rough.
I'll bet an even penny they've gone a good inch into them niggers."

The boat now reached the steamer, where, after a warm and hearty
parting, Bob stepped into the dinghy with Dick, and the remains of the
painter were made fast to the cut fragment hanging from the ring.

"Now, if you'll take my advice, Mr Roberts," said the old sailor,
"you'll step up and get to your berth, and change your togs, while I get
out the fish and wash the dinghy. Being wet won't hurt me. What's more
is, as I shouldn't say nought about the scrimmage; specially as we're
not hurt, or you won't get leave again."

"But you are hurt, Dick."

"Bah! Don't call that hurt, dear lad. I'm as right as nine-pence. You
go on, and think about what I've said."

"I will, Dick," said Bob; "but take care of the fish."

"Ay, ay, sir."

"But I say, Dick."

"Ay, ay, sir."

"How did the dinghy get loose? You must have gone to sleep."

Dick rubbed his ear. "Well, sir, suttunly I think I must have shut one
eye; but how the dinghy got loose is more than I can say, unless them
spiteful niggers cut us adrift. But you get aboard. We ain't been
missed."

But Dick was wrong: they had been missed, and the sentry had reported
the coming of the naga-boat; so that as soon as Bob had changed his wet
clothes for dry, he had to go to the captain's cabin and relate the
whole affair. Those on board merely supposing that they had gone down
the river to fish, it was a remark made aloud by the young chief Ali
that had started a train of ideas in the first lieutenant's head that
something was wrong.

"Ah," said Captain Horton, "that was well done of the young chief. But
it seems to me that we've a lot of ugly scoundrels about to deal with,
and we must take care, gentlemen, we must take care."

"Yes, Captain Horton," said the first lieutenant, "and we will. But are
there no fish there for us, Roberts, eh?" he continued.

"Yes, sir, there are," said Bob. "I've caught you a capital dish. And
very nearly got turned into ground bait for my pains," he said to
himself, as he went out to find Dick. "I say, Dick," he said, as he met
him with the basket of fish, "did you think about crocodiles when you
were in the water?"

"No, sir, never once; there was too much to think about beside."

"So there was, Dick," said Bob. "There's sixpence: go and ask them to
give you a glass of grog to keep out the cold, but first change your
things. I'll take the fish."