"It is something every sea captain has to understand. It is the science that teaches you what course to sail to reach the port you want to go to, and how to take advantage of the winds and currents."
The governor backed toward his seat beside the flour barrel, and made no reply. He did not quite understand what his prisoner had said to him, but he could not help seeing that an obstacle had suddenly arisen in his path.
"The book don't say that Crusoe knew any thing about that," said Will Atkins, coming to the assistance of the chief.
"Of course it don't," said the governor, immensely relieved. "But don't it say something about currents? When Crusoe tried to sail around his island in his boat, he came near bein' carried out to sea an' lost. If we don't look out, we might get in as much danger as he was."
"Very likely you'll get in more danger, if you ever go to sea in the Storm King," said the fisher-boy. "Crusoe never was in any danger, for no such man ever lived."
"Bobby Jennings!" exclaimed the governor, springing to his feet and catching up the boat-hook, "if you say that again I'll rap you over the head. I know better! I know there was such a man, 'cause don't this book tell all about him? He had a jolly time there on his island, huntin' goats an' watchin' fur injuns, an' that's the way we're goin' to live. But we've talked long enough! Get to work, all of you, an' pack up them things. While you're doin' that, I'll make some spears. You know," he went on to explain, "that every one of them 'cademy fellers has a gun with a bayonet on it! Them guns aint loaded, be they, Muley?"
Tom replied that they were not.
"That's all right!" continued the chief. "I've just thought up a way to whip 'em easy. I'll have to spile these oars, though."
Bob leaned back against his skiff and watched the preparations for departure with a good deal of interest. Several small dry goods boxes had been provided for this very event, and while the band was busy packing away the outfit in them, the chief employed himself in making the spears, which he did by cutting down the blades of the oars with a hatchet. When the first one was completed, he handed it to Tom, and asked his opinion of it.