That's the thing I can't get over." "But you had never seen him!" exclaimed Billy Brackett.
"That makes no difference," was the calm reply.

"I'd heard so much about him that I ought to have known him, and I can't forgive myself that I didn't." "How about running off with my boat ?" queried the Sheriff, who did not at all understand the situation.
"I didn't run off with your boat.

It ran off with me first, and ran away from me afterwards.

If you hadn't taken the oars out I should have rowed into Dubuque and sent some one back to the island with her.
As it was, I had to go wherever she chose to take me, until she set me ashore on a tow-head, and went on down the river by herself.

I'm glad of it, though, for if she hadn't, I should never have found the _Whatnot_." "The _Whatnot_!" exclaimed Billy Brackett.