Meanwhile, back on deck....The trapper fresh from Dakota Territory warily eyes the small but angry crowd that watches as he stuffs his remaining belongings back into his bag.
"What? Ah sweah, Miz Fontaine described that very artifact to me before mah last journey, and I swoah Ah'd keep an eye out for it. One of mah reasons for hurrying to catch the Hansell was to return her rightful property. If'n that li'l river rat doesn't return it to her, he'll have me to anwer to, Ah'll tell you that."
Skeptical silence. The odd spitting over the railing into the river (chewing tobaccy? hard to say). A few open glares.
"Fahn. Just fahn. don't believe me, then. Now, wheah's Cap'n Catspaugh? Ah've got to settle up for a cabin, if'n he's any left. And I do want to pay mah respects to Miz Sara Belle, if any of y'aaahl've seen her."
More skeptical silence. The trapper stomps off, in search of the Captain.