Among the River Pirates

nate enough to have a companion who was familiar with it. The rivermen knew, perhaps knew too well, as did the police who preferred to get no clos

rom the shore, and in winter the grim, gray rocks give it ample security from the prying eyes of the world. And the Basin wishes that se

lation of this sordid looking place represents a fair number and on bright, sunlit mornings one can get an occasional glimpse from the steep river

t by this means. More often than not the family laundry waving in the damp river breeze on the forward deck must be dodged

the horizon as the kicker chugged silently farther and farther into the muddy waters of the inlet. Skippy steered the motor-boat and Toby Dare strugg

spot at the very edge of the Basin that he chose and so manifest was its isolation from the rest of the colony that but one inference could be drawn: Toby Dare did not intend his son or himse

help it, but they’re folks what ain’t carin’ whether their boys is fetched up right or not. They jest let their kids live day after day sorta an’

musingly into the rust-colored wat

em load an’ unload the stuff fer Ol’ Flint an’ it paid enough ter keep my sonny in a shack ashore where he didn’t see his Pop helpin’ ter beat

ther on the shoulder

an’ I’ll be honest an’ like a gentleman just the same as if the Minnie M. Baxter wasn’t condemned an’ we could haul garb

e raised

when they find out yer been a Flint man. Yer blackballed, in other words, Sonny—see? Yer ain’t given no chance ter work at an honest job no matter how bad yer want to. An’ I can’t do nothin’ but river work an’ the like—I ain’t never done

Pop?” Skippy

t that’s too much ter hope fer, Skippy. Ol’ Flint’s never been known ter give anythin’ back—it’s me that oughta know that. I was a fool ter

omfortably from on

r like Inspector Jones told you

hored in the bay an’ he’s livin’ aboard it durin’ this hot spell so I know where ter find him after w

to see Mr. Flint! Besides, it ain’t gonna be half bad here till we can think up sumpin’ else t

tness in his voice. “So I’m a-goin’ ter teach him a lesson, Skippy—I’m a-goin’ ter teach him that Toby Dare can’t be cheated

ou ain’t go

a-goin’ sur

n you goi

!”