Massa Kirby he wus aboard dat steamer, sah." "Kirby! Are you sure about that, Sam ?" "'Course Ah's sure.

Didn't Ah see him just as plain as Ah see you right now?
He wus for-rad by de rail, near de pilot house, a watchin' dis whole shore like a hawk.

Dat sure wus Massa Kirby all right, but dar wan't nobody else 'long wid him." "But what could he be doing there on a troop boat ?" The negro scratched his head, momentarily puzzled by my question.
"Ah sure don't know, sah," he admitted.

"Only dat's perzackly who it was.

Ah reckon dar ain't no boat whut won't take a passenger, an' Kirby, he knows ebery captain 'long dis ribber.