B' th' way, that puts me in mind 'f one I had for cook once.

Jiminy! how that man would cook! He'd cook a slice of halibut so you wouldn't know it from beefsteak." "Dear me! how did he do it ?" asked Aunt Maria, who had a fancy for kitchen mysteries.
"Never could find out," said Glover, stepping adroitly out of his difficulty.

"Don't s'pose that nigger would a let on how he did it for ten dollars." "I should think the receipt would be worth ten dollars," observed Aunt Maria thoughtfully.
"Not 'xactly here," returned the captain, with one of his dried smiles, which had the air of having been used a great many times before.

"Halibut too skurce.

Wal, I was goin' to tell ye 'bout this nigger.