And when I opened the wicket Sam Small and Ginger and Peter Russet all
tried to get in at once.
"Where's the dog?" ses Sam.
"Tied up," I ses. "Wot's the matter? 'Ave you all gorn mad?"
They didn't answer me. They ran on to the jetty, and afore I could turn
round a'most they 'ad got the dog loose and was dragging it towards me,
smiling all over their faces.
"Reward," ses Ginger, as I caught 'old of 'im by the coat. "Five pounds
--landlord of a pub--at Bow--come on, Sam!"
"Why don't you keep your mouth shut, Ginger?" ses Sam.
"Five pounds!" I ses. "Five pounds! Hurrah!"
"Wot are you hurraying about?" ses Sam, very short.
"Why," I ses, "I s'pose----Here, arf a moment!"
"Can't stop," ses Sam, going arter the others.
I watched 'em up the road, and then I locked the gate and walked up and
down the wharf thinking wot a funny thing money is, and 'ow it alters
people's natures. And arter all, I thought that three arf-dollars
earned honest was better than a reward for hiding another man's dog.
I finished tidying up, and at nine o'clock I went into the office for a
quiet smoke. I couldn't 'elp wondering 'ow them three 'ad got on, and
just as I was thinking about it there came the worst ringing at the
gate-bell I 'ave ever 'eard in my life, and the noise of heavy boots
kicking the gate.
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