"But I know nothing about it, sir."
"Come here and lay hold of these spokes. Look at that card—no, by Jove! you can't see it."
But the binnacle lamp was trimmed, and in a moment the boatswain had pulled out a lucifer match, dexterously caught the flame in his hollowed hands and fired the mesh.
"Look at that card," I said, as the boatswain shipped the lamp.
"I'm a lookin', sir."
"Do you see that it points south-east?"
"If those letters S.E. swing to the left of the lubber's point—that black mark there—pull the spokes to the left until S.E. comes to the mark again. If S.E. goes to the right, shove the spokes to the right. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I think I do, sir."
"Mind your eye, steward. Don't let those letters get away from you, or you'll run the ship into the long-boat, and bring all hands on board again."