"Here you are," I added, handing it to our guest. "I'll row you
ashore."
We got back into the boat, the duke hugging his whisky and his shirt;
and steering a course a little upstream, I pulled him over to the
opposite bank. Tommy and Mortimer stood on the island waving us
farewell.
When we reached our destination, I stood up and offered him my hand.
"Good-bye, old friend," I said. "Thank you for winning my bet."
Very slowly he withdrew a hand from his pocket, and with a sideways
glance at the island opened it so that I could see its contents.
"I'd never 'ave done it, guv'nor," he said hoarsely, "if it 'adn't
'a' bin for these 'ere wire-nippers."