Part 2 (1/2)

”Yes, the as lovely Look here, Tos Mind that young rabble does not throw anything aboard”

”All right, my lad; but I should just like to see one of 'em try”

”I shouldn't,” cried Aleck ”But, look here; uncle says as there'll be a good deal of wind dead ahead, and I shall have to tack back again, you're to coruffly ”Wants two a day like this”

”And he'll pay you; and you're to get one of the fisher you back”

”Tchah! I don't want no picking up It's on'y about six h if yer give me time”

”Do as you like, but uncle will pay for the ride”

”And I shall put the money in ; ”do ive her a swab out while you're gone, and we'll take a good reach out to where the bass are playing off the point, and get a few I see you've brought some sand eels”

”So ill, Tom I should like to take home a few bass”

”So you shall, my lad,” said the sailor, who had stue; and he was rolling up his sleeves over a pair of big, brown, muscular arms ornamented with blue mermaids, initials, a shi+p in full sail, and a pair of crossed cutlasses surunwale, sprang thence on to the steps, and went up, to run the gauntlet of the little crowd of boys, who greeted hi like a tempest of hoots and jeers

But the lads fell back as, with a smile full of the conteh them with his hands in his pockets, and s shout of warning fro what he would do if the boys didn't rown lad at a little distance all along the pier, throwing after himents, which would, if well-aimed, have sullied the lad's clothes, but what an Irishled with threats about what they would give hih between the Rockabie boys and the bright active young lad from the Den, for no further reason than has already been stated, and the dislike had increased greatly during the past year, though it had never cul of foul missiles after the boat when it was pushed off for ho in the air which nacious and their threatsby the conteh stone pier, whistling softly, with his hands in his pockets, till he reached the slope and began to ascend towards where the fisher night they had hung themselves out in the sun to dry

And noas that the boys hung back and Aleck felt that he could afford to pay no heed to the young scrubs who followed him, for there were plenty of hearty hails and friendly sh seamen

”Morn', Master Aleck”

”Morn', sir How's the cap'n?” from another

Then: ”Like a flat fish to take back with you, ot a nice brill I'll put hi broad fellow detached himself from the rail to sidle up with: ”Say, Master Aleck, would youthe cap'n to let ives ain”

”You shall have it, Joney,” cried Aleck

”Thankye, sir No hurry, sir Just put the bottle in yer pocket nex'

time you come over, and that'll do”

Aleck went on up town, as it was called,--and the rowled at the boys ere following the visitor, to ”be off,” and to ”get out of that; noith the result that they still followed the lad and watched hi-tackle shop , and following hiain when he came out to visit one or two other places of business, till all the lad's self-set commissions were executed, and he turned to retrace his steps to the harbour

So far everyremarks expressive of the contempt in which the visitor was held There had been threats, too, of hoould be served one of these times Remarks were made, too, on his personal appearance and the cut of his clothes, but there was nothing more than petty annoyance till the quarry was on his way back to where he would be under the protection of the redoubtable Du 'e very unpleasant whatever shape it took But now the pack began to rouse up and show its rage under the cal treated Words, epithets, and allusions grewno effect by the time the top of the slope was reached, bolder tactics were co a kind of horse-play in which one charged another, to give hiainst the retiring visitor

This was delightful; the rew eneral