"What is a range?" interrupted Bob.
"Guide lights," spoke up Steve quickly. "They are the lights on shore, either lighthouses or buoys, to show you how to lay your course."
"That is the idea," agreed Captain Simms. "Let's hear you box the compass while we are here alone, Jarvis."
Bob went over, taking a look at the compass.
"Why do you do that?"
"I wanted to see whether we were at the north pole or the south pole."
"I guess you would know it if you were—that is, you would be pretty certain that you weren't navigating the Great Lakes. Go ahead now."
Jarvis shut his eyes and began reading off the points of the compass, making only one error in his reading.
"That is fine," announced the skipper. "I'll guarantee there isn't a man in the ship's crew, outside of the first mate, who can do it so well. Of course, I am excepting Rush and myself. Rush does everything well."
That night Steve took his regular trick at the wheel at eight o'clock. Of course, Jarvis was there, too, as were the captain and the first mate. They were nearing the Soo, as they could see from the lights.