I reckon yer mus' be one o' them parties whut we done yanked outer thet keel-boat down river las' night, aint yer ?" "I reckon I wus; whut of it ?" "Nuthin' 'tall; 'tain't no manner o' 'count ter me, fur as thet goes," and I got down on my knees again to resume scrubbing.

"All I wus goin' fer ter ask yer wus--wan't thar a couple o' womin 'long with ye?
Whut's becom' o' them?
I ain't seed hide ner hair ov either since they cum aboard." I did not glance around, yet knew that Tim spat over the rail, and stroked his chin-beard reflectively, after looking hard at me.
"They'se both of 'em niggers," he said, evidently persuaded my question was prompted only by curiosity.

"They belong ter Joe Kirby, an' we got 'em locked up." "That's whut yer way up yere fur, hey?
Goin' ter take 'em back down river ter Saint Louee, I reckon ?" "Furst boat thet cums 'long.

They skipped out night afore las', but we cotched 'em all right.

Yer goin' back on this steamer ?" "Not me; I'm goin' fer ter enlist whin we git ter Yellow Banks.