"Oh, so you're here, are you?" sneered Peter Polk.
"I am that, Mr. Polk. I ordered thim trunks there. Have ye anything against it?" demanded Malloy, boldly. "If ye have, report to the captain."
"Thim trunks had to be shifted, an' Thompson is shiftin' 'em."
"Well--er--hurry up then and clear this gangway," grumbled the purser, and walked away. Malloy closed one eye and looked at Randy suggestively with the other.
"He knew he had no right to interfere--it's not his line o' juty," said the head deckhand.
Randy completed his work and then went to one of the upper decks, to fix some of the awnings. To his surprise he found Mrs. Clare and Rose there, in conversation with Peter Polk.
"Going to Albany?" the purser was saying. "What for?"
"I have a situation there, and Rose is going also," answered the poor woman.
At this announcement the face of the purser dropped. Evidently the news did not please him.
"You won't find that very pleasant," he said.
"It will be better than starving in the city, Peter."
"That is not a fortune. You ought to be able to earn more in New York."
"I might have gotten something for you, if you had let me know," went on Peter Polk.
"Thank you--I prefer to look out for myself," answered Mrs. Clare, coolly.
"This looks as if I was letting one of my relatives live on charity," pursued the purser.
"How did the captain's wife hear of you?"
"Why, she--there is a boy on this boat--there he is--he spoke to the captain about it."
"It's a long story. He was knocked down and robbed and Rose and I went to his assistance. But we must go now. Mrs. Hadley wanted us to do some sewing for the captain while on this trip," and Mrs. Clare walked away, followed by Rose. Peter Polk gazed after them thoughtfully.
"I hope she doesn't get the captain's wife too much interested in her affairs," he muttered to himself. "I shouldn't care to have the old accounts raked up in court."
It was now early in September and the travel down the river was particularly heavy, for many folks who had been away for a vacation were returning to the metropolis. Baggage kept pouring in until the lower deck was practically filled.
"This is a banner season, so Malloy tells me," said Jones to Randy.
"I know there is lots of work," answered our hero, whose arms ached not a little.