Perkins heard me called the month he war on ship with me."
"I see," said the questioner, apparently satisfied with the explanation.
"I warn't tellin' him who I war after I seen that hand, but I war spittin' and sputterin' good and hearty when he stuck that thar dirty rag in my mouth till he cut off my holluh instantaneous. I ain't seen nor speak nothin' mo', but I hed my feelin' lef', mates, and my hearin' were thar. He twist my wrist and my legs till the cut hurt so hard I ain't felt the rheumatism on account of that other misery killin' it off by bein' so mighty. He lashed me up, mates, and then my heart turn turtle and crack and my stummick raise a billyhoo when I hear him go up and bus' the light. He stove it to smithereens, thar warn't no mistakin' that thar sound, thar warn't."
"Did the scoundrel hang around after that?" coaxed Turner.
"Right away he went as soon as he done that dirty deed. I heard his steps a-sneakin' down from aloft; he comes through this room and then I hear him start to go below, but he stumbled and fell; then howls and cusses low, but it ain't
