I hugged 'im till 'e nearly lost 'is breath, and
then he sat me down on the kerb-stone and asked me wot I meant by it.
Wot with the excitement and the running I couldn't speak at fust, and
when I did he said I was trying to deceive 'im.
"There ain't no such thing as ghosts," he ses; "you've been drinking."
"It came up out o' the river and run arter me like the wind," I ses.
"Why didn't it catch you, then?" he ses, looking me up and down and all
round about. "Talk sense."
He went up to the gate and peeped in, and, arter watching a moment,
stepped inside and walked down the wharf, with me follering. It was my
dooty; besides, I didn't like being left all alone by myself.
Twice we walked up and down and all over the wharf. He flashed his
lantern into all the dark corners, into empty barrels and boxes, and then
he turned and flashed it right into my face and shook his 'ead at me.
"You've been having a bit of a lark with me," he ses, "and for two pins
I'd take you. Mind, if you say a word about this to anybody, I will.
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