“‘What’s wrong with the course?’
“‘No’west by west half west—is it right?’
“‘No’west by west half west, or whatever it is—yes. And why not?’
“‘Oh, nothin’, if you say it’s right.’
“‘And why isn’t it right? Why not? Why don’t you spit it out? What’s wrong, anyway?’
“‘What’s wrong?’ I said. ‘Don’t you know we warn’t much more than three hundred miles off shore on this course when we swung her off last night, and we’ve been coming along now for twenty-three hours—and the clip she’s been coming!’
“He said nothing to that for a while, and then it was, ‘And so you don’t think the course is right?’
“‘No, I don’t—not if you’re intending to make Gloucester.’
“‘That so? Not if I was intending to make Gloucester? And where in the name o’ heaven am I headin’ for if not Gloucester?’
“‘Where? where? Damned if I know,’ says I. ‘Hell, maybe.’