"Trouble enough fer all hands and some left over fer the cat! Say, shipmate, yer hangs about this here L wharf a lot.

Did yer see any piratical humans monkeyin' around my boat last night ?" "Why, what d'yer mean, cap'n," sniffled Hi Higgins.

"I seen yer tie up here, and there yer boat is now.

What d'yer mean by pira-pirawell, them parties yer mentioned?
Yer mean some one took it ?" "Took it--yes, yer hornswoggled longshore lubber!" bellowed the captain.

"I thought yer was hired as a sort uv watchman on this wharf.
A find watchman yer are!" "Well, yer see, cap'n," returned Hi Higgins, really alarmed at the captain's truculent tone, "I ain't here much after nine at night or before five in the morning." "Well, was my boat here at five this mornin' ?" demanded the captain.
"Sure it was," rejoined Hi Higgins, with a sniffle; "the fust boat I seen." "Rob, my boy, I'm goin' crazy in my old age!" gasped the captain.