“‘We struck on Porpoise Rock, sir,’ said Taffy.
“‘Who’s steering?’
“‘Nelson.’
“‘Well?—he knew the rock was there, didn’t he? It’s marked on his chart plain enough. There’s no excuse, a bright starlight night like this.’
“‘Yes, he knew it,’ said the Mate, ‘but he says he didn’t make enough allowance for the stars moving. He says if there were one star, only, that he could depend on to be in the same place every night, it would be all right.’
“‘Well, there isn’t,’ said the Captain.
“‘I know it,’ answered the Mate. ‘But you know yourself, it’s confusing to steer by them.’ Taffy spoke quite respectfully, but he often made suggestions to the Captain when no one was listening, and the Captain loved him like his own son.”
“Do they move?” asked Pat.
“Yes,” said Phyllisy. “Don’t you know?—rise and set.”
Pat looked at the Princess to see if that was what she meant, and she nodded, and went on:—