"But what in the world do you expect to do with her down here ?" "I intend to return to my home in her, and to take my daughter back to her mother," replied Horatio, as unmoved as though he had uttered a commonplace expression.
"Take Florry back to her mother!" exclaimed Homer, springing out of his armchair as though his five-and-forty years counted for nothing.

"I hope that nothing at all is the matter with your brain, Horatio." "Nothing at all, so far as I am aware, Homer.

You seem to think it is a great undertaking to take my daughter home," added Horatio.
"But it is war in this country, and all along the coast.

You will certainly be captured, and your daughter sent to a prison, at least till she can be sent home.

You have not more than one chance in ten to get to New York." "Do you think so ?" asked Horatio, smiling.
"If you don't know it, I do, my dear brother, that the Southern Confederacy has sent out agents to buy up all the suitable vessels they can find, to do duty as cruisers and privateers.