Chapter 9
Mr Hewlett Entertains
“Show a leg, lads. Tide’s slackening.” Dickie Byrd followed the naval practice of not touching a man in his hammock even though Ned and Ben were sharing one of the narrow berths provided in the tiny accommodation on the barge. George, being the taller of the three, had been assigned the bench seat along the bulkhead between the cabin and the hold, while Bert ad the skipper had each retained their own berths.
“There’s a mug o’ tea for ye on t’ stove. Shake it up now, t’ tide don’t wait for us.”
Scrambling out of the berth, Ned dropped to the deck and pulled on his trousers. “I needs t’ go.”
“On deck wi’ ye then. The river’s our ’eads, lad.” Dickie busied himself pouring a mug of tea.
Ben dropped to the deck beside Ned even as George swung his feet off t
