Don't you be feared." The boys were pretty well out of hearing when the last words were spoken; and after a sharp trot, along by the side of the cliff where it was possible, they came to the rugged descent leading to old Daygo's tiny port.
This time they were not disappointed, for they caught sight of the old man's cap as he stood below with his back to them, driving a wooden peg into a crack in the rock with a rounded boulder, ready for hanging up some article of fishing-gear.
"You ask him," said Mike: "he likes you best." "All right," said Vince; and, putting his hands to his lips, he shouted out, "Daygo, ahoy!" "Ahoy!" cried the old man, without turning his head; and he kept on thumping away till the boys had reached him, when he slowly turned to face them, and threw down the great pebble.
Vince was too thorough to hesitate, and he opened the business at once, in his outspoken way: "Here, Joe!" he cried; "we want you to lend us your boat to go for a sail." "To lend you my boat to go for a sail ?" said the old man, nodding his head softly.
"Yes; and we shan't be very long, because we must be back to tea." "And you won't be very long, because you must be back to tea ?" "Yes; and we won't trouble you.

We can get it out ourselves." "And you won't trouble me, because you can get it out yourselves ?" "That's right." "Oh, that's right, is it, Master Vince?
That's what you thinks," said the old fisherman.
"But you'll lend it to us, won't you ?" "Nay, my lad--I won't." "Why ?" "Why ?" said Daygo, beginning to rasp his nose, according to custom, with his rough forefinger.

"He says why?
Mebbe you'd lose her." "No, we wouldn't, Joe." "Mebbe you'd run her on the rocks." "Nonsense!--just as if we don't know where the rocks are.

Know 'em nearly as well as you do." Daygo chuckled.
"Oh, come, Joe, don't be disagreeable.

We'll take plenty of care of it, and pay you what you like." "Your fathers tell you to come to me ?" "No." "Thought not.