Little by Little

"I'll give you a quarter, Paul, if you will take me down to the Point in your boat," said Thomas Nettle, as he came down to the beach where the boy addressed was baling out an old dingy-looking boat. "It blows too hard," replied Paul Duncan. "The club went down in their boat." "But it didn't blow so hard then as it does now. It's a regular sou'easter." "What are you afraid of, Paul?" "I'm not afraid; but there's no use of risking your life for a quarter." "I'll give you a half, then." Paul Duncan hesitated. Half a dollar was a great deal of money to him, and more than often found its way into his exchequer. He glanced at the white-capped waves in the bay, and then at Thomas. "There's no ballast in her," said he. "Put some rocks in, then." "I think it's rather dangerous, and I don't believe your mother would agree to have you go out in a boat in such a blow as this." "My mother! Humph! Let me tell you I'm not tied to my mother's apron string. I think I'm old enough to have a will of my own. Don't talk to me about my mother," replied Thomas contemptuously. "I'm not a baby." "Just as you please; but I think it blows too hard to go out." "Let me have your boat, and I'll go alone then, if you are afraid to go." "I'm not afraid," answered Paul, stung by these repeated implications upon his courage. "Jump in, and I'll give you enough of it before you get half way to the Point."