ou know where you are?" demanded Mr. Spokesly, steadily, "or is it
your intention to run her ashore? I'm only asking for information."

Captain Rannie forced himself into the chart room and putting on his
glasses examined the chart afresh. Mr. Spokesly followed him in and shut
the door.

"I won't have this," the captain began rapidly, laying his hand on the
chart and staring down at it. "I won't have it, I tell you. You force
yourself in upon me and I am obliged to speak plainly."

"I only want to tell you," said Mr. Spokesly, "that you are too far to
the westward. The current is setting you this way," he tapped the chart
where a large indentation bore away due south, "and by daylight you
won't have sea room."

"I don't believe it!" exclaimed the captain, who meant that he did
believe it. "I have taken the log every quarter of an hour."

"Well," said Mr. Spokesly, who was perfectly at ease in this sort of
navigation, "the current won't show on the log, which is away out any
way. I tell you again, she's going ashore. And it's deep water all round
here, as you can see. It won't take a very heavy wallop to send her to
the bottom with her bows opened out and the fore peak bulkhead leaking
already. Put her about. If you don't," said the mate with his hand on
the door and looking hard at his commander, "do you know what I'll do?"

He did not wait for an answer but went out and closed the door sharply.
He picked up the telescope and examined the horizon on the port bow. He
could discern without difficulty the lofty silhouette of a rocky
promontory between the ship and the faint beginnings of the dawn. He
turned to the helmsman.

"Hard over to port," he said quietly, and reaching out his hand he rang
"Full ahead" on the telegraph. It answered with a brisk scratching
jangle, and a rhythmic tremor passed through the vessel's frame, as
though she, too, had suddenly realized her peril.

"You do what I say," he warned the man at the wheel, who did not reply.
He only twirled the spokes energetically, and the little ship heeled
over as she went round. Mr. Spokesly looked again at the approaching
coast. There was plenty of room. He heard the door open and the captain
come out.

"Easy now," Mr. Spokesly said. "Starboard. Easy does it. That's the
style. Well, do you believe what I say now, Captain?"

"I'll report you--I'll have you arrested--I'll use my power----" he
stuttered, stopping short by the binnacle and bending double