human
Helm-a-lee! roared the admiral, thrusting his huge head in the room.
gpt
What the dickens has little Firefly run afoul of now, or what's in the wind, anyway?
human
Oh, Admiral Havenful! Pet's lost! been carried off by those dreadful smugglers!
gpt
Stand from under!
human
Oh, it was my fault! it was my fault! cried Erminie, with bitter self-reproach.
gpt
I should not have allowed her to go last night at all. Oh, I will never, never forgive my self as long as I live,
human
Stand from under! reiterated the admiral, still
gpt
;
human
Firefly carried off by the smugglers! Good Lord! Keep her round a point or so.
gpt
They will take her off to sea, and she will never come back again. Oh, Pet,
human
Now, Snowdrop, just hold on a minute, will you? said the admiral, facing briskly round.
gpt
Just stand by till we see how we're coming. The question is, now, where's Firefly? That's the question, ain't it, Snowdrop?
human
Just stand by a minute longer, will you? said the admiral, lifting up the forefinger of his right hand, and aiming it at Erminie's head.
gpt
Firefly's gone--sunk--went to the bottom, and no one left to tell the tale--ain't that it, Snowdrop?
human
Now the question is, went on the admiral, bringing the finger down upon the palm of his other hand, and looking fixedly at them;
gpt
Y-e-s, I suppose so,
human
And that something she run afoul of is supposed to be smugglers. Port your helm,
gpt
Oh, Admiral Havenful! what do you think they will do with her? Surely they will not kill her!
human
Just you hold on a minute longer, will you, Snowdrop? said the admiral, looking fixedly at the fingers lying on his broad left palm,
gpt
They have carried her off--yes, sir,
human
They have carried her off--yes, sir, slowly repeated the admiral, in the same tone of intense thoughtfulness,
gpt
Oh, I wish I knew! I wish I knew! If we could only discern that, all would be well. Oh, dear, dear Pet!
human
Pet has run afoul of smugglers and been carried off, nobody knows where. Stand from under!