"Who is he?" asked Jim. The travelling match merchant, as Mike had described him, was a boy of fifteen, rather small of his age, with a keen black eye, and a quick, decided, business-like way. "It's this feller,--he's a baggage-smasher," explained Mike. "All right," said Jim; "he can come if he'll pay his share." "How much is it?" asked Ben. Mike explained that it was expected of each guest to bring something that would add to the comforts of the rendezvous. Two boys had contributed the carpet, for which probably they had paid nothing; Jim had supplied a bed, for which he did pay, as "taking things without leave" was not in his line. Three boys had each contributed a chair. Thus all the articles which had been accumulated were individual contributions. Ben promised to pay his admission fee in the same way, but expressed a doubt whether he might not have to wait a few days, in order to save money enough to make a purchase. He never stole himself, though his association with street boys, whose principles are not always very strict on this point, had accustomed him to regard theft as a venial fault, provided it was not found out. For his own part, however, he did not care to run the risk of detection. Though he had cut himself off from his old home, he still felt that he should not like to have the report reach home that he had been convicted of dishonesty. At an early hour the boys shook off their slumbers, and one by one left the wharf to enter upon their daily work. The newsboys were the first to go, as they must be on hand at the newspaper offices early to get their supply of papers, and fold them in readiness for early customers. The boot-blacks soon followed, as most of them were under the necessity of earning their breakfast before they ate it. Ben also got up early, and made his way to the pier of the Stonington line of steamers from Boston. These usually arrived at an early hour, and there was a good chance of a job in Ben's line when the passengers landed. CHAPTER XVI. BEN MEETS AN OLD FRIEND. Ben had about half an hour to wait for the arrival of the steamer. Among the passengers who crossed the plank from the steamer to the pier was a gentleman of middle age, and a boy about a year younger than Ben. The boy had a carpet-bag in his hand; the father, for such appeared to be the relationship, carried a heavy valise, besides a small bundle. "Want your baggage carried?" asked Ben, varying his usual address. The gentleman hesitated a moment. "You'd better let him take it, father," said the boy. "Very well, you may take this;" and the valise was passed over to Ben. "Give me the bag too," said Ben, addressing the boy. "No, I'll take that. You'll have all you want to do, in carrying the valise." They crossed the street, and here the gentleman stood still, evidently undecided about something. "What are you thinking about, father?" "I was thinking," the gentleman said, after a slight pause, "what I had better do."