Page:Harry Castlemon - The Steel Horse.djvu/222

 trouble," began Roy, who saw that the oilskin suits his rescuers wore were dripping with spray. "I have given you a long, hard pull."

"Oh, that's nothing," was the reply. "We're used to picking up folks, specially during the racing season when a yacht turns bottom side up now and then. But what made you get sick of your bargain so soon? Why didn't you let yourself go down, like you'd oughter?"

"What bargain?" exclaimed Roy. "And why ought I to let myself go down?"

"Why, you jumped off that there ship on purpose, 'cause me and my pardner seen you when you done it. We've been kinder looking for you ever since. We didn't go out after you, 'cause number 29's boat struck the water most as soon as you did."

"Who bunged your eyes for you?" asked the man who had not spoken before, and who was getting ready to give Roy a pot of hot coffee.

"Are they black?" said the boy angrily.

He glanced around the cabin, and seeing a small mirror fastened against the bulkhead on