"Thought yesterday was your sailing day."
"So it was, but Cap'n's in the calaboose. Got drunk yest'd'y and had a fight. I got ter raise th' cash ter git him out."
"Why don't the boss bounce him? He's drunk most of the time."
"Boss says Cap'n Tom's a better sailor when he's drunk than any of th' others when they're sober."
"Well, I'll get Tom out of limbo for you and charge it to the boss. Only you must take this friend of mine with you to Chokoloskee."
"Sure! What's his name?"
"Name's Dick. Can you make an alligator-hunter of him?"
"Reckon I kin, or kill him tryin'."