h he continued to caress with his fingers, as though
the very feel of them did his heart good.

"But which side do you live on?" persisted Jack, wishing to do the best
he could for the fellow.

"Well, now, I live over in Jersey, near Bridgeport," said the man; "but
I was goin' across to Lamokin in Pennsylvania, on a chance to get work.
So if you'll put me ashore anywhere below here, I can walk up the
railroad track to the junction."

Jack immediately headed shoreward.

"Take things easy, fellows, and we'll catch up with you before you've
gone many miles," he called out to those in the other boats, since
there seemed no necessity for all of them to leave the middle of the
river just to land one man.

It was no trouble to get close in on the Pennsylvania shore; the case
might have been different over in Jersey, where they could see that
marshland abounded at this point.

"Here you are; just step ashore on that rock; and good luck with you,
friend!" Jack sang out, as Jimmy piloted the boat alongside a section
of the shore, using his favorite boat-hook in so doing.

"Shake hands first, please, young sir," said the other, who appeared to
be a decent working man, for his palms were calloused with toil. "You
sure done me a mighty good turn this day. I might a-died out there,
only for the way you come to the rescue. I won't forget it in a hurry,
I tell you."

"Well, pass it along then," laughed Jack, grasping the other's hand at
the same time. "Perhaps you'll run across some poor chap who's worse
off than you are. Give him a helping hand, and we'll call the thing
squared."

"I will, just as sure as I live, I will, that. It's a good idea, too.
And after gettin' me this money, I reckon ye saved it for me, by takin'
me ashore. That tugboat captain looked like he'd a-made me fork over
agin, once he had me aboard his craft."

"I wouldn't be surprised if you were right," assented Jack. "Shake
hands with Jimmy too, while you're about it, friend. He yanked you in
like a good fellow. If your life was saved, Jimmy had a hand in it."

After this ceremony had been carried out, the man managed to get
ashore. Then the boathook was brought into use again to push off; and
a minute or two later they were chugging along down-stream, heading
once more toward the middle of the broadening river.

Jimmy waved to the man several times, until finally they lost sight of
him as he gained the railroad track, and started north.