PATSY (_takes the line to_ L., _and exit_ R., _muttering_). I’ll not be bossed by no woman! MARY. I don’t know what I shall do with Patsy. He threatens to leave me at the next station, and I can’t find a decent engineer short of Baton Rouge; and I mustn’t trouble William with it, he is still so feeble. (_Enter_ PHUS, L.) PHUS. Mis’, de cap’n say he feel bet’ as did, an’ he wan’ ter see yer. MARY. Very well, I’ll go down. You call Patsy to stand at the wheel; and then you go and stay with the baby. PHUS. Yes, mis’. (_Calls_, R.) Pats! Har! you Pats, lave dat injyne an’ cum an’ stan’ by de wheel. Pay—ats! Pay—ats! Pay—a—ts! Cum, Pats, to de weel-house! Mis’ say so. (_Enter_ PATS R. _He takes the wheel._) MARY (_to_ PATSY). Mind your helm now; keep her on her course. (_Exit_ MARY, R.) PATSY. Ugh! Bedad! PHUS (_sits down at the wheel-house and takes his banjo_). Bress de Lor’, de cap’n’s bet’ as was. He say he mean git well. (_Sings and rocks himself._) Lor’ bress de cap’n,—’Lijah cum down. Lor’ bress de cap’n’s mis’,—’Lijah cum down. An’ let ’im git well,—’Lijah cum down. As dis poor Jo-Phus did,—“Lijah cum down. Swing low de goolden charyot, Car’ long de baby, cap’n, an’ de cap’n’s mis’, ’Lijah cum down. PATSY (_putting his head out of the wheel-house_). Musha! Shtop yer hullabaloo, you black nayger. PHUS. Dere aint no sich man round here. My name’s Jo-see-phus, Herodytus Miller. (_Exit_ L.) (_Re-enter_ MARY, R., _half supporting_ CAPTAIN MILLER, _who tries to walk; he sits down near the table wearily_.) CAPT. M. (_feebly_). It’s no use, Mary, I can’t walk. I can’t use my legs a mite, and that’s a fact. The malaria has settled in them, and I don’t know as I shall ever walk again. MARY (_stands beside him, and keeps her eye on the vessel’s course_). Yes, you will, dear. The doctor says so; and he says you must get away from the boat, go into the mountains and stay awhile, and then you will be as well as ever. CAPT. M. Oh, Mary! If I could only go to New England. I feel as if it would cure me. If I could only go to Maine, and see the White Hills, all covered with snow on top, from behind father’s house, see mother, and have some of their good victuals—(_He breaks down._) MARY. You _shall_ go. It won’t cost any more to go there than it will to pay your board at some place near the mountains; and no matter if it does. CAPT. M. How can I leave the vessel? If I take the money to go East with, I shan’t be able to meet my payments, and shall lose my chance of buying into her. MARY (_to_ PATSY). Ease her off a couple of points. (_To_ WILLIAM) Never mind that! Don’t worry. It’s better to lose everything else than to lose your health. But you will not lose the boat. I can run her while you’re gone. Only three months! The doctor says he thinks that will do.