et me here at nine o'clock; that will make all certain.
Come, I must be off now. I'll pay for the breakfast."

"I have money, I thank you," replied Joey.

"Then keep it, for it's more than I can do; and what's your name?"

"Joey."

"Well then, Joey, my hearty, if I get you this berth, when we come in,
and I am short, you must let me go on tick till I can pay."

"What's tick?"

"You'll soon find out what tick is, after you have been a week in the
bumboat," replied the lad, laughing. "Nine o'clock, my hearty;
good-bye."

So saying, the young sailor caught up his new clothes, and hastened down
to the beach.

The room was crowded with seamen and women, but they were too busy
talking and laughing to pay any attention to Joey and his comrade. Our
little hero sat some little time at the table after his new acquaintance
had left, and then walked out into the streets, telling the people of
the house that he was coming back again, and requesting them to take
care of his bundle.

"You'll find it here, my little fellow, all right when you ask for it,"
said the woman at the bar, who took it inside and put it away under the
counter.

Joey went out with his mind more at ease. The nature of his new
employment, should he succeed in obtaining it, he could scarcely
comprehend, but still it appeared to him one that he could accomplish.
He amused himself walking down the streets, watching the movements of
the passers-by, the watermen in their wherries, and the people on board
of the vessels which were lying off in the stream. It was a busy and
animating sight. As he was lolling at the landing-place, a boat came on
shore, which, from the description given by his young sailor friend, he
was convinced was a bumboat; it had all the articles described by him,
as well as many others, such as porter in bottles, a cask probably
containing beer; leeks, onions, and many other heterogeneous matters,
and, moreover, there was a fat woman seated in the stern.

The waterman shoved in with his boat-hook, and the wherry grounded. The
fat personage got out, and the waterman handed to her a basket, a long
book, and several other articles, which she appeared to consider
indispensable; among others, a bundle which looked like dirty linen for
the wash.

"Dear me! how shall I get up all these things?" exclaimed the woman;
"and, William, you can't leave the boat, and there's nobody here to help
me."

"I'll help you," said Joey, coming down