That you have the fortune to live with a collector, that I could not guess, ha?
He is kind, I say, this Scraper?
He loves you as a son, he gives you his shells to look at, to care for as your own ?" John hung his head again.
"He keeps them locked up," he admitted.

"I never had one in my hand, except the one on the mantelpiece, sometimes when he goes to sleep after dinner.

I--I must be going now!" he cried in desperation, making his way to the gang-plank.

"I must get home, or he'll--" "What he will do ?" the Skipper inquired, holding the plank in his hand.
"What he do to you, young gentleman, eh?
A little scold you, because you stay too long to talk with the Skipper from the Bahamas, hey?
No more than that, is it not ?" "He'll beat me," cried little John, driven fairly past himself.

"He beats me every time I'm late, or don't get my work done.