Bless him for that! He may make it all right. You see, Mr. Romberg, it is not fully decided. I may get the license yet. (PHUS _looks up from his book_.) I have been examined; and when I told the inspectors all about that large boat that got stuck up the river, near Cairo, and that we had the chance to take off the loaded barges, and how I had them made fast to us, took the wheel myself, turned the big boat round, and carried her safely into Cairo, they looked surprised enough. And one of them said that I did seem to be qualified. Phus remembers it, the visit of the inspectors; don’t you, Phus? PHUS (_jumping up and putting his whole hand in the book for a mark_). O, yes, mis’! dem two gem’man, one wid de black bandanna on he hat, de oder wid de gaiters! De las’ one, he say, “You culled pusson, tel’ me troo, your mis’ _she_ no bos’ dis boat?” I say, “Yaas, saar!” Den de one wid de black bandanna, he say, “But de mate, _he_ de real cap’n; _he_ stan’ at w’eel, steer, an’ tak’ car’ ob injyne, don’ he?” MARY. What did you tell him? PHUS. I sez, “No! On’y when mis’ restin’, an’ it’s cam (_calm_), an’ dere ain’t no snags nor be-yous. _She_ bos’, _she_ steer, _she_ watch injyne. Pats, he on’y shovel coal, ’bey orders. On’y he mad sometime, an’ he say he not be bos’ by wimmin. Den de one wid de gaiters, he say, “You nig tell de trute; she _raal_ cap’n? She bos’ ebryting?” I say, “Yas, saar-e! ebryting! She bos’ steamboat. She bos’ Pats. She bos’ Hank and me—Phus—dat’s me W’y! mis’ could bos’ you, bos’ de President ’nited States, be cap’n ob ebrybody.” Den dey bof laf, an’ I help’ ’em obe de gang-plank. MARY (_sitting_). Oh, Phus! you tried to prove too much. But you make me laugh, in spite of my troubles. PHUS. I does my bes’, mis’. (_Sits down_, R., _and reads_.) MR. R. The other owners say, and the newspapers, too, that you have no chance; and we are all so certain of it that we have agreed not to take away the boat if you do get the license. MARY. Do you think yourselves so certain as that? Very well. But I have faith to believe that you will all wish that you had not made that promise, unless you really want me to have the boat. MR. R. Oh, madam! we’ve no notion you’ll get it. The other owners scorn the idea of a woman captain, and so do I. It’s ridiculous! (_Walks about._) PHUS (_reading to himself_). W’ot did Meelissee scramded—no—squeemed for? ’coz she felt a col’ han’ on her fourhed? Golly! wos she ’f’aid o’ dat? (_Reads_) Oh! she was alone in de dark, in de bed, an’ couldn’t see nobody! I should ’a’ thought she would ’a’ squeemed. (_Looks all around in a frightened manner._) MR. R. (_seating himself near_ MARY). When did you hear from your husband last? MARY. Not for a long time. I can’t think what the reason is. I expected to find a letter here, but haven’t received any. Phus! PHUS (_jumping up in terror, and then relieved_). Oh! it’s on’y mis’. Yaas! yaas!