“Look, ’ere,” ses Ginger; “you’re an old man and I don’t want to ’urt you; tell us where our money is, our ’ard-earned money, and I won’t lay a finger on you.” “I’m taking care of it for you,” ses the old man. Ginger Dick gave a howl and rushed at him, and the next moment Isaac’s fist shot out and give ’im a drive that sent ’im spinning across the room until ’e fell in a heap in the fireplace. It was like a kick from a ’orse, and Peter looked very serious as ’e picked ’im up and dusted ’im down. “You should keep your eye on ’is fist,” he ses, sharply. It was a silly thing to say, seeing that that was just wot ’ad ’appened, and Ginger told ’im wot ’e’d do for ’im when ’e’d finished with Isaac. He went at the old man agin, but ’e never ’ad a chance, and in about three minutes ’e was very glad to let Peter ’elp ’im into bed. “It’s your turn to fight him now, Peter,” he ses. “Just move this piller so as I can see.” “Come on, lad,” ses the old man. Peter shook ’is ’ead. “I have no wish to ’urt you, Isaac,” he ses, kindly; “excitement like fighting is dangerous for an old man. Give us our money and we’ll say no more about it.” “No, my lads,” ses Isaac. “I’ve undertook to take charge o’ this money and I’m going to do it; and I ’ope that when we all sign on aboard the _Planet_ there’ll be a matter o’ twelve pounds each left. Now, I don’t want to be ’arsh with you, but I’m going back to bed, and if I ’ave to get up and dress agin you’ll wish yourselves dead.” He went back to bed agin, and Peter, taking no notice of Ginger Dick, who kept calling ’im a coward, got into bed alongside of Ginger and fell fast asleep. They all ’ad breakfast in a coffee-shop next morning, and arter it was over Ginger, who ’adn’t spoke a word till then, said that ’e and Peter Russet wanted a little money to go on with. He said they preferred to get their meals alone, as Isaac’s face took their appetite away. “Very good,” ses the old man. “I don’t want to force my company on nobody,” and after thinking ’ard for a minute or two he put ’is ’and in ’is trouser-pocket and gave them eighteen-pence each. [Illustration] “That’s your day’s allowance,” ses Isaac, “and it’s plenty. There’s ninepence for your dinner, fourpence for your tea, and twopence for a crust o’ bread and cheese for supper. And if you must go and drown yourselves in beer, that leaves threepence each to go and do it with.” Ginger tried to speak to ’im, but ’is feelings was too much for ’im, and ’e couldn’t. Then Peter Russet swallered something ’e was going to say and asked old Isaac very perlite to make it a quid for _’im_ because he was going down to Colchester to see ’is mother, and ’e didn’t want to go empty-’anded. “You’re a good son, Peter,” ses old Isaac, “and I wish there was more like you. I’ll come down with you, if you like; I’ve got nothing to do.” Peter said it was very kind of ’im, but ’e’d sooner go alone, owing to his mother being very shy afore strangers.