Page 778 - GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Great Expectations

which we took good notice; and here to-morrow’s for
Hamburg, under whose bowsprit we crossed. And now I,
sitting in the stern, could see with a faster beating heart,
Mill Pond Bank and Mill Pond stairs.

‘Is he there?’ said Herbert.
‘Not yet.’
‘Right! He was not to come down till he saw us. Can
you see his signal?’
‘Not well from here; but I think I see it. - Now, I see
him! Pull both. Easy, Herbert. Oars!’
We touched the stairs lightly for a single moment, and
he was on board and we were off again. He had a boat-
cloak with him, and a black canvas bag, and he looked as
like a river-pilot as my heart could have wished. ‘Dear
boy!’ he said, putting his arm on my shoulder as he took
his seat. ‘Faithful dear boy, well done. Thankye, thankye!’
Again among the tiers of shipping, in and out, avoiding
rusty chain-cables frayed hempen hawsers and bobbing
buoys, sinking for the moment floating broken baskets,
scattering floating chips of wood and shaving, cleaving
floating scum of coal, in and out, under the figure-head of
the John of Sunderland making a speech to the winds (as is
done by many Johns), and the Betsy of Yarmouth with a
firm formality of bosom and her nobby eyes starting two

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