"Yes, indeed," said the captain, looking up; "be quick, and fetch my sextant. You'll excuse me, ladies, but the chronometers must be attended to."
"In preference to us, Captain Drawlock?—Fie, for shame!" replied Mrs
Ferguson.
"Why, not exactly," replied the captain, "not exactly; but the fact is, that the sun may go in again."
"And we can stay out, I presume?" replied Isabel, laughing. "I think, Mrs
Ferguson, we ought to go in too."
"But, my dear young lady, if the sun goes in, I shall not get a sight!"
"And if we go in, you will not get a sight either," replied Mrs Ferguson.
"Between the two, sir," observed Newton, handing Captain Drawlock his sextant, "you stand a chance of losing both. There's no time to spare; I'm all ready."
Captain Drawlock walked to the break of the gangways, so far concealed from the ladies that they could not perceive that he was looking through his sextant, the use of which they did not comprehend, having never seen one before. Newton stood at the capstern, with his eyes fixed on the watch.
"Captain Drawlock," said Mrs Ferguson, calling to him, "allow me to observe—"
"Stop," cried Captain Drawlock, in a loud voice. Newton, to whom this was addressed, noted the time.