wives--unless I
tell you; and you must be very sharp with them, for they play all manner
of tricks; you must look two ways at once. Now, there's a girl on board
the brig we are pulling to, called Nancy; why, she used to weather poor
Peter, sharp as he was. She used to pretend to be very fond of him, and
hug him close to her with one arm, so as to blind him, while she stole
the tarts with the other; so, don't admit her familiarities; if you do,
I shall pay for them."

"Then, who am I to trust?"

"Bless the child! you'll soon find out that; but mind one thing; never
trust a tall, lanky seaman without his name's on the books; those chaps
never pay. There's the book kept by poor Peter; and you see names upon
the top of each score--at least, I believe so; I have no learning
myself, but I've a good memory; I can't read nor write, and that's why
Peter was so useful."

That Peter could read his own writing it is to be presumed; but certain
it was that Joey could not make it out until after many days
examination, when he discovered that certain hieroglyphics were meant to
represent certain articles; after which it became more easy.

They had now reached the side of the vessel, and the sailors came down
into the boat, and took up several articles upon credit; Joey booked
them very regularly.

"Has Bill been down yet?" said a soft voice from the gangway.

"No, Nancy, he has not."

"Then he wants two red herrings, a sixpenny loaf, and some 'baccy."

Joey looked up, and beheld a very handsome, fair, blue-eyed girl with a
most roguish look, who was hanging over the side.

"Then he must come himself, Nancy," replied Mrs Chopper, "for, you
know, the last time you took up the things he said that you were never
told to do so, and he would not pay for them."

"That's because the fool was jealous; I lost the tobacco, Mrs Chopper,
and he said I had given it to Dick Snapper."

"I can't help that; he must come himself."

"But he's away in the boat, and he told me to get the things for him.
Who have you there? Not Peter; no, it's not Peter; but, what a dear
little boy."

"I told you so," said Mrs Chopper to our hero; "now, if I wasn't in the
boat, she would be down in it in a minute, and persuade you to let her
have the things--and she never pays."

Joey looked up again, and, as he looked at Nancy, felt that it would be
very unkind to refuse her.

"Now, what a hard-hearted old woman you are, Mrs Chopper. Bill will
come