NORTH POLE OF THE WINDS 



Our troubles now began with a temperamental 

 motor, which at frequent intervals refused to func- 

 tion; and after taking an outside passage in a 

 heavy sea, we crept behind some reefs and there 

 anchored. Here our very competent native skipper 

 took the motor apart and repaired the trouble. It 

 was, however, late in the afternoon when we were 

 again ready to proceed. Before starting out he 

 came to me and by elaborate pantomime in- 

 dicated that he would go outside, but would return 

 behind one of the rocky islands with which the 

 coast was strewn in thousands and that there we 

 would sleep for the night. To illustrate this he 

 leaned his head on his hand, and closed his eyes 

 as though sleeping. I consented. 



We weighed anchor and put out in the open sea, 

 but were unable to get back again. The winds 

 rose and the seas were very heavy. It soon be- 

 came evident that the skipper had lost faith in his 

 compass, which was likely enough well founded 

 since it was kept in the engine room. I now 

 noticed with alarm that he was steering by chart 

 and compass. After dark we saw him put the 

 compass forward on the roof of the cabin and 

 between the port and starboard anchor chains. At 

 intervals he would come forward, illuminate the 

 compass by flashlight, and go back to the engine 



306 



