"All I can offer you at present is the position of a deckhand on my
steamboat, the _Helen Shalley_. If you wish to accept that I will
pay you twenty dollars per month and your board at the start, and
more when you are experienced. If you wish to accept, write to me
and come on to Nyack, to my office."

"Here's an offer at last!" cried Randy, as he read the communication.
He had been fearful that Andrew Shalley might forget him.

"Twenty dollars per month is not so very much," said his mother.

"Yes, but I am to get my board, so the money will all be clear profit,
outside of the cost of my clothing."

"I suppose you will live on the boat," put in Mr. Thompson. "Most of
the crew do."

"I can send the most of the money home each month," continued Randy.

"The boat won't run during the winter," said his mother, who did not
much relish having her son leave home.

"Well, it will run until cold weather, anyway, and perhaps after that
Mr. Shalley will give me something else to do."

The matter was discussed that evening, and before he retired, Randy
penned a letter to the steamboat owner, stating he would come to Nyack
two days later.

The prospects ahead filled our hero with pleasure. The new position
would enable him to see a little of the world and meet other people,
and he was sure steamboat life would suit him thoroughly. He knew there
would be plenty of hard work, handling freight and baggage, but this
did not daunt him.

"I'll try to do my best," he reasoned. "Then maybe Mr. Shalley will
give me something better later on."

Randy did not have many clothes, so there was not a great deal to pack.
What he possessed was gone over by his mother, and then packed in a
valise. Out of the money on hand he was given the price of his stage
and railroad ticket and five dollars for other expenses.

"I shan't spend only what is necessary," said he to his parents.

Randy was glad to see that his father was improving. A good deal of the
rheumatic pains had left Mr. Thompson and he could get around the house
and the garden. It would be some time before he could go at
carpentering again, but he could aid a good deal on the farm, which was
something.

All too soon for his mother came the time for Randy to depart. Mrs.
Thompson kissed him affectionately and his father shook him by the
hand.

"Come back home if it doesn't suit you, Randy," said the mother.

"Yes, come back, and we'll get along somehow,"