"And I can keep an eye on the garden," said Mr. Thompson. "I know I am going to feel some better now this spell is passing." "If you cared to leave home I might give you some sort of a job on one of my boats," went on Andrew Shalley, thoughtfully. "What kind of a job?" "I'd have to see about it first. I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll send you a letter next week." "Thank you." "That will be best. But now I am going to do something else." The steamboat man drew out his wallet. "I want you to accept this." And he held out five crisp ten-dollar bills. Randy did not wish to take the money, but the steamboat man urged it and finally laid the bills on the table. "I am sure you are more than kind, Mr. Shalley," said Mrs. Thompson. "I shall remember you." "Let us call it a loan," said Mr. Thompson, "to be paid back when I am at work once more." "Yes, call it a loan," said Randy, "otherwise I, for one, don't want it." "Have your way," laughed Mr. Shalley. "But don't worry about the payment." Before he left he walked around the little farm and praised what Randy had done. "Evidently not a lazy boy," he told himself, "and one who is willing to aid his parents. That is the sort I like." "He is a very nice man," said Mrs. Thompson, when the visitor had departed. "Randy, you were fortunate to make such a friend." "Yes. But, mother, I think we ought to pay back that money some day." "I can do that--when I am able to go at carpentering again," put in Mr. Thompson. After that a week passed quietly enough. Randy worked early and late and got the little farm in good shape and also visited Jack and bade his friend good-by. "Maybe I'll get a position on one of the Hudson River boats," said our hero. "If you do, and you stop at Albany, you must come and see me," answered Jack, and gave his new address. On the following Monday came a letter from Andrew Shalley. It was short and to the point and read in part as follows: "All I can offer you at present is the position of a deckhand on my steamboat, the _Helen Shalley_. If you wish to accept that I will pay you twenty dollars per month and your board at the start, and more when you are experienced. If you wish to accept, write to me and come on to Nyack, to my office." "Here's an offer at last!" cried Randy, as he read the communication. He had been fearful that Andrew Shalley might forget him. "Twenty dollars per month is not so very much," said his mother. "Yes, but I am to get my board, so the money will all be clear profit, outside of the cost of my clothing." "I suppose you will live on the boat," put in Mr. Thompson. "Most of the crew do." "I can send the most of the money home each month," continued Randy. "The boat won't run during the winter," said his mother, who did not much relish having her son leave home. "Well, it will run until cold weather, anyway, and perhaps after that Mr. Shalley will give me something else to do."