I told the mate to look after him." "But where is my niece Sabella?
The little girl that was on board the _Whatnot_," asked Cap'n Cod, with a pitiful quaver in his voice.
"Little girl ?" repeated the steamboat Captain, in surprise.

"There wasn't any girl on board.

This is the first mention I have heard of any such person, and Mr.Caspar would surely have spoken of her if she had existed.

What are you men driving at, anyway ?" With a forced calmness, and ignoring this question, Billy Brackett asked if they might see the rescued negro.
"Certainly, I've no objections.

Only you'll have to be spry about it, for I'm going to pull out of here inside of a couple of minutes.