She seemed so pretty as she was.

What was the use of bringing her up--up there on the wrecking float with that crowd of men--up where the air would get at her, and where they would put her in the ground along o' the worms?
If I left her there she'd always be sweet and pretty--always be nineteen; and I remembered what old divers said about drowned people living just so long as they stayed below.

You see, I was only a lad then, and things like that impress you when you're young.

Well, I signaled to be hauled up.

They asked me on the float if I'd seen anything, and I said no.