"How's her head?" I asked the man at the wheel.
"Sou'-west," he replied.
"Keep her away," I exclaimed, for the weather-leeches were flat.
"What's our true course for New Orleans?" asked the carpenter suspiciously.
"Stop a bit and I'll show you," I answered, and went below to the captain's cabin to get the chart.
"Steward!" I called.
"Yes, sir," replied the miserable whining voice. It was still too dark for me to see the man.
"Make your mind easy—they'll not hurt you," I said.
He started up and rushed towards me like a madman.
"May God in heaven bless you!" he cried, delirious with joy.