A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK
The shadows of night were now upon them. How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before. Then they were helpless, and now strong. At that time everything was dark and gloomy, without a ray of hope. Contrast the situation at this time.
What a gratification it must have been to look back during the past twelve months and mentally calculate what they had accomplished. They had delved in many of the hidden mysteries of nature and learned the secrets. Such knowledge had been put to use. They had discovered many things that gave them pleasure, but in doing so found others that startled and grieved them. Things inexplainable and impossible to fathom had crossed their paths on almost every side.
But they were now doing the work of men. The Professor knew how they had developed, and grown brave and strong. He knew it better than the boys could realize themselves. What a source of pleasure it must have been to the kindly faced, gray-haired Professor, as he looked at his charges in admiration and love. Could anything be more inspiring than the contemplation of the work he had done?
And now the inevitable charting board was brought out, and the plan adopted which would enable them to trace the coast line. It was explained that all sailing was by the points of the compass, and for this purpose the compass was made to correspond with the regulation instrument. This is shown in Fig. 23.
