First, what's in that small boat,
hung to davits astern--provisions, I mean?"
His teeth chattered so he could hardly answer, but finally words came
through his lips.
"Thar 's a breaker of fresh water, an'--an' a package o' sea-biscuit,
sah. Ah--Ah reckon that's all."
"Good; do you happen to know how far we are away from the main coast?"
"A a-bout thirty-five mile, sah."
"Florida?"
"Yes, sah."
"What is the nearest town?"
"Ah--Ah reckon it would likely be Carlos, sah, but it don't 'mount ter
much."
"Can you tell me the compass point?"
He scratched his head, his confidence that he was not going to be hurt
returning, as I questioned him.
"Wal', sah, I ain't no sailor man myself--no, sah; but de second mate
he done point it out dis mohnin' when Ah was on deck, an' he say it lay
nor'east by east, sah. Ah members dat distinctly."
"That will be all, Louis. Now listen to me. I am going to shut this
door, and lock you in. I 'll be on board here for an hour yet, and if
you utter so much as a whimper I 'll come down here, and fill you full
of lead. Are you going to keep still?"
"Ah--Ah sure am, sah; my Lordy! Ah don't want fer to be no dead
niggah."
"Well, you will be if I hear a peep out of you."
I closed the door, testing it before turning away, smiling grimly to
myself at recollection of those white eyeballs glaring at me through
the gloom.
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