n dimes an' nickels, n' mebby a few quarters thrown in!"

"You're tied up near here?" Brant inquired.

"'Bout a mile over," was the answer. "Will ye take yer nigger thar
first?"

"Yes, I know Captain Lee. He'll give me a chance at your gobbler, and
then passage to Elizabeth City."

That same afternoon, _The Bonita_ continued her voyage. The captain
obligingly made a landing at Elizabeth City, where Brant lodged his
prisoner, and where the gratified Zeke stowed in his wallet ten times
as much money as he had ever before possessed at one time. Naturally,
he was in a mood of much self-complacency, for, in addition to the
money gain, his adventure had notably increased his prestige aboard
ship, where Brant's praise for his prompt and efficient action was
respectfully accepted. Yet, despite his contentment, the mountaineer
found himself strangely troubled as he lay in his bunk, after the ship
had got under way. It may be that his perturbation had a physical
cause, at least in part, for there was more movement now as the vessel
slid through the waves of Pamlico Sound. It was while he tossed
restlessly, troubled over this unaccustomed inability to sleep, that
there came a memory of the black bag:

"I plumb fergot the dum hoodoo!" Zeke muttered, in huge disgust. "An'
the chief said I must git another the first chance." Then he grinned
vaingloriously into the darkness of the fore-peak. "But I reckon hit
hain't put no cuss on me yit--seein' as how I got a job an' a peck o'
money right smack off." Presently, however, his nervous mood suggested
a sinister possibility. "P'rhaps, it don't work on land--only jest on
the sea, or mebby jest whar it happens to be at. Hit wa'n't 'long
with me when I ketched the nigger. I 'low I ought to 'a' got rid o'
the pesky thing like the chief said."

Zeke realized that sleep was not for him. If he had had any hope
otherwise, it was ended when the fog-horn of _The Bonita_ wound its
melancholy blasts, and other trumpetings began to sound over the waste
from near and far. Already, by dint of many inquiries, Zeke had
acquired enough information to know that the mournful noise was the
accompaniment of a fog. Curious to see, he rose, and felt his way to
the small port-hole, through which he sought to peer out into the
night. His vision compassed no more than a few fathom's distance;
beyond, all was blackness. The port was open, and the cold mist
stealing in chilled him. Zeke shivered, but an inexpl