"But it is just as well for you to be serious about it--I 've got the weapon all right--see," and I pushed the revolver butt forward into his range of vision.

"I don't mean to hurt you so long as you keep still." "What--what you a-goin' fer to do, sah ?" "Get away from this ship if I can, and you are going to help by remaining right where you are, boy.

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.