I went and looked over the rail and there I saw a fellow all alone in a rowboat.

I couldn't see him very well, but I could see he had on an old hat and was pretty shabby.
Then he sort of whispered, "Anybody up there, Skeezeks ?" I told him no, and asked him who he was and what he wanted, but he didn't say anything, only tied his boat, and climbed up over the rail.
Then I could see him better by the light shining through the cabin window, and his clothes were all ragged and greasy.

He looked pretty tough, but one thing, anyway, he smiled an awful nice kind of a smile and hit me a whack on the shoulder and said: "Don't get excited, Skeezeks; you're all right and I won't hurt you.

How are you, anyway ?" I told him I was very well, but I'd like for him please to tell me who he was, so I'd know.
Then he gave me another push, and I don't know, there was something about him that kind of made me like him, and I wasn't scared of him at all.
"Don't you know who I am ?" he said.
"I kind of think maybe you're the fellow that jumped out of this boat and ran away, when it was up the creek near Little Valley.

You look kind of like him." "Right the first time," he said, "and I bet you're a bully little scout.