The superintendent called for a compass card, which a clerk brought from his office. Steve studied it a moment, turning the card around until he had placed it in the desired position.
"This is where we were, up to the time the fog came down and we couldn't see anything more," he said, placing a finger on a point on the card.
"But you were on the bridge. How could you know this?" demanded the questioner.
"I was watching the bridge compass, trying to learn something about it. You see, this is my first experience on a ship and I was anxious to learn all I could."
"Then your course was south-south-west-one-half?"
"I don't know, sir. The little mark on the compass rim was on the point that I have indicated, previous to the time the fog settled."
Thus far the lad's testimony had corroborated all that the captain had said.
"Have you had any talk with Captain Simms as to what you should testify to?" interrupted one of the government representatives.
"Certainly not, sir," answered the boy flushing. "Captain Simms is not that kind of man. He expects me to tell the truth, and that is what I am trying to do."
"We understand that, Rush," interposed Mr. Carrhart, soothingly. "You are giving us some valuable information. The gentlemen merely wish to get at all of the facts."