The String of Pearls (1850), p. 691

to come and superintend the barge, you see; but my boat something, has not come back, and I am getting cold, for I am not so young as you are, you know."
"Why, I don't suppose you is, sir," said the boy; "but I'll put you ashore, if you like."
"Thank you, I should like."
"Get in then, sir. All's right. I'll hold on to the barge. Easy—easy with you, sir. That will do. Which side of the river, sir, would like to be put ashore at, if you please?"
The boy was evidently impressed with the importance of the title of Deputy Inspector Dredger, and was quite deferential to Todd.
How delighted was Todd to get off the barge! It seemed to him like a reprieve from death.
"Which way is the tide, boy?" he said.
"Running down, sir, but not fast."
"That will do. I will trouble you, then, to row with it as comfortably and as fast as you can."
"But I'm going, sir, to Westminster, to meet father. I can't go down the river, please sir. I would if I could. I said I would put you on shore on either side you like, and that's a waste of time, for the tide is getting fuller every minute, and it will be a hard pull against it, as it is. I can't go down the river, so don't ask me, sir; indeed I can't."
"Indeed?"
"No, sir. If I put you ashore, you will find lots of watermen who will be glad enough of the job."
"What's your name?"
"Bill White, sir."
"Very well, Bill White. I dare say you have ears at your age and guess that to have one's brains blown it is not one of the most agreeable things in the world, and perhaps you know a pistol when you see one. This that I take from my pocket and hold at your head is carefully loaded, and if you don't pull away at once with the tide down the river, I will scatter your brains into the river, and throw your lifeless carcass after them. Do you understand that, Mr. Bill White?"