So I guess as long as I live, I'll hev to stay down here." "Do you like it ?" asked Trot.
"Oh, I don't objec' much," said Cap'n Joe.

"There ain't much excitement here, fer we don't catch a flock o' mermaids ev'ry day, but the work is easy an' the rations fair.

I might o' been worse off, you know, for when my brig was wrecked, I'd 'a' gone to Davy Jones's Locker if Zog hadn't happened to find me an' made me a fish." "You don't look as much like a fish as Cap'n Bill does," observed Trot.
"P'raps not," said Cap'n Joe, "but I notice Bill ain't got any gills an' breathes like you an' the mermaids does.

When he gets back to land, he'll have his two legs again an' live in comfort breathin' air." "I won't have two legs," asserted Cap'n Bill, "for when I'm on earth I'm fitted with one wooden leg, jes' the same as you are, Joe." "Oh, I hadn't heard o' that, Bill, but I'm not surprised," replied Brother Joe.

"Many a sailor gets to wear a wooden leg in time.
Mine's hick'ry." "So's mine," said Cap'n Bill with a air of pride.