"Faix, Oi'd think the big say'd git full, loike an Oirishman at Donnybrook Fair," interposed Felix.
"The Directory don't take that view, and says it has sometimes been known to flow outward," added Scott. "But there are currents near the shores which set out on the tide."
"Then we seem to be mixed up in a lot of currents," said Louis. "Felipe is very anxious to know what speed the Maud is making; for he says her usual rate used to be ten knots an hour, though she averaged only about nine during our voyage from Madeira to Tarifa. He has been at work on the engine, and he thinks he can make even more than that out of her."
"Begorra, she is makin' ut loively this afternoon," suggested Felix.
"It is easy enough to come at it," replied Captain Scott. "I gave out west south-west for the course when we were just two miles off Europa Point, from which we take our departure. When the lighthouse at Tarifa bears north by the compass, we shall have run fifteen knots."
"That's it to a hair!" exclaimed Louis. "I knew it was to be done in about that manner."
The steamer continued on her course for over an hour along the north shore, and as the distance from the land increased the captain looked out for the bearings of Tarifa lighthouse.
CHAPTER XIX
ENTER ALI-NOURY PACHA AND THE FATIMÉ
There were two compasses on board of the Maud, and Captain Scott had one of them on the forecastle. Using his ingenuity, he had arranged a couple of sights so that he could accurately obtain the bearing of the Tarifa lighthouse.