You know what they're like, Trot, they's got a lovely lady's form down to the waist, an' then the other half of 'em's a fish, with green an' purple an' pink scales all down it." "Have they got arms, Cap'n Bill ?" "'Course, Trot; arms like any other lady.

An' pretty faces that smile an' look mighty sweet an' fetchin'.

Their hair is long an' soft an' silky, an' floats all around 'em in the water.

When they comes up atop the waves, they wring the water out'n their hair and sing songs that go right to your heart.

If anybody is unlucky enough to be 'round jes' then, the beauty o' them mermaids an' their sweet songs charm 'em like magic; so's they plunge into the waves to get to the mermaids.