The midshipman wrote down the point from which the wind blew, at full length, upon a bit of paper, and pinned it to the rim of Jack’s hat. “Now,” said he, “when you go into the cabin, you can hold your hat so as to read it, without their perceiving you.”
“Well, so I can; I never should have thought of that,” said Jack.
“You hav’n’t wit enough,” replied the midshipman.
“Well I see no wit in the compass,” replied Jack.
“Nevertheless, it’s full of point,” replied the midshipman: “now be quick.”
Our hero’s eyes served him well, if his memory was treacherous and as he entered the cabin door he bowed over his hat very politely and said, as he read it off, “South West and by West three-quarters West,” and then he added, without reading at all, “if you please, Sir Theophilus.”
“Steward,” said the Admiral, “tell the officer of the watch to step down.”
“How’s the wind, Mr Growler?”
“South West and by West three-quarters West,” replied the officer.
“Then, Mr Littlebrain, you have won your five guineas, and may now sit down and enjoy your dinner.”