But the mermaids haven't any hearts, Trot, no more'n a fish has; so they laughs when the poor people drown an' don't care a fig.

That's why I says, an' I says it true, that nobody never sawr a mermaid an' lived to tell the tale." "Nobody ?" asked Trot.
"Nobody a tall." "Then how do you know, Cap'n Bill ?" asked the little girl, looking up into his face with big, round eyes.
Cap'n Bill coughed.

Then he tried to sneeze, to gain time.

Then he took out his red cotton handkerchief and wiped his bald head with it, rubbing hard so as to make him think clearer.

"Look, Trot; ain't that a brig out there ?" he inquired, pointing to a sail far out in the sea.
"How does anybody know about mermaids if those who have seen them never lived to tell about them ?" she asked again.
"Know what about 'em, Trot ?" "About their green and pink scales and pretty songs and wet hair." "They don't know, I guess.