She's an able old frigate.

I did think I had her guns spiked, but she turned 'em on me unexpected.

I thought I had her and her boy in a clove hitch.

I knew somethin' that I was sartin sure they wouldn't want Caroline to know, and she and Malcolm knew I knew it.

Her tellin' Caroline of it, _her_ story of it, when I wasn't there to contradict, was as smart a piece of maneuverin' as ever was.