Time was slipping away, it was 20 minutes to eight, and Scampy began to get desperate.
“Here you are, then,” he shouted hoarsely. “A tanner and a threp and you make the cruise! Only ninepence for two hours on the ocean deep! Come on now!”
The toothless old man leaned over the rail. “What! two hours for ninepence!” he shouted down to Scampy. “All right, then, I'll come.” He turned to the young man with the concertina. “You play very nicely, sir, and if you promise to give us some more tunes, I'll very willingly pay for you to come”—he looked amused—“on the great moonlight cruise.”
The young man appeared gratified. “But I've a young lady with me,” he said, indicating the pretty girl.
“And bring her with you,” said the old man heartily. “Your music will be worth more than eighteen pence t
