1.-TWO an siXpence, captin," said the
man, still smiling; "but Pm a bit 'usky,
an p'r'aps you didn't ear the two.
ART crowns the regler price. We
amt allowed to do it UNDER
well, l won't tell anybody" eaid the
boy.
"Give the man lis 'arf crown said
the waterman, with sudden heat
That's lis price, an my fares 1s
pence"
"All right" said the boy readily,
"cheap too. didn't know the price,
that's all. But can't pay either of you
till get aboard. I've only got sixpence.
I'll tell the captain to give you the
rest"
"Tell 'ooy' demanded the light porter
| with some violence.
1.-THE captain" said the boy.
"LooK 'ere, you give me that art
| crown" said the other, "else I'll chuck
your box overheard an you after it"
"Wait minute then" said the boy,
darting away up the narrow alley
which led to the stairs. "I'll 60 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. Pm
well, of all the
"Get off that box" said the big po-
liceman who had come back with the
boy. "Take your sixpence and go. If
catch you down this way again.
He finished the sentence by taking
the fellow by the scruff of the neck and
| giving him violent push as he passed
him.
"Waterman's fare is threepence," he
said to the boy as the man in the boat
with an utterly expressionless face
took the chest from him. "I'll stay here
till he has put you aboard"
The boy took his seat, and the water
man, breathing hard, pulled out toward
the vessels in the tier He looked at the