"Is the wind favourable, steward?"
"Just her character, sir."
"Do you mean that the wind is favourable?"
"For the Montauk, sir; she's a persuader in this breeze."
"But is she going in the direction we wish?"
"If the gentleman wishes to perambulate America, it is probable he will get there with a little patience."
Mr. Sharp pulled-to his door, and ten minutes passed without further questions; the steward beginning to hope the morning catechism was over, though he grumbled a wish that gentlemen would "turn out" and take a look for themselves. Now, up to this moment, Saunders knew no more, than those who had just been questioning him of the particular situation of the ship, in which he floated as indifferent to the whereabouts and the winds, as men sail in the earth along its orbit, without bethinking them of parallaxes, nodes, ecliptics, and solstices. Aware that it was about time for the captain to be heard, he sent a subordinate on deck, with a view to be ready to meet the usual questions from his commander. A couple of minutes were sufficient to put him au courant of the real state of things. The next door that opened was that of Paul Blunt, however, who thrust his head into the cabin, with all his dark curls in the confusion of a night scene.
"Steward!"
"Sir.
"How's the wind?"