human
Look, Trot; ain't that a brig out there?
gpt
How does anybody know about mermaids, if those who have seen them never lived to tell about them?
human
Know what about 'em, Trot?
gpt
About their green and pink scales, and pretty songs, and wet hair.
human
They don't know, I guess. But mermaids jes' natcherly has to be like that, or they wouldn't be mermaids.
gpt
Somebody _must_ have lived, Cap'n Bill, she declared, positively.
human
Other fairies have been seen by mortals; why not mermaids?
gpt
P'raps they have, Trot; p'raps they have, he answered, musingly.
human
I'm tellin' you as it was told to me; but I never stopped to inquire into the matter so clost, before. Seems like folks wouldn't know so much about mermaids if they hadn't seen 'em; an' yet accordin' to all accounts the victim is bound to get drownded.
gpt
P'raps, suggested Trot, softly,
human
That might 'a' been, Trot; that might 'a' been,