"Say, George, what boat is this?"
"Mah name is Louis, sah."
"All right, Louis, then; what's the name of this vessel?"
"She am de Sea Gull, an' a mighty fin' boat, sah."
"So I judge; what is she, fruiter, or private yacht?"
"I reckon I don't just know," and he grinned.
"Perhaps then you will inform me where we are bound—I suppose you know that?"
"No, sah; de captain he nebber done tol' me, sah, nothing 'bout his personal plans. All he done said wus fer me to hustle sum grub in yere."
"But surely," I Insisted warmly, "you know what voyage you signed on for?"
"Wal, boss, I did n't sign on fer no vige. I 'se de steward, sah, an' I just naturally goes 'long where ebber de ship does. 'T ain't rightly none o' my business what de white folks 'cides to do. Good Lor', dey don't never ask dis nigger nuthin' 'bout dat. All I got ter do is just go 'long with 'em—dat's all."